Sloka 56
Sloka 56
Original Text:
न योगेन न सांख्येन कर्मणा नो न विद्यया । ब्रह्मात्मैकत्वबोधेन मोक्षः सिध्यति नान्यथा ॥ ५६ ॥
Certainly! Let's analyze and provide detailed insights on the provided Sanskrit verse.
- **Transliteration:**
na yogena na sāṅkhyena karmaṇā no na vidyayā | brahmātmaikatvabodhena mokṣaḥ sidhyati nānyathā || 56 ||
- **Translation:**
Liberation (moksha) is not achieved through yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by actions (karma), nor by knowledge. It is attained only through the realization of the oneness of Brahman and the self, and by no other means.
- **Word Meanings:**
* na - not * yogena - by yoga * sāṅkhyena - by Sankhya philosophy * karmaṇā - by actions * no - not * vidyayā - by knowledge (in a limited sense) * brahma - Brahman, the ultimate reality * ātma - self * ekatva - oneness * bodhena - through realization * mokṣaḥ - liberation * sidhyati - attained * na - not * anyathā - by any other means
- **Commentary:**
This sloka underscores a fundamental teaching in Vedantic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of self-realization and the understanding of the unity between the individual self (Atman) and the supreme reality (Brahman) for achieving liberation or moksha.
The verse negates several renowned spiritual practices and philosophies—yoga, Sankhya, karma, and even scriptural knowledge—suggesting their insufficiency in isolation. It signals that these paths, while valuable, are not the ultimate cause of liberation. They serve as means to purify the mind and develop the proper insight necessary for this profound realization.
Yoga, defined here not just as physical postures but as a broader discipline of self-control and meditation, Sankhya as rational and analytical understanding of reality, karma as actions and ritualistic duties, and vidya as scholarly knowledge, may lead one towards spiritual growth. However, unless they culminate in the direct and experiential knowledge of Brahman and Atman's identity, they fall short of delivering moksha.
Thus, the central message is that liberation is uniquely achieved through the non-dual awareness—a transformative wisdom where one perceives no distinction between the individual self and the universal consciousness. This non-duality dissolves ignorance and renders the sense of separateness null, ultimately freeing the soul from the cycle of birth and death. This teaching aligns with the core tenet of Advaita Vedanta, advocating for self-inquiry and realization as the supreme path to freedom.
Further Readings: