Sloka 528
Sloka 528
Original Text:
तमसा ग्रस्तवद्भानादग्रस्तोऽपि रविर्जनैः । ग्रस्त इत्युच्यते भ्रान्त्यां ह्यज्ञात्वा वस्तुलक्षणम् ॥ ५४७ ॥
- **Transliteration:**
Tamasā grastavadbhānādgrasto'pi ravirjanaiḥ | Grasta ityuchyate bhrāntyāṃ hyajñātvā vastulakṣaṇam || 547 ||
- **Translation:**
Even when not covered by darkness, the sun is said to be eclipsed by people, due to their ignorance of the true nature of reality.
- **Word Meanings:**
* Tamasā - by darkness * grasta - eclipsed, covered * vad - like, as if * bhānāt - from the sun * grastaḥ - eclipsed * api - even though * raviḥ - the sun * janaiḥ - by people * grastaḥ - eclipsed * iti - thus * uchyate - is said * bhrāntyām - in delusion, due to confusion * hi - indeed * ajñātvā - without knowing * vastu - the substance, reality * lakṣaṇam - the characteristic, the nature
- **Commentary:**
This sloka captures a profound philosophical insight using the metaphor of an eclipse. In Vedantic philosophy, ignorance (avidyā) prevents individuals from perceiving the ultimate reality (Brahman). The sun, luminous and ever-shining, is akin to the true self, the Ātman, which is obscured by ignorance (tamas) in the form of worldly perception. People commonly believe that the sun is eclipsed, yet this is merely an optical illusion; the sun remains unaffected by the apparent covering. Similarly, one's true self remains untouched and eternally radiant despite the covering of ignorance. The illusion of eclipse serves as an analogy for how misunderstanding or lack of true knowledge (ajñāna) leads to misconceptions about reality. This misunderstanding causes individuals to misinterpret the true nature of their own consciousness as being limited or obscured by external factors when, in fact, it remains pure and unaffected at its core. The sloka, thus, encourages the seeker to discern the nature of reality beyond appearances and recognize the indwelling light of consciousness, which is never truly eclipsed but merely misconceived in the consciousness of the unknowing.
Further Readings: