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The Purusha

 

The narrative gets as beautiful as possible. Along with notes of Gyaneshwara on Bhagwad Geeta, I came across the translation of Bhagwad Geeta by Juan Mascaro. Starting from the introduction written by Simon Brodbeck the whole translation carries a certain beauty- something that aroused my interest in the subject and the context of the contemporary times when the text was written. Something everyone who is exploring the subject may take reference of as a starting point for their journey.

 

Captivated by the shlokas coming next, I feel lack of desire to touch it for I may destroy the sensitivity of the translation offered by Juan Mascaro (just like a work of art)— may I present the same in its untouched state.


But beyond my visible nature is my invisible spirit. This is the fountain of life whereby this universe has its being.

All things have their life in this life, and I am their beginning and end.

In this whole vast universe, there is nothing higher than I. All the worlds have their rest in me, as many pealrs upon a string.

I am the taste of living waters and the light of the sun and the moon. I am the OM, the sacred word of the Vedas, sound in silence, heroism in men.

I am the pure fragrance that comes from the earth and the brightness of fire I am. I am the life of all living beings, and the austere life of those who train their souls.

And I am from everlasting the seed of eternal life. I am the intelligence of the intelligent. I am the beauty of the beautiful.

I am the power of those who are strong, when this power is free from passions and selfish desires. I am desire when this is pure, when this desire is not against righteousness.

And know that the three Gunas, the three states of the soul, come from me: peaceful light, restless life, and lifeless darkness. But I am not in them: they are in Me.

How the whole world is under the delusion of these shadows of the soul, and knows not me though for ever I am!

My mysterious cloud of appearance is hard to pass beyond; but those who in truth come to me go beyond the world of shadows.

(upto shloka 14 chapter 7)

P.S. Gyaneshwara's translation conveys the same beauty in an elaborative form. Since I felt the urge  to present the shlokas in their untouched state (in English)- let the flow and the energy of Shri Gyaneshwara guide us.

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