Word meanings
- adhyātma
- spiritual
- jñāna
- knowledge
- nityatvam
- constancy
- tattva-jñāna
- knowledge of spiritual principles
- artha
- for
- darśanam
- philosophy
- etat
- all this
- jñānam
- knowledge
- iti
- thus
- proktam
- declared
- ajñānam
- ignorance
- yat
- what
- ataḥ
- to this
- anyathā
- contrary
Translations
Constancy in Self-knowledge, the perception of the end of true knowledge—this is declared to be knowledge, and what is opposed to it is ignorance.
Constant yearning for the knowledge of the Self, and pondering over the lessons of the great Truth—this is wisdom; all else is ignorance.
Steadfastness in the knowledge of the Self, contemplation on the Goal of the knowledge of Reality—this is spoken of as Knowledge. Ignorance is that which is other than this.
अध्यात्मज्ञानमें नित्य-निरन्तर रहना, तत्त्वज्ञानके अर्थरूप परमात्माको सब जगह देखना -- यह (पूर्वोक्त साधन-समुदाय) तो ज्ञान है; और जो इसके विपरीत है वह अज्ञान है -- ऐसा कहा गया है।Commentary
The liberated sage has constant awareness of the Self. He knows that knowledge of the Self alone is permanent and all other learning relating to this world is ignorance. He knows that the knowledge which leads to the realisation of the Self is the only truth. These attributes beginning with humility are declared to be knowledge, because they are conducive to knowledge they are the means to knowledge. They are secondary or auxiliary causes of knowledge. The fruit of this knowledge of the Self is deliverance from the round of births and deaths.
The spiritual aspirant should always keep the end of knowledge in view. Only then will he attempt to develop the various virtues which are conducive to the attainment of knowledge of the Self. What is opposed to knowledge, viz., lust, anger, greed, pride, hypocrisy, attachment, cunningness, diplomacy, injuring others, is ignorance. These evil traits which are the products of ignorance bind a man to Samsara. If you wish to attain the knowledge of the Self you will have to eradicate these evil traits which stand as stumbling blocks on the path of salvation.
If you cultivate the opposite virtues, the evil traits will die by themselves just as the plants which are deprived of water in a garden die by themselves. It is difficult to eradicate the evil traits by fighting against them.