Sloka 68
Sloka 68
Original Text:
शृणुष्वावहितो विद्वन्यन्मया समुदीर्यते । तदेतच्छ्रवणात्सद्यो भवबन्धाद्विमोक्ष्यसे ॥ ६८ ॥
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- **Transliteration**:
śṛṇuṣvāvahito vidvanyanmaya samudīryate । tadetacchravaṇātsadyo bhavabandhādvimokṣyase ॥ 68 ॥
- **Translation**:
"Listen attentively, O wise one, to what I am expounding. By hearing this, you shall immediately be liberated from the bondage of existence."
- **Word Meanings**:
* शृणुष्व (śṛṇuṣva) - listen * अवहितः (avahitaḥ) - attentively, carefully * विद्वन् (vidvan) - O wise one * यत् (yat) - which * मया (mayā) - by me * समुदीर्यते (samudīryate) - is being expounded, spoken * तत् (tat) - that * एतत् (etat) - this * श्रवणात् (śravaṇāt) - by hearing * सद्यः (sadyaḥ) - immediately * भवबन्धात् (bhavabandhāt) - from the bondage of existence * विमोक्ष्यसे (vimokṣyase) - you shall be liberated
- **Commentary**:
This sloka emphasizes the transformative power of listening with full attention to profound teachings from a competent teacher. "Listen attentively, O wise one" underscores the importance of active and focused listening as a prerequisite for gaining wisdom. The speaker addresses the listener as 'vidvan,' acknowledging their readiness and capability to grasp higher knowledge.
The act of 'hearing' or Śravaṇa is traditionally esteemed as the first of the triad of praxis in Advaitic philosophy, followed by Manana (reflection) and Nididhyāsana (deep meditation). This sloka encapsulates the core belief in Vedantic thought that knowledge (jñāna), particularly the knowledge of the self and reality, is capable of immediate liberation ('sadyaḥ') from the cycle of birth and death ('bhavabandhāt').
The speaker's promise that the listener will be liberated reflects the power of not just intellectual understanding but the realization that transcends the ego and the limitations of mundane existence. This succinctly conveys the ultimate goal of Vedantic teachings – liberation (mokṣa) through knowledge. Thus, this sloka serves as a reminder of the potential for spiritual freedom inherent in genuine wisdom.
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