Sloka 490
Sloka 490
Original Text:
जले वापि स्थले वापि लुठत्वेष जडात्मकः । नाहं विलिप्ये तद्धर्मैर्घटधर्मैर्नभो यथा ॥ ५0९ ॥
Certainly! Here is the detailed analysis of the given sloka:
- **Transliteration:**
jale vāpi sthale vāpi luṭhatveṣa jaḍātmakaḥ | nāhaṁ vilipye taddharmairghaṭadharmairnabho yathā || 509 ||
- **Translation:**
Whether he whirls about in water or on land, this inert body does not affect me. Just as the properties of a pot do not affect the sky, similarly, I am untouched by the attributes of this body.
- **Word Meanings:**
* jale - in water * vā - or * api - even * sthale - on land * vā - or * api - even * luṭhat - roll, whirl * eṣaḥ - this * jaḍātmakaḥ - inert nature * na - not * aham - I * vilipye - am tainted, am attached * tad-dharmaiḥ - by those qualities * ghaṭa-dharmaiḥ - by the properties of a pot * nabhaḥ - the sky * yathā - just as
- **Commentary:**
This sloka articulates an important principle in Vedantic philosophy, emphasizing the distinction between the Self (Ātman) and the physical body or material phenomena. The metaphor of the sky and the pot illustrates this notion effectively. Just as the pot cannot influence or alter the sky within and around it, similarly, the Self is not touched by the activities or the inherent nature of the physical body. The body, made up of inert matter (jaḍa), goes through experiences such as movement or stillness on land or water. However, the true Self remains ever pure and unaffected by these changes, as it is beyond the material attributes. This understanding is crucial in Advaita Vedanta, highlighting the disidentification from the physical and mental constructs, fostering a realization of the Self's eternality and immutability. The prescribed detachment leads to liberation, teaching that the Self, like space, is ever free and transcendental to physical encasements or modifications. This perspective encourages practitioners to witness worldly experiences without attachment, recognizing their true nature as the changeless, unaffected consciousness.
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