Sloka 61
Sloka 61
Original Text:
अज्ञानसर्पदष्टस्य ब्रह्मज्ञानौषधं विना । किमु वेदैश्च शास्त्रैश्च किमु मन्त्रैः किमौषधैः ॥ ६१ ॥
Certainly, let's delve into this sloka:
- **Transliteration:**
agjñānasarpadaṣṭasya brahmajñānauṣadhaṁ vinā | kimu vedaiśca śāstraiśca kimu mantraiḥ kimauṣadhaiḥ || 61 ||
- **Translation:**
For one bitten by the serpent of ignorance, without the medicine of Brahma-jnana (knowledge of the Supreme), of what use are the Vedas, the scriptures, the mantras, and the medicinal herbs?
- **Word Meanings:**
* अज्ञान (ajñāna) - ignorance * सर्प (sarpa) - serpent * दष्टस्य (daṣṭasya) - bitten * ब्रह्मज्ञान (brahma-jñāna) - knowledge of the Supreme * औषधं (auṣadham) - medicine * विना (vinā) - without * किमु (kimu) - what use * वेदैः (vedaiḥ) - Vedas * च (ca) - and * शास्त्रैः (śāstraiḥ) - scriptures * मन्त्रैः (mantraiḥ) - mantras * औषधैः (auṣadhaiḥ) - medicinal herbs
- **Commentary:**
This sloka highlights the inefficacy of external knowledge and practices if one lacks realization of the ultimate truth, or Brahman. The metaphor of being bitten by a snake illustrates the destructive power of ignorance—it is not mere intellectual absence but a condition that actively leads one astray. Much like a snakebite requires a specific antidote, the antidote for ignorance is Brahma-jnana, the realization of one's true nature as Brahman, the eternal truth and consciousness. The Vedas, other scriptures, mantras, and even medicine are traditionally regarded as sources of spiritual and material healing. However, without the essential understanding of self and reality, they cannot resolve the fundamental problem of ignorance that veils the truth. Thus, the sloka emphasizes that ultimate liberation and peace come not from external rituals or learning but from self-realization. The quest, therefore, is directed inward, urging seekers to prioritize the introspective journey towards self-awareness over external validations and routines.
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