Word meanings
- bahiḥ
- outside
- antaḥ
- inside
- ca
- and
- bhūtānām
- all living beings
- acaram
- not moving
- caram
- moving
- eva
- indeed
- ca
- and
- sūkṣmatvāt
- due to subtlety
- tat
- he
- avijñeyam
- incomprehensible
- dūra-stham
- very far away
- ca
- and
- antike
- very near
- ca
- also
- tat
- he
Translations
It is within and without all beings, both the unmoving and the moving; It is subtle and unknowable, and It is near and far away.
It is within all beings, yet outside; motionless yet moving; too subtle to be perceived; far away yet ever near.
Existing both outside and inside all beings, moving and non-moving, It is incomprehensible due to Its subtlety. It is far away, yet near.
वे परमात्मा सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंके बाहर-भीतर परिपूर्ण हैं और चर-अचर प्राणियोंके रूपमें भी वे ही हैं एवं दूर-से-दूर तथा नजदीक-से-नजदीक भी वे ही हैं। वे अत्यन्त सूक्ष्म होनेसे जाननेका विषय नहीं हैं।Commentary
Brahman is subtle like the ether. It is incomprehensible to the unillumined on account of Its extreme subtlety. It is unknowable to the man who is not endowed with the four means of salvation. Brahman is known or realised by the wise. It is realised by the first class aspirant who is eipped with these means. It is near to the wise man or the illumined because It is his very Self. It is very far to the ignorant man who is drowned in worldliness or sensual pleasures. It is not attainable by the ignorant or unenlightened even in millions of years.
Near and far away This expression is found in the Isavasya Upanishad (5) and the Mundaka Upanishad (3.17).