Verse 13.12
Speaker: Krishna
Sanskrit
अध्यात्मज्ञाननित्यत्वं तत्त्वज्ञानार्थदर्शनम् | एतज्ज्ञानमिति प्रोक्तमज्ञानं यदतोऽन्यथा ||१२||
Transliteration (IAST)
adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvaṁ tattva-jñānārtha-darśanam | etaj jñānam iti proktam ajñānaṁ yad ato 'nyathā ||12||
Word-by-Word Meanings
adhyātma-jñāna-nityatvam-constancy in self-knowledge
tattva-jñāna-artha-darśanam-perception of the goal of true knowledge
etat-this
jñānam-knowledge
proktam-is declared
ajñānam-ignorance
anyathā-otherwise/contrary
Translation
Constancy in Self-knowledge, and perception of the end of true knowledge - this is declared to be knowledge, and what is contrary to this is ignorance.
Commentary
This verse concludes the enumeration of the twenty qualities of knowledge (verses 8-12). Shankaracharya notes that these are called 'knowledge' not because they are knowledge itself, but because they are the means (sādhana) leading to knowledge of the Self. Everything opposed to these qualities constitutes ignorance (ajñāna), which perpetuates bondage.
Themes
jnanamoksha