Jnana — Knowledge of the Self

न जायते म्रियते वा कदाचिन्
नायं भूत्वा भविता वा न भूयः ।
अजो नित्यः शाश्वतोऽयं पुराणो
न हन्यते हन्यमाने शरीरे ॥

na jāyate mriyate vā kadācin / nāyaṁ bhūtvā bhavitā vā na bhūyaḥ / ajo nityaḥ śāśvato’yaṁ purāṇo / na hanyate hanyamāne śarīre

Shri Bhagavan

It is not slain when the body is slain.

It is not born, and it never dies. Having been, it does not cease to be. Unborn, everlasting, enduring, ancient — it is not killed when the body is killed.

हिंदी · यह न जन्मता है, न कभी मरता है। एक बार होकर यह फिर न होने वाला नहीं। अजन्मा, नित्य, शाश्वत और पुरातन — शरीर के मारे जाने पर भी यह नहीं मारा जाता।

The Trust’s reading · The Self is never born and never dies; having been, it never ceases to be. Unborn, eternal, everlasting, ancient — it is not killed when the body is killed.

वासांसि जीर्णानि यथा विहाय
नवानि गृह्णाति नरोऽपराणि ।
तथा शरीराणि विहाय जीर्णा
न्यन्यानि संयाति नवानि देही ॥

vāsāṁsi jīrṇāni yathā vihāya / navāni gṛhṇāti naro’parāṇi / tathā śarīrāṇi vihāya jīrṇā / nyanyāni saṁyāti navāni dehī

Shri Bhagavan

As worn-out clothes are changed for new.

As a man puts aside worn-out clothes and takes up new ones, so the one who dwells in the body puts aside worn-out bodies and enters others that are new.

हिंदी · जैसे मनुष्य पुराने वस्त्र उतारकर नए पहन लेता है, वैसे ही देही जीर्ण शरीरों को छोड़कर दूसरे नए शरीरों में चला जाता है।

The Trust’s reading · As a person puts off worn-out clothes and takes new ones, so the embodied Self leaves worn-out bodies and enters new ones.

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥

nainaṁ chindanti śastrāṇi nainaṁ dahati pāvakaḥ / na cainaṁ kledayantyāpo na śoṣayati mārutaḥ

Shri Bhagavan

Weapons cannot cut it, fire cannot burn it.

Weapons do not cut it. Fire does not burn it. Water does not wet it. Wind does not dry it.

हिंदी · इसे शस्त्र नहीं काटते, अग्नि नहीं जलाती, जल नहीं भिगोता, और वायु नहीं सुखाती।

The Trust’s reading · Weapons do not cut it, fire does not burn it, water does not wet it, wind does not dry it.

न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं पवित्रमिह विद्यते ।
तत्स्वयं योगसंसिद्धः कालेनात्मनि विन्दति ॥

na hi jñānena sadṛśaṁ pavitramiha vidyate / tatsvayaṁ yogasaṁsiddhaḥ kālenātmani vindati

Shri Bhagavan

Nothing purifies like knowledge.

There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. The one who has ripened in yoga finds it within himself, in his own time.

हिंदी · इस लोक में ज्ञान के समान पवित्र करने वाला कुछ भी नहीं है। जो योग में सिद्ध हो चुका है, वह समय आने पर उसे अपने भीतर ही पा लेता है।

The Trust’s reading · There is nothing in this world as purifying as knowledge. One who is perfected in yoga finds it, in time, within the self.

तद्विद्धि प्रणिपातेन परिप्रश्नेन सेवया ।
उपदेक्ष्यन्ति ते ज्ञानं ज्ञानिनस्तत्त्वदर्शिनः ॥

tadviddhi praṇipātena paripraśnena sevayā / upadekṣyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninastattvadarśinaḥ

Shri Bhagavan

Learn it by humility, enquiry and service.

Learn this by bowing down, by asking questions, and by service. Those who know, who see things as they are, will teach that knowledge to you.

हिंदी · इसे प्रणाम करके, प्रश्न पूछकर और सेवा के द्वारा जानो। जो ज्ञानी हैं और तत्त्व को देखते हैं, वे तुम्हें वह ज्ञान सिखाएँगे।

The Trust’s reading · Learn that knowledge by approaching those who have seen the truth — with reverence, with sincere questions, and with service. They will teach you.