तत्पदालम्बनं चेतः स्फारमाभासमागतम् । नाऽस्तमेति न चोदेति खमिवाऽतिततान्तरम् ॥ ३१ ॥
tatpadālambanaṁ cētaḥ sphāramābhāsamāgatam | nā’stamēti na cōdēti khamivā’titatāntaram || 31 ||
Translation
The mind that rests on that state, having become a vast mere semblance, neither sets nor rises, like the sky, wide within.
Word by word
- tat
- that
- pada
- state
- ālambanaṁ
- that rests on
- cētaḥ
- the mind
- sphāram
- vast
- ābhāsam
- a mere semblance
- āgatam
- having become
- na
- neither
- astam
- to setting
- ēti
- goes
- ca
- and
- udēti
- rises
- kham
- the sky
- iva
- like
- atitata
- wide
- antaram
- within
Meaning
The commentary raises an objection. If knowledge destroys the mind, life cannot go on; if it does not, the mind will raise its distractions again, and the state of having done all would be a mirage. The answer is in the word ābhāsa, semblance. A mind fixed in Brahman is like a roasted seed, which still looks like a seed but cannot sprout. The tendencies that caused distraction widen into the state of Brahman, like space. So the mind is not destroyed, and life goes on; nor does it rise again with attachment and aversion. This is how the commentary explains freedom in life: the one freed keeps a mind, and it no longer binds.