Vedantasara - Verse 52

Sanskrit

आवरणशक्तिस्तावदल्पोऽपि मेघोऽनेकयोजनायतमादित्य- मण्डलमवलोकयितृनयनपथपिधायकतया यथाच्छादयतीव तथाज्ञानं परिच्छिन्नमप्यात्मानमपरिच्छिन्नमसंसारिण- मवलोकयितृबुद्धिपिधायकतयाच्छादयतीव तादृशं सामर्थ्यम् । तदुक्तं - “घनच्छन्नदृष्टिर्घनच्छन्नमर्कं यथा मन्यते निष्प्रभं चातिमूढः । तथा बद्धवद्भाति यो मूढदृष्टेः स नित्योपलब्धिस्वरूपोऽहमात्मा ॥” इति (हस्तामलकम् १०)

Swami Nikhilananda's Translation

Just as a small patch of cloud, by obstructing the vision of the observer, conceals, as it were, the solar disc extending over many miles, similarly ignorance, though limited by nature, yet obstructing the intellect of the observer, conceals, as it were, the Self which is unlimited and not subject to transmigration. Such a power is this power of concealment. It is thus said: “As the sun appears covered by a cloud and bedimmed to a very ignorant person whose vision is obscured by the cloud, so also That which to the unenlightened appears to be in bondage is my real nature – the Self – Eternal Knowledge” (Hastamalaka 10).

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Index: Vedantasara