विचारेण परिज्ञातस्वभावस्य महामतेः । अनुकम्प्या भवन्त्येते ब्रह्मविष्ण्विन्द्रशङ्कराः ॥ १९ ॥
vicārēṇa parijñātasvabhāvasya mahāmatēḥ | anukampyā bhavantyētē brahmaviṣṇvindraśaṅkarāḥ || 19 ||
Translation
Of the great-minded one who by inquiry has fully known his own nature, these become objects of compassion: Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Indra and Śaṅkara.
Word by word
- vicārēṇa
- by inquiry
- parijñāta
- has fully known
- svabhāvasya
- his own nature
- mahāmatēḥ
- of the great-minded one
- anukampyā
- objects of compassion
- bhavanti
- become
- ētē
- these
- brahma
- Brahmā
- viṣṇu
- Viṣṇu
- indra
- Indra
- śaṅkarāḥ
- and Śaṅkara
Meaning
A startling verse. The commentary: for the great one who by inquiry has known his true nature, the Self, Brahmā, Viṣṇu, Śaṅkara and Indra become objects of his compassion. The gods, for all their power, still hold offices in the world; the knower holds nothing and lacks nothing. The other commentary softens it: they become obedient to him, or to be pitied by him. It is not contempt for the gods, but a measure of what knowledge is.