Chapter 1 · Prathamo’dhyāyaḥ (First Chapter)
Verse 46–47
ऋषिरुवाच ॥ ४६ ॥ ज्ञानमस्ति समस्तस्य जन्तोर्विषयगोचरे ॥ ४७ ॥
ṛṣiruvāca || 46 || jñānamasti samastasya jantōrviṣayagōcarē || 47 ||
Translation
The sage said: 'Every living being has knowledge (or perception) of whatever is within the range of its senses.'
Word by word
- ṛṣiḥ uvāca
- The sage said
- jñānam
- knowledge, perception
- asti
- there is
- samastasya
- of every
- jantoḥ
- living being
- viṣayagocare
- within the range of their senses, perceptible to them
Meaning
Sage Medhas begins his teaching by establishing a fundamental principle. The term jñānam here refers not to supreme wisdom, but to basic sensory perception and awareness. Every creature possesses the faculty to perceive the world according to its capabilities.