परमार्थपताकाया धियो धवलचामरम् । विचारो राजते जन्तोरजन्यामिव चन्द्रमाः ॥ २३ ॥
paramārthapatākāyā dhiyō dhavalacāmaram | vicārō rājatē jantōrajanyāmiva candramāḥ || 23 ||
Translation
Inquiry is the white yak-tail fan of the understanding, the banner of the supreme goal; it shines in a person as the moon shines at night.
Word by word
- paramārtha
- of the supreme goal
- patākāyā
- (patākāyāḥ) the banner
- dhiyō
- (dhiyaḥ) of the understanding
- dhavala
- white
- cāmaram
- the yak-tail fan
- vicārō
- (vicāraḥ) inquiry
- rājatē
- shines
- jantōr
- (jantoḥ) in a person
- rajanyām
- at night
- iva
- as
- candramāḥ
- the moon
Meaning
The banner and the yak-tail fan are signs of royalty. The commentary develops the image: for one fit for it, the highest human goal, liberation, is like coming into kingship; the pure understanding is its banner and inquiry its white fan. The moon is the sign by which night is known, and inquiry is the sign by which such a person is known.