Sloka 125
Sloka 125
Original Text:
यः पश्यति स्वयं सर्वं यं न पश्यति कश्चन । यश्चेतयति बुद्ध्यादि न तद्यं चेतयत्ययम् ॥ १२७ ॥
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- **Transliteration:**
- yaḥ paśyati svayaṁ sarvaṁ yaṁ na paśyati kaścana | yaścetayati buddhyādi na tadyaṁ cetayatyayam || 127 ||
- **Translation:**
- "That which sees everything by itself, but whom no one sees; that which is the perceiver of intellect and other faculties, but which is not perceived by them—is the Self."
- **Word Meanings:**
* yaḥ - who * paśyati - sees * svayam - by itself, itself * sarvam - everything * yam - whom * na - not * paśyati - sees * kaścana - anyone, any * yaḥ - who * cetayati - perceives, makes conscious * buddhi-ādi - intellect and other faculties * na - not * tat - that * yam - whom * cetayati - perceives * ayam - this, it
- **Commentary:**
This verse speaks to the nature of the Self, or Ātman, as described in Vedantic philosophy. Ātman is the ultimate subject; it is the seer that cannot itself be seen. This paradoxical notion illuminates the transcendental nature of the Self which is beyond the grasp of sensory perception and intellect. While our senses and intellect attempt to categorize and define reality, the underlying consciousness that animates these faculties remains beyond their reach.
The verse implies that the consciousness is the witness of all creation—everything is seen or made aware through it, yet it remains unobjectified by anything in creation. This is an essential teaching in Advaita Vedanta, which posits that the true Self is pure consciousness and is distinct from the mind and senses that belong to the domain of the impermanent and the unreal.
This wisdom encourages seekers to transcend the limited identification with the body and mind and to realize their true nature as the unchanging witness. It emphasizes the inward journey towards recognizing the self-luminous nature of consciousness that does not rely on anything external for its existence or awareness. Understanding this can lead to liberation (moksha), as one realizes unity with the entirety of existence without the false constraints of duality.
Further Readings: