Ancient Indian Education (Brahmanical and Buddhist) c9.71.2

c9.71.2

Verse 20 describes the *Jīvātmā* and *Paramātmā*, the soul in the individual, and the Oversoul, as two birds of the same feather (suparṇā sayujā sakhāyā) flocking together on the same tree, one of which eats its sweet fruits but the other only looks on (tayoḥ anyaḥ pippalaṁ svādu atti anaśnan anyaḥ abhi chākaśīti) ! Verse 30 refers to immortal soul (amartyaḥ jīvaḥ) surviving its perishable body (mṛitasya). Verse 34 inquires after the limits of the Earth and the centre of the universe and the supreme source of Speech (Vāchaḥ paramaṁ vyoma). The next verse states that Brahma is the supreme source of speech (Brahmāyaṁ Vāchaḥ paramaṁ vyoma). The next verse points out that one does not realize his oneness with creation as he wanders about in attachment to objects of sense (saṁnaddhaḥ niṇyaḥ manasā charāmi). When supreme knowledge (*Ṛita*) dawns on him, then alone does he realize the meaning of *Vāk*, the ultimate Word or Ātman. Verse 38 states how the Mortal and the Immortal springing from the same ultimate source (amartyaḥ martyenā sayoniḥ) are linked together while people recognize one and not the other. Difficult of realization is the knowledge of the Ātman, as Sāyaṇa remarks. The culminating conception of the Absolute is reached in Verse 39 already cited where it is boldly stated that the Veda itself will avail little to one who does not know its subject, the Supreme Being, in Whom rest the whole creation and the gods, but he who knows Him becomes merged in Him.