Verse 6.74

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English translation by Ganganath Jha:

सम्यग्दर्शनसम्पन्नः कर्मभिर्न निबध्यते ।
दर्शनेन विहीनस्तु संसारं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ ७४ ॥

samyagdarśanasampannaḥ karmabhirna nibadhyate |
darśanena vihīnastu saṃsāraṃ pratipadyate || 74 ||

Equipped with true insight, he is no longer fettered by his acts; but destitute of insight, he falls into the cycle of births and deaths.—(74)

 

Medhātithi’s commentary (manubhāṣya):

This describes the result of what has been just enjoined.

‘True insight’—true knowledge of the Self, just described; ‘equipped’ with this,—i.e., having obtained direct apprehension of it.

‘Is not fettered by acts’— does not fall into the cycle of births and deaths; since the past acts have become exhausted on account of their effects having been already experienced, and no fresh acts are done.

This does not mean that Liberation is attained by mere knowledge.

He who is not endowed with the spiritual insight, taught in the Vedānta, and who is only given to the performance of acts, falls into the cycle of births and deaths.—(74)

 

Explanatory notes by Ganganath Jha

This verse is quoted in Yatidharmasaṅgraha (p. 42).

 

Comparative notes by various authors

(verses 6.74-75)

Āpastamba (2.21.14-16).—‘Some say that he obtains liberation if he knows the Ātman;—but that opinion is opposed to the scriptures; if liberation were obtained by the knowledge of the Ātman alone, then he ought not to feel any pain even in this world.’

Yājñavalkya (3.66).—‘Truthfulness, abstention from stealing and from anger, modesty, purity, discrimination, steadfastness, self-control, control over sense-organs and learning have been declared to be Universal Dharma.’

Kāmandaka (3.6).—‘Harmlessness is the highest of all virtues,—such is the unanimous opinion of all living beings. Therefore with feelings of kindness shall the king protect his people.’