jñeyaṁ yat tat pravakṣhyāmi yaj jñātvāmṛitam aśhnute
anādi mat-paraṁ brahma na sat tan nāsad uchyate
jñeyam — ought to be known;
yat — which;
tat — that;
pravakṣhyāmi — I shall now reveal;
yat — which;
jñātvā — knowing;
amṛitam — immortality;
aśhnute — one achieves;
anādi — beginningless;
mat-param — subordinate to me;
brahma — Brahman;
na — not;
sat — existent;
tat — that;
na — not;
asat — non-existent;
uchyate — is called
In this verse, the Lord is talking about something very important that we can know and understand. He says that by learning about this thing, we can experience something eternal, or everlasting. This means that once we understand it, we can feel a deep, long-lasting joy or satisfaction that doesn’t fade away.
The term ‘beginningless’ means that this knowledge or understandings don’t have a starting point — it has always been there. The concept relates to something called Brahman, which is often thought of as the ultimate reality or spirit. Think of Brahman as a big ocean of truth and existence that never runs dry. It lies beyond everything we see, hear, and experience in our material world — in simple terms, it’s not affected by our daily lives, our actions, or the things that happen to us.
The verse is trying to tell us about two main ideas: the individual soul (our true self) and the Supersoul (the higher power that oversees everything).
1. **Understanding the Knower**: When the verse talks about the ‘knower,’ it refers to both our personal self — the soul within us — and the Supersoul, which is a universal presence. This means that to really enjoy life and understand its deeper meanings, we need to recognize that there’s more to us than just our physical bodies and our daily experiences. We have a soul that is eternal and beyond the temporary struggles of life.
2. **Eternal Nature of the Soul**: The Lord highlights that the individual soul is eternal; it doesn’t come into existence at any specific point in time. Just as nobody can pinpoint exactly when a river started flowing, we cannot pinpoint when our soul began. This helps us understand that our true essence — who we are at the core — has always existed in some form. This idea is also supported by Vedic literature, which teaches that the true self isn’t born and doesn’t die, meaning that if we remove our worries about physical death, we can live more peacefully and meaningfully.
3. **Supreme Lord and Service**: The Supreme Lord is described as the main knower and the one in control of all life and nature. In simpler terms, He’s like a wise guide who oversees everything, just like a captain navigating a ship through changing waters. We, as the individual souls, have a natural role to serve this higher power. It’s like how a student learns and respects their teacher; there’s a sense of duty and respect that helps us understand our place in the grand scheme of things.
4. **Brahman—Individual Soul vs. Supreme Being**: When we hear ‘Brahman,’ it can sometimes be confusing because it refers to both our personal soul and the Supreme being. In everyday understanding, you can picture Brahman as the universal life force or energy that connects all of us. It’s crucial to know that while we are each a part of this universal spirit, there’s also something greater than us that embodies and oversees it all.
In summary, this verse teaches us about our eternal nature and the greater spirit (Brahman) that transcends our physical existence. By understanding these concepts, we can find a sense of peace and connection that carries us beyond the ups and downs of life.