Sloka 413
Sloka 413
Original Text:
यस्य स्थिता भवेत्प्रज्ञा यस्यानन्दो निरन्तरः । प्रपञ्चो विस्मृतप्रायः स जीवन्मुक्त इष्यते ॥ ४२८ ॥
Certainly! Let's delve into this sloka.
- **Transliteration:**
Yasya sthitā bhavetprajñā yasyānando nirantaraḥ । Prapancho vismṛtaprāyaḥ sa jīvanmukta iṣyate ॥ 428 ॥
- **Translation:**
He whose wisdom is steady, whose bliss is unending, and for whom the world appears almost forgotten, is considered a jīvanmukta, a liberated being.
- **Word Meanings:**
* yasya - whose * sthitā - steady * bhavet - becomes * prajñā - wisdom, knowledge * yasya - whose * ānandaḥ - bliss * nirantaraḥ - unending, continuous * prapañchaḥ - world, creation * vismṛtaprāyaḥ - almost forgotten * saḥ - he * jīvanmuktaḥ - liberated while living * iṣyate - is considered
- **Commentary:**
This sloka describes the state of a jīvanmukta—one who is liberated even while living in the physical body. The defining characteristics are threefold: a steady wisdom, unending bliss, and an almost forgotten or irrelevant perception of the worldly phenomena. The steadiness of wisdom (sthita-prajñā) implies a deep and abiding understanding of the true nature of the self (ātman) as non-different from the ultimate reality (Brahman). Such an individual remains unaffected by the dualities and disturbances of the world.
The constant bliss (ānanda) arises from residing in one's true nature, which is blissful by default, not contingent on external factors. This unending bliss contrasts with temporary and fluctuating happiness derived from sensory experiences.
When the world (prapañcha) is "almost forgotten" (vismṛtaprāya), it implies that the relative world loses its binding nature; it is recognized as a superimposition over the true self. The jīvanmukta perceives the world as a play of māyā, leading to a dispassionate engagement with life.
In essence, a jīvanmukta lives in the world but is not of the world, exemplifying the ideal of spiritual liberation that Vedanta espouses. This state is the ultimate goal of Vedantic sadhana, highlighting the transcendence over both body and mind while being immersed in supreme consciousness and bliss.
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