Chapter 13 Shloka 17

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमस: परमुच्यते।

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्।।१७।।

Now the Lord extols the luminous essence of

the Supreme Atma. It is the Light of all lights

and transcends the darkness of tamas; It is knowledge

and the object of knowledge and worthy of being known

through knowledge. It abides in the hearts of all.

Chapter 13 Shloka 17

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमस: परमुच्यते।

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम्।।१७।।

Now the Lord extols the luminous essence of the Supreme Atma.

It is the Light of all lights and transcends the darkness of tamas; It is knowledge and the object of knowledge and worthy of being known through knowledge. It abides in the hearts of all.

a) It is the luminosity in all light, It is light itself.

b) It is the light that illuminates Adhyatam.

c) Truth itself becomes illuminated with Its light.

d) Even the untrue comes to light with the help of Its luminescence.

There is no trace of darkness where It abides. It is Light Itself, Adhyatam Itself, Luminescence Itself.

Knowledge is that which has already been described as:

a) the divine nature of the Supreme;

b) egolessness;

c) absence of pride and violence;

d) forgiveness and simplicity;

e) detachment and equanimity;

f) dispassion;

g) devotion replete with unswerving yoga;

h) knowledge of Adhyatam, that is true knowledge;

i)  that which invokes supreme joy and bliss in one’s life.

Little one, when this knowledge illuminates your life, then you will begin to understand, to some degree, That One who is worthy of being known. That One can be understood by knowledge – but what is knowledge, understand this once again. Theoretical knowledge is not being described as knowledge here.

1. The word ‘humility’ is not knowledge – to become humble is the acquisition of true knowledge.

2. The word ‘forgiveness’ is not knowledge – to forgive is true knowledge.

3. The explanation of love does not constitute knowledge – to love is the proof of true knowledge.

4. Discussions on knowledge do not constitute wisdom; knowledge is that which transforms you into the embodiment of wisdom.

5. Adhyatam can only be proved through the example of practice.

Little one, you know only as much as you can give practical shape to in your life. The knowledge that you know merely in theory, know it to be ignorance. That knowledge which does not prevail in practice is devoid of life. You can breathe life into knowledge only by putting your own life breath into it – by offering your live body as its instrument. If knowledge comes alive thus, your life will become established in the Supreme. You will then automatically renounce the anatma, or that which is not the Atma, in your life.

Therefore the Lord says that it is only through the means of knowledge that the Kshetragya can be known. The Lord now says that the Kshetragya abides in the heart.

Heart

1. The heart is considered to be the abode where the Atma and the Supreme Paramatma can be perceived.

2. The heart lies beyond both the mind and the body.

3. The heart is the abode of silence.

4. The individual has to silence both the mind and the intellect in order to reach the heart.

5. The individual has to necessarily purify his mind-stuff in order to reach the heart.

6. The heart does not have the capacity to cogitate.

7. There is no place for the ‘I’ in the heart.

8. The heart does not have the power to find fault.

9. The heart does not have the capacity to criticise or blame another.

10. The heart has no conceit on account of any attributes one may possess.

11. The heart is incapable of pride.

12. It is against the nature of the heart to dwell in revenge or opposition.

13. The heart is incapable of attractions and repulsion – raag and dvesh.

Little one, the heart is the silent abode of the Atma. Therefore the Lord proclaims that the Atma abides in every heart.

Little aspirant of yoga with the Atma!

1. To translate into your life those theoretical definitions of knowledge that you have come to know, is true wisdom.

2. To become an embodiment of those definitions is true wisdom.

3. If your body becomes an image of those qualities, then knowledge will come alive within you – because your body is alive. Otherwise, this knowledge will remain a mere figment of your imagination.

Thus the Lord has first elucidated what is true knowledge. Now He says that the Divine Goal can be known through knowledge. It is impossible to understand That One without the support of knowledge. It is impossible to know That One without becoming an embodiment of Knowledge.