Clarity — Lesson 35
The Self in the individual experience (Gita 15.7–11)
Verses
मनःषष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति ॥ १५.७ ॥
शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वरः ।
गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात् ॥ १५.८ ॥
श्रोत्रं चक्षुः स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च ।
अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते ॥ १५.९ ॥
उत्क्रामन्तं स्थितं वापि भुञ्जानं वा गुणान्वितम् ।
विमूढा नानुपश्यन्ति पश्यन्ति ज्ञानचक्षुषः ॥ १५.१० ॥
यतन्तो योगिनश्चैनं पश्यन्त्यात्मन्यवस्थितम् ।
यतन्तोऽप्यकृतात्मानो नैनं पश्यन्त्यचेतसः ॥ १५.११ ॥
Transliteration
mamaivāṁśo jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥ
manaḥ-ṣaṣṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛti-sthāni karṣati
śarīraṁ yad avāpnoti yac cāpy utkrāmatīśvaraḥ
gṛhītvaitāni saṁyāti vāyur gandhān ivāśayāt
śrotraṁ cakṣuḥ sparśanaṁ ca rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva ca
adhiṣṭhāya manaś cāyaṁ viṣayān upasevate
utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi bhuñjānaṁ vā guṇānvitam
vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñāna-cakṣuṣaḥ
yatanto yoginaś cainaṁ paśyanty ātmany avasthitam
yatanto'py akṛtātmāno nainaṁ paśyanty acetasaḥ
Meaning
The individual being is a manifestation of Me, eternal in nature. Associated with the mind and senses, it experiences the world. As the wind carries fragrance, the individual carries these impressions from one body to another. Using the senses and mind, it engages with objects. The unwise do not recognize this process, but those with knowledge see clearly. Those with a prepared mind see the Self within, while the unprepared do not.
Key Words
- jīva — individual being
- aṁśaḥ — part, expression
- indriyāṇi — senses
- manaḥ — mind
- prakṛti — nature
- jñāna-cakṣuṣaḥ — those with knowledge
- akṛtātmānaḥ — unprepared minds
Teaching
Krishna explains the individual experience. The same consciousness appears as the individual, associated with body, mind, and senses. Through these, it experiences the world. But this association creates confusion. We take the individual experience to be the whole truth. The wise see clearly: the Self is constant, while the body-mind keeps changing. This requires a prepared and subtle mind.
Connection to Clarity
Clarity removes confusion about identity. I am not the changing personality. I am the awareness in whose presence the personality appears and functions. Seeing this clearly is not automatic — it requires preparation and inquiry. This verse highlights that difference.
Reflection
What in me is changing, and what remains constant through all change? Can I distinguish between the two?