ध्यानेनात्मनि पश्यन्ति केचिदात्मानमात्मना |
अन्ये साङ् ख्येन योगेन कर्मयोगेन चापरे || 25||
dhyānenātmani paśhyanti kechid ātmānam ātmanā
anye sānkhyena yogena karma-yogena chāpare
dhyānena—through meditation; ātmani—within one’s heart; paśhyanti—perceive; kechit—some; ātmānam—the Supreme soul; ātmanā—by the mind; anye—others; sānkhyena—through cultivation of knowledge; yogena—the yog system; karma-yogena—union with God with through path of action; cha—and; apare—others
Translation:
Some by meditation perceive the Self in themselves through the mind, some by devotion to knowledge, and some by devotion to work.
Commentary:
Men are born with different mental predispositions according to their past samskaras. They strive to know the truth in different ways suitable to their nature. Some meditate, some follow bhakti, some jnana, some the path of work. Whatever may be the path, if the mind is pure and effort sincere, they realise God. As all these paths lead to the same goal, they are all of equal merit. Each man is free to follow any path that he chooses. All reach the same goal.
Bhakti yoga is not mentioned here separately because devotion to God is essential for success in any path. Bhakti is necessary for all aspirants whatever the path they follow. So particular mention of it is not made here. Without such devotion, no aspirant succeeds in any path.
Pasyanti: Paramatma is seen by man (i.e.) realised by the aspirant as a deep abiding illuminating experience. It is not mere speculation or argument or mere logical conclusion. The Lord here declares that God can be seen, and all doubts are set at rest by this tremendous declaration “You can see God; great souls have beheld by Dhyana and other means”- So says, Lord Krishna.
atmani: Paramatma is seen in one’s own self. As He is seated in the heart, the seeker has to gradually cultivate the attitude of looking for His presence within himself rather than searching for Him in other places. He has to search and examine himself to unveil God in his own heart. Moreover, whatever may be the path followed, the purified mind alone is the instrument for Self realisation. It is the key to open the gateway to liberation (Moksha). It is in one’s own hands. What is necessary is to cleanse the mind of the accumulated dust of past samskaras, and reshape it in such a way as to make it capable of perceiving the Self.
It is wrong to think that one yoga is superior to another. Some think that Jnana yoga is higher than Karma yoga. The Lord has set at rest all these foolish notions by emphasising the importance of every type of yoga according to the natural tendencies of the seeker. Karmayoga is necessary to purify the heart and through such purity man attains Self-realisation, which is the fruit of Jnana.
Question: Where is Paramatama to be realised?
Answer: In one’s own heart.
Question: With what?
Answer: With the purified mind.
Question: How?
Answer: Some by Dhyana yoga, others by ‘Sankhya yoga’, and yet others by Karma yoga realise Paramatma’.
Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 13 🔻 (35 Verses)
