पादा इति पादविदो विषया इति तद्विदः ।
लोका इति लोकविदो देवा इति च तद्विदः ॥ २१ ॥pādā iti pādavido viṣayā iti tadvidaḥ |
lokā iti lokavido devā iti ca tadvidaḥ || 21 ||21. Those acquainted with the quarters1 (Pādas) call It quarters; those2 with objects, the objects3; those4 with Lokas, the Lokas5; those6 with Devas, the Devas.7
Anandagiri Tika (glossary)
These different conceptions of Ātman are nothing but imaginations of the mind.
1 Quarters—e.g., Viśva, Taijasa and Prājña. Ātman, being, without parts and also unrelated, cannot be really divided into quarters or parts.
2 Those, etc.—i.e., thinkers like Vātsyāyana, etc.
3 Objects—Such as, sound, colour, etc., i.e., the objects perceived by the different sense-organs. The objects, on account of their changeable and negatable nature, cannot be the Ultimate Reality.
4 Those, etc.—i.e., the Paurāṇikas or the believers in Mythology.
5 Lokas— Such as Bhūh, Bhuvah and Svah. These being three in number are limited.
6 Those, etc.—i.e., the Karma Mimāmsakas or the believers in the Karma portions of the Vedas.
7 Devas—Such as Agni (Fire), Indra, etc. According to this theory, Agni, Indra, etc., the various conscious deities, though not occupying the actual position of God (Īśvara), apportion the results of our various works. The conception of a separate God is not necessary. They cannot be the Ultimate Reality.