सत्यमस्त्वथवाऽसत्यं पदार्थप्रतिभासनम् । तावन्मात्रं मनो विद्धि तद्ब्रह्मैव पितामहः ॥ ४५ ॥
satyamastvathavā’satyaṁ padārthapratibhāsanam | tāvanmātraṁ manō viddhi tadbrahmaiva pitāmahaḥ || 45 ||
Translation
Let the appearing of things be true, or untrue: know that mind is just that much; and that is Brahmā, the grandfather.
Word by word
- satyam
- true
- astu
- let be
- athavā
- or
- asatyaṁ
- untrue
- padārtha
- of things
- pratibhāsanam
- the appearing
- tāvan
- (tāvat) that
- mātraṁ
- just
- manō
- (manaḥ) mind
- viddhi
- know
- tad
- (tat) that
- brahmā
- Brahmā
- ēva
- is
- pitāmahaḥ
- the grandfather
Meaning
The commentary meets an objection: if awareness is real, how can a mind made of awareness be false? Vasiṣṭha will not argue it here: call the appearing of things false, because its objects are false, or true, because it is shot through with awareness, as you please. Mind is only that. And the whole of mind, mind taken all together, is the creator, Brahmā, the grandfather of the worlds.