Clarity — Lesson 11

The Self is a wonder to know (Gita 2.29)

Verse

आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेनम्
आश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः ।
आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति
श्रुत्वाऽप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ॥ २.२९ ॥

Transliteration

āścaryavat paśyati kaścid enam
āścaryavad vadati tathaiva cānyaḥ
āścaryavac cainam anyaḥ śṛṇoti
śrutvāpy enaṁ veda na caiva kaścit

Meaning

Someone sees this Self as a wonder. Another speaks of it as a wonder. Another hears of it as a wonder. Yet even after hearing of it, hardly anyone truly knows it.

Sandhi-vigraha

आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति कश्चित् एनम् ।
आश्चर्यवत् वदति तथा एव च अन्यः ।
आश्चर्यवत् च एनम् अन्यः शृणोति ।
श्रुत्वा अपि एनम् वेद न च एव कश्चित् ॥

Anvaya

कश्चित् एनम् आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति।
तथा एव च अन्यः एनम् आश्चर्यवत् वदति।
अन्यः च एनम् आश्चर्यवत् शृणोति।
श्रुत्वा अपि च कश्चित् एव एनम् न वेद।

Key Words

āścaryavat — as a wonder, with amazement
paśyati — sees
kaścit — someone
enam — this Self
vadati — speaks
śṛṇoti — hears
śrutvā api — even after hearing
veda — truly knows

Teaching

Krishna says the Self is not easy to understand. It is not difficult because it is far away. It is difficult because it is too close. We can easily study objects. We can think about the world. But the Self is the very one because of which everything is known. So even hearing this teaching is rare. Speaking it properly is rare. Understanding it clearly is rarer still. The Self is truly a wonder.

Connection to Clarity

Clarity requires humility. The truth of the Self is not gained by quick opinion, clever words, or surface understanding. It needs listening, reflection, and a prepared mind. This verse reminds us that self-knowledge is subtle. It deserves care, seriousness, and wonder.

Reflection

I know many things in the world. But do I know the one because of which all knowing is possible?