स्वानुभूतेश्च शास्त्रस्य गुरोश्चैवैकवाक्यता । यस्याऽभ्यासेन तेनाऽऽत्मा सन्ततेनाऽवलोक्यते ॥ ११ ॥
svānubhūtēśca śāstrasya gurōścaivaikavākyatā | yasyā’bhyāsēna tēnā’’tmā santatēnā’valōkyatē || 11 ||
Translation
One in whom one's own experience, scripture and the teacher are at one: by constant practice of this, the Self is seen.
Word by word
- sva
- one's own
- anubhūtēś
- (anubhūteḥ) of experience
- ca
- and
- śāstrasya
- of scripture
- gurōś
- (guroḥ) of the teacher
- ēva
- indeed
- ēkavākyatā
- being at one
- yasya
- in whom
- abhyāsēna
- by practice
- tēna
- of this
- ātmā
- the Self
- santatēna
- constant
- avalōkyatē
- is seen
Meaning
This is a key verse on how the teaching is verified. There are three witnesses: svānubhūti, one's own experience; śāstra, scripture; and guru, the teacher. Eka-vākyatā means that they say one thing. The commentary speaks of being certain that all three point to one meaning, and says the Self is seen by the unbroken practice of hearing, reflection and the rest. Each witness guards against the failure of the others. Experience alone can deceive, scripture alone stays words, and a teacher alone asks only for trust.