sa ya eso ‘nimâ aitadâtmyam idam sarvam, tat satyam, sa âtmâ. tat tvam asi, Svetaketo.
Olivelle (p. 152): “The finest essence here—that constitutes the self of this whole world; that is the truth; that is the self (âtman). And that’s how you are, Svetaketu.”
Hume (p. 246): “That which is the finest essence—this whole world has that as its soul. That is reality (satya). That is Âtman (Soul). That art thou, Svetaketu.”
Radhakrishnan (p. 458): “That which is the subtle essence (the root of all) this whole world has for its self. That is the true. That is the self. That art thou, Sv
prajñānam brahma – “Prajña is Brahman”, or “Brahman is Prajña”
Prajñānam Brahma
Several translations, and word-orders of these translations, are possible:
Prajñānam:
jñā can be translated as “consciousness”, “knowledge”, or “understanding.”
Pra is an intensifier which could be translated as “higher”, “greater”, “supreme” or “premium”, or “being born or springing up”,referring to a spontaneous type of knowing.
Prajñānam as a whole means:
प्रज्ञान, “prajJAna”, Adjective: prudent, easily known, wise
Noun: discrimination, knowledge, wisdom, intelligence.
“Consciousness”
“Intelligence”
“Wisdom
Related terms are jnana, prajna and prajnam, “pure consciousness”.
Although the common translation of jnanam is “consciousness”, the term has a broader meaning of “knowing”; “becoming acquainted with”, “knowledge about anything”,”awareness”, “higher knowledge”.
Brahman:
“The Absolute”
“Infinite”
“The Highest truth”
Most interpretations state: “Prajñānam (noun) is Brahman (adjective)”.
Some translations give a reverse order, stating “Brahman is Prajñānam”, specifically “Brahman (noun) is Prajñānam (adjective)”.
“The Ultimate Reality is wisdom (or consciousness)”.
Olivelle (p. 199): “Knowledge is the eye of all that, and on knowledge it is founded. Knowledge is the eye of the world, and knowledge, the foundation. Brahman is knowing.”
Hume (p. 301): “All this is guided by intelligence, is based on intelligence. The world is guided by intelligence. The basis is intelligence. Brahma is intelligence.”
Radhakrishnan (p. 523): “All this is guided by intelligence, is established in intelligence. The world is guided by intelligence. The support is intelligence. Brahma is intelligence.”
Action alone is in your control
Not the results ever
Let not the fruit of action be your motive
Nor should you keep company of inaction
———
KARMANYEVA ADHIKAARASTE
Action alone is in your control
कर्मण्य/Karmanya = In the work
एव/Eva = Only
अधिकार/Adhikar = Right / Control
ते/Te = Your
MAA PHALESHU KADAACHANA
Not the results ever
मा/Ma = No/Not
फलेषु/Phaleshu = In the fruit/result (the root word is “फल”/”Phal” here, means, “fruit of work”)
कदाचन/Kadachana = Ever
MAA KARMA PHALA HETUR BHUR:
Let not your motive be the fruit of action
मा/Ma = No/Not
कर्मफल/Karmaphala = Two words, Karma+Phala, कर्म/Karma = work and फल/phala = result or fruit of the work.
हेतु /हेतु = Here it means “motive” (the word “hetu” may mean “reason” too)
भु /bhu = be
MAA TE SANGOSTVAKARMANI:
Nor should you keep company of inaction
मा/Ma = No/Not
ते/Te = Your
संग /Sang =attachment (this word may mean “companion too”, like “satsang”)
अस्तु /Astu = Let there be
अकर्मणि /Akarmani = In action
———–
Example:
The duty of a student is to study. The result of studies could be obtaining good marks. But a student must not study just for the sake of passing his exams. When he studies, he learns. Whether he passes or fails he should not be too happy or too sad about it.
If ever a student studies for the sole purpose of passing his exams, in the end he has not learned anything even if he has passed. But if he studies because he considers learning and studying as his duty, he won’t even need to be worried whether he will pass or fail. And such a student as we have always seen they are most likely to pass their exams, unless they are not able to appear for it for some reason. But still he should not be sad about it. Why? Because the most important is at least he performed his duty well.
Similarly :
When we help someone, we should not do it for the sake of something we will get in return. If we are concerned about the reward for our action, then it not a charitable action at all. And when we help someone without worrying about our own gains, this is selflessness. What is important is for us to realize that as a human being we have been able to help someone.
The mind alone is the cause of bondage and liberation in humans. When attached to sense objects the mind brings bondage, when detached from objects it brings freedom.
