Sloka 394
Sloka 394
Original Text:
प्रकृतिविकृतिशून्यं भावनातीतभावं समरसमसमानं मानसं बन्धदूरम् । निगमवचनसिद्धं नित्यमस्मत्प्रसिद्धं हृदि कलयति विद्वान् ब्रह्म पूर्णं समाधौ ॥ ४0९ ॥
Certainly! Here is the detailed analysis of the given sloka:
- **Transliteration:**
prakṛtivikṛtiśūnyaṁ bhāvanātītabhāvaṁ\ samarasamasamānaṁ mānasaṁ bandhadhūram |\ nigamavacanasiddhaṁ nityamasmatprasiddhaṁ\ hṛdi kalayati vidvān brahma pūrṇaṁ samādhau || 409 ||
- **Translation:**
Free from primal nature and its changes, transcending the concept of contemplation, uniformly balanced and equanimous, the mind far from bondage. Established by the words of the scriptures, eternal and well-known to us, the wise person realizes the complete Brahman in the heart through meditation.
- **Word Meanings:**
* **prakṛti** - nature, primal matter or source * **vikṛti** - modification, change * **śūnyam** - free from, devoid * **bhāvanā** - contemplation, imagination * **atīta** - transcending, beyond * **bhāvam** - state, condition * **samara** - evenly, uniformly * **samasamānam** - equally balanced, equanimous * **mānasaṁ** - mind * **bandha** - bondage * **dhūram** - far away, distant * **nigama** - Vedas, scriptures * **vacana** - words, statements * **siddham** - established, proven * **nityam** - eternal * **asmat** - our * **prasiddham** - well-known, recognized * **hṛdi** - in the heart * **kalayati** - one realizes, perceives * **vidvān** - the wise person * **brahma** - the Absolute, Supreme Reality * **pūrṇaṁ** - complete, full * **samādhau** - in meditation, absorption
- **Commentary:**
This sloka elucidates the nature of Brahman and the realization through meditative absorption (samādhi) by a wise practitioner. The adept is encouraged to perceive Brahman, the ultimate reality, as beyond the dualistic phenomena of nature (prakṛti) and its endless modifications (vikṛti). The wise individual transcends conventional thought processes (bhāvanātīta) to experience a state of samarasam, where dualities dissolve into a seamless oneness. It highlights the mind's liberation from attachment and bondage (bandhadhūram) through deep concentration and scripture-backed knowledge.
The verses foreground the emphasis placed in Vedantic traditions on experiential knowledge of Brahman, stressing its eternal essence and its intrinsic completeness (pūrṇaṁ). The invocation of scriptural authority affirms the truth (nigamavacanasiddhaṁ), giving the seeker confidence in their experiential pursuit. This sloka serves as a reminder that true knowledge is not an intellectual exercise but an inner realization (hṛdi kalayati), achieved when one is fully absorbed in the meditative state, allowing the experiential wisdom of nitya Brahman to manifest within. Through meditative practice devoid of dualistic thought, the wise person attains knowledge of Brahman, affirming eternal and universal truths known deeply within.
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