[Advaita-l] JnAnI is sarva-bhUtAtma-bhUtAtmA

[Raghav Kumar Dwivedula]

Namaste Subbu ji
In discussions on whether "a jnAnI experiences jagat", this verse you
quoted is noteworthy.

*सर्वभूतात्मभूतस्य* समैकार्थं प्रपश्यतः ।

देवा अपि मार्गे मुह्यन्त्यपदस्य पदैषिणः ।

शकुनीनामिवाकाशे गतिर्नैवोपलभ्यते’ इत्यादिस्मरणात् ॥

"As it is not possible to sketch the flight of birds in the sky, so even
the gods get puzzled in trying to trace the course of *one who has become
identified with the Self of all beings,* who is a source of bliss to all,
and who has no goal to reach" (Mbh. Sa. 239. 23-24).
And as you said , it is quoted twice by bhAShyakAra (attesting to his
giving it importance).

I am repeating the bhAShya reference that you wrote since it's not there in
advaita-L

"The expression *the Self of the selves of all beings is the translation
for the word in the verse: *सर्वभूतात्मभूतात्मा. Shankara's commentary for
that word is: *सर्वभूतात्मभूतात्मा* सर्वेषां ब्रह्मादीनां स्तम्बपर्यन्तानां
भूतानाम् आत्मभूतः आत्मा प्रत्यक्चेतनो यस्य सः सर्वभूतात्मभूतात्मा
सम्यग्दर्शीत्यर्थः |

Translation:  sarva-bhutatma-bhutatma, the Self of the selves of all beings
- one whose Self (atma), the inmost consciousness, has become the selves
(atma) of all beings (sarva-bhuta) beginning from Brahma to a clump of
grass-, i.e., fully illumined."

This, we see that for a person within the realm of avidyA , to try to form
a logical concept or imagination to pin down, "how exactly a jnAnI who has
sarvAtmatvaM manages to interact with others" will only yield
unsatisfactory answers. The Mahabharata verse says even the Devas are
puzzled by it.


Om