Jnaneshwari (Bhavartha Dipika)

by Ramchandra Keshav Bhagwat | 1954 | 284,137 words | ISBN-10: 8185208123 | ISBN-13: 9788185208121

This is verse 10.15 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 15 of the chapter called Vibhuti-yoga.

Verse 10.15:Thyself alone, O Best amongst the Purushas, dost know Thyself through Thy own self: O Thou that art the Originator of beings, the God of the Gods, and the Lord of the world. (176)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Just as the sky itself can know its boundless expanse or, the earth itself can feel the entire bulk of its mass, in that way, Oh Lord of Lakshmi, Thyself knowest Thine being and power; vain indeed is the boast of all the wits like the Vedas themselves that lay claim to have known Thine being. How indeed can one outstrip the mind in speed? Or how can any one clasp the wind within one’s arms? Or how again can one swim across, with unaided arms, the ocean of primeval void (ādiśūnya)? Equally hard is knowing Thee in full—indeed beyond any mortal’s ken. Nothing less than Thy infinite knowledge is equal to the task of realizing Thy true being.

By Thee alone is Thy real self known: Thou too hast the power of Thy word, to make others realise Thee in Thine own being. I pray then, do Thou wipe away the sweat on my brow of life’s yearning to see Thee (make me see Thee). Thou hearest my words, oh Thou creator of the universe, the lion who destroys the elephant of illusory worldly life, the great and one object of worship to all Gods and spirits, and Thou supreme master of the universe! Standing ever in the presence of Thy glory as we do, we yet sink into nothingness whereby we cannot hold a candle to Thy infinite light. But to flinch, for fear of this unworthiness, from beseeching a favour of Thee, would make us utterly helpless. For the bird ‘Chakor’, all the deep waters of the oceans and rivers are indeed dried up, until the clouds sprinkle a few drops into his mouth. In that way, although many are the spiritual preceptors near and far, yet Thou, Oh Lord Krishna, art the one be-all and end-all of our existence. Let this be enough; now tell me about your emanations.

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