अतोऽनन्तेन, तथा हि लिङ्गम् ॥ २६ ॥
ato’nantena, tathā hi liṅgam || 26 ||
ataḥ—Therefore; anantena—with the Infinite; tathā—thus; hi—for; liṅgam—(the scripture) indicates.
26. Therefore (the individual soul becomes one) with the Infinite; for thus (the scripture) indicates.
The Jiva attains identity with Brahman on the dawning of Knowledge, when ignorance with all its limiting adjuncts disappears. “He who knows that Supreme Brahman becomes Brahman Itself” (Mu. 3. 2. 9). If the difference were real, then one could not become Brahman Itself. Knowledge may destroy ignorance, but not what is real. Now, since the Jiva becomes Brahman, its individuality was not real, and hence it was destroyed by Knowledge, leaving only Brahman. So the difference is unreal, the identity real.