Word meanings
- brahma-bhūtaḥ
- one situated in Brahman
- prasanna-ātmā
- mentally serene
- na
- neither
- śocati
- grieving
- na
- nor
- kāṅkṣati
- desiring
- samaḥ
- equitably disposed
- sarveṣu
- toward all
- bhūteṣu
- living beings
- mat-bhaktim
- devotion to me
- labhate
- attains
- parām
- supreme
Translations
Becoming Brahman, serene in the Self, he neither grieves nor desires; he is the same to all beings, and obtains supreme devotion to Me.
When he unites with the Eternal and his soul knows the bliss of the Self, he feels no desire or regret, he regards all beings equally, and enjoys the blessing of supreme devotion to Me.
One who has become Brahman and has attained the blissful Self does not grieve nor desire. Becoming the same towards all beings, he attains supreme devotion to Me.
वह ब्रह्मभूत-अवस्थाको प्राप्त प्रसन्न मनवाला साधक न तो किसीके लिये शोक करता है और न किसीकी इच्छा करता है। ऐसा सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंमें समभाववाला साधक मेरी पराभक्तिको प्राप्त हो जाता है।Commentary
Brahmabhutah Having attained to Brahman. His attainment of perfect freedom or oneness with the Supreme is described in the next verse. He is tranilminded. He is in a state of balance and eanimity. There is nothing connected with the little personality that may cause him to grieve or prompt him to feel desire. When this state is attained, the multiplicity of objects gradually disappears and he perceives only unity everywhere. The waking and dream consciousness that gives rise to false knowledge gradually passes away.
He does not grieve about his bodily wants. If he fails in his attempt to fulfil them, he does not grieve either. He always keeps evenness of mind in success and failure. He has no longing for any object that is not attained. Na sochati na kankshati can also be interpreted as he neither grieves nor exults. Samah sarveshu bhuteshu may also mean he puts himself in the position of others and feels for others. If anyone is in acute agony or distress, he himself feels that he is affected.
His heart is very tender and soft. He is extremely compassionate and merciful. He considers that the pleasure and pain of all beings are his own. If others rejoice he also rejoices if others are in distress, he also is distressed. His heart is so much expanded that he feels for all. Jealousy, narrowness of heart, pettymindedness, the idea of separateness, all barriers that separate man from man, prejudices of all sorts and dislike for others -- all vanished in toto. He has cosmic love.
He is a cosmic benefactor. He is the friend of all. This state of expansion is beyond description. One has to experience it for oneself. Such a devotee or aspirant attains supreme devotion to Me, the fourth or the highest of the four kinds of devotion mentioned in verse 16 of chapter VII, viz., devotion of knowledge of the man of wisdom. (Cf.II.70)