Verse 18.74

Verse 18.74: Samjaya Spake: “Thus have I heard this wondrous Dialogue that causes the hair to stand on end, betwixt the (High-souled) Vasudeva and the High-souled Son of Pritha. (1587)

Commentary called Jnaneshwari by Jnaneshwar:

Samjaya said,

“Oh you King of the Kurus, what your brother’s son (Arjuna) spoke was highly appreciated by Lord Krishna. There is only the difference in names such as the Eastern and the Western seas; otherwise the water of both these is one and the same. In that way, Lord Krishna and Arjuna appeared distinct only on account of their separate bodies; otherwise no such distinction exists between their conversation. Two objects, cleaner and brighter than a mirror, placed face to face, see their respective forms in each other. In that way, the Son of Pandu saw in Lord Krishna, his own self along with Lord Krishna, and simultaneously Lord Krishna also saw in Partha, his own self along with the son of Pandu.

In that (particularly) marked out portion of the body, wherein the Lord saw his own form as also that of his devotee, in that very space the devotee also saw his own form as also that of God. Where there remained nothing like a third party, what did both of them do? Both of them abided in one single form. Now that all duality had disappeared, there was hardly any occasion for questioning and answering.

When there remained no distinction, where could there be the pleasure of any dialogic? I heard that talk between the two—that talk which was going on in a dual stage—yet during the course of that talk all duality was destroyed. With two mirrors placed facing each other, how could it be imagined what one saw and which? Or when two (burning) lamps are placed fronting each other, which one could be said to shed light on the other? Or when two Suns rise in front of each other, who could say (what one) gave light and who was lit? Just as one begins to arrive at a judgment (in this) that judgment is thwarted.

In that way both of them became just like each other by their dialogue. Two water-flows meeting each other find a saltheap standing between them; could the salt (heap) prevent their meeting? Would it not itself be water and be one with them? I am also reduced to the same state, when I come to think of the dialogue between Lord Krishna and Arjuna.”

As he was talking in this strain he got overcome with righteous emotion, with the result that he lost all his memory of himself as being Samjaya. As the tremor and horripilation on his person began to stand out erect, there was a hardening of his limbs, while the trembling (all over) reigned supreme over (his) perspiration and stupefaction. He enjoyed the bliss of his monistic state, and that brought tears in his eyes, nay not tears but the very oozing out of happiness. It could not be known if it (happiness) could not be contained in his heart (in stomach) or if it was blocked up (guṃphe [gumpha?]) in the throat; words and sense were choked up in heavy respiration.

Perhaps all the eight kinds of righteous feelings (emotional states) rose up and dumb-founded Samjaya and he became (as it were) the very meeting place (of four roads—coiṭā) of the Bliss arising out of the dialogue. But the nature of the bliss was such that it of itself got calmed down and Samjaya soon regained his consciousness.