Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika)
by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat | 1954 | 284,137 words | ISBN-10: 8185208123 | ISBN-13: 9788185208121
This is verse 9.16 of the Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha-Dipika), the English translation of 13th-century Marathi commentary on the Bhagavad-Gita.—The Dnyaneshwari (Jnaneshwari) brings to light the deeper meaning of the Gita which represents the essence of the Vedic Religion. This is verse 16 of the chapter called Raja-vidya and Raja-guhya Yoga.
Verse 9.16
Verse 9.16: “I am the Vedic (Shrauta) Sacrifice, I am the secular (Smarta) Sacrifice; I am the Offer formula (Svadha) for the Manes, (I am) the Herb of medicine. I am the (Vedic) Formula of offering, I am the Clarified-butter; I am the Fire, and What-is-offered (into it). (265)
Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:
Once the realization and knowledge of My being entire is there, the Vedas themselves—the fountain-source of all knowledge—are seen to be the same as My essence and obviously the Vedic commands of scriptural lore, are not different from Me. And again is My spirit too, Oh son of Pandu, the sacrifice that springs from the performance of the prescribed actions. I am also the Svadha-Svadha (hymns of offering oblations to Gods and Manes respectively). So too am I the sacrificial plant Soma and also the Ajya (sheep’s clarified butter) and the Samidhas (samidhā—sticks of pure trees for kindling sacrificial fire). I am the Vedic hymns and the articles forming oblations: I am the presiding priest and the sacrificial fire is My own spirit: and I am thus all the sacrificial articles required for and helping the sacrificer.