Sloka 374
Sloka 374
Original Text:
अन्तः स्वयं चापि बहिः स्वयं च स्वयं पुरस्तात्स्वयमेव पश्चात् । स्वयं ह्यावाच्यां स्वयमप्युदीच्यां तथोपरिष्टात्स्वयमप्यधस्तात् ॥ ३८९ ॥
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- **Transliteration:**
antarḥ svayaṃ cāpi bahiḥ svayaṃ ca svayaṃ purastāt svayam eva paścāt | svayaṃ hy āvācyaṃ svayam apy udīcyāṃ tathopariṣṭāt svayam apy adhastāt || 389 ||
- **Translation:**
"Pervading within oneself and outside too, Being to the front and also behind, Above and below, indeed in every direction, That Self alone is present."
- **Word Meanings:**
- *antarḥ* - inside, within - *svayam* - oneself, self - *ca* - and - *api* - also, even - *bahiḥ* - outside - *svayaṃ* - oneself, same word repeated for emphasis - *purastāt* - in the front - *eva* - indeed, alone - *paścāt* - behind, in the back - *hy* - indeed, truly - *āvācyaṃ* - downward, towards the south - *apy* - even - *udīcyāṃ* - upward, towards the north - *tathā* - thus, equally - *upariṣṭāt* - above - *adhastāt* - below
- **Commentary:**
This sloka emphasizes the omnipresence of the ultimate reality, often referred to as the Self or the Supreme Consciousness in Vedantic philosophy. It vividly describes how this Self is not confined to any particular place or direction but is all-pervasive. By using directions as metaphors, the text explains a non-dualistic view where the Self is present everywhere — within and without, at every point in space, and beyond space constraints. Such a realization elevates the understanding from a limited, individual perspective to a universal comprehension where the distinction between inner and outer worlds dissolves. This teaching is central to Advaita Vedanta, where the realization of one's unity with the Infinite is the ultimate spiritual goal. This Sloka calls upon aspirants to recognize this immanent and transcendent reality, providing a deep insight into the nature of existence and self-realization.
Further Readings: