Sloka 471
Sloka 471
Original Text:
अकर्ताहमभोक्ताहमविकारोऽहमक्रियः । शुद्धबोधस्वरूपोऽहं केवलोऽहं सदाशिवः ॥ ४९0 ॥
- Transliteration:
AkartAhamabhoktAhamavikAro'hamakriyaH | shuddhabodhasvarUpo'ham kevalo'ham sadAshivaH || 490 ||
- Translation:
I am not the doer nor the enjoyer, I am changeless and devoid of actions. I am the pure embodiment of consciousness, I am alone, and I am the eternally auspicious one, Sadashiva.
- Word Meanings:
* akartA - not the doer * aham - I * abhoktA - not the enjoyer * avikAraH - changeless * akriyaH - devoid of actions * shuddha - pure * bodha - consciousness * svarUpaH - nature/essence * aham - I * kevalaH - alone * aham - I * sadAshivaH - eternally auspicious one / Sadashiva
- Commentary:
This verse reflects the core principles of non-dualistic (Advaita) Vedanta, emphasizing the inherent nature of the self or Atman as separate from the functions and activities of the material body and mind. It asserts a profound state of being that transcends actions (karma) and experiences (bhoga). By declaring "I am not the doer nor the enjoyer," it dismantles the ordinary identification with the ego (ahamkara) which perceives oneself as the center of actions and experiences.
The assertion of being "changeless" (avikAra) and "devoid of actions" (akriya) speaks to the immutable, eternal nature of the self, which, unlike the body and mind, does not undergo modifications or transformations. This inherent nature is characterized as "pure consciousness" (shuddha bodha), pointing towards the Atman's fundamental attribute as awareness itself, untainted by material involvements or constraints.
The expression "I am alone" (kevala) does not imply isolation but rather a profound completeness and self-sufficiency, resonating with the non-dualistic theme where there is no second entity apart from the self. Ultimately, by identifying oneself as "Sadashiva," it acknowledges the ultimate reality and divinity inherent within oneself. Sadashiva, often associated with the highest form of auspiciousness and eternal presence, reinforces the notion that the self is the ultimate truth, free from all limitations and eternally blissful.
This sloka serves as a powerful reminder of the ultimate goal of self-realization, where the practitioner transcends duality and experiences oneness with the divine, recognizing their true nature as the absolute consciousness that permeates everything.
Further Readings: