| 17. The Light
even of lights, That is said to be beyond darkness. Knowledge, the Knowable,
the Goal of knowledge, (It) is implanted in the heart of every one. That,
the Knowable, is the Light even of lights such as the sun. Indeed these
latter shine only when illumined by the light of the consciousness of the
Self. The Chants say: That Light by which illumined the sun shines By Its
light all this shines (Svet. Up. 614)So says the smriti also here (in the
BhagavadGita xv. 12 ) It is said to be uncontaminated by Tamas, by ajnana,
by nescience. The Light is in the heart of ever y one. Now, with a view
to cheer up Arjuna who seemed dejected at the thought of the knowledge (of
Brahman) being very difficult of attainment, the Lord says: Knowledge, such
as humility (xiii, 711) ; the Knowable, as described in xiii. 1217. and
the same thing, viz the Knowable, which, when known, forms the fruit of
knowledge and is therefore said to be the Goal of knowledge, and which as
a thing to be known forms the Knowable: these three (Knowledge, the Knowable,
and the Goal of knowledge) are implanted preeminently in the heart (buddhi)
of every living being ; it is indeed there that the three are distinctly
manifested. Seek the Light through devotion.Here follows the verse which
concludes the subject treated of: |
