ज्ञायते परमात्मा चेद्राम दुःखस्य सन्ततिः । क्षयमेति विषावेशशान्ताविव विषूचिका ॥ १७ ॥
jñāyatē paramātmā cēdrāma duḥkhasya santatiḥ | kṣayamēti viṣāvēśaśāntāviva viṣūcikā || 17 ||
Translation
If the supreme Self is known, Rāma, the stream of sorrow wanes, as cholera does when the onset of the poison is stilled.
Word by word
- jñāyatē
- is known
- paramātmā
- the supreme Self
- cēd
- (cet) if
- rāma
- Rāma
- duḥkhasya
- of sorrow
- santatiḥ
- the stream
- kṣayam
- waning
- ēti
- goes to
- viṣa
- of the poison
- āvēśa
- the onset
- śāntau
- when stilled
- iva
- as
- viṣūcikā
- cholera
Meaning
The contrast is complete. Knowing the jīva changes nothing; knowing the supreme Self ends the whole chain of sorrow. The commentary: as cholera subsides when the force of the poison subsides. Treat the cause, and the symptoms go of themselves.