p383 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p384w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p385
----- bhagap384.html
dications of Atma in bondage and of liberated Atma? Is Atma ever
in bondage (for connection \vith the Gunas is eternal, Sridliard] or
ever in liberation (for if liberation is a state to be acquired, Atma can
not be permanent. Sridhata}
Sri Krishna replied:
Bondage and liberation are terms applied to Me not with
reference to my real self, but with reference to My Gunas (the Guna
limitations, Satva, Rajas and Tamas that are subordinate to me, Sri-
dhara}. The Gunas have their origin in Maya. Therefore I have
neither liberation nor bondage.
Sorrow and delusion, joy and grief, even the attainment of
body these are all due to Maya. The dream is only an illusory
form of the mind, even so the course of births is not real. Vidya and
Avidya both proceed from My Maya, O Uddhava. I am one
and the Jiva is only my part (as the ray is of the sun). The bondage
of Jiva is caused by AvidyA and its liberation by Vidya. This is
eternally so. Now I shall tell you the different indications of the
imprisoned and the liberated Jiva. (The difference is twofold: that
between Jiva and fsvara and that amongst the Jivas themselves. The
author first speaks of the former. Sridhara?) Jiva and fsvara though
of different attributes dwell in the same body. They are two birds
like each other (for both are manifestations of conciousness), com-
panions that have made a nest for themselves (the heart), in the tree
of body, of their own free will.
Of these one (the Jiva) eats the fruits of the tree. The other
(fsvara) though not a partaker of the fruits is the mightier of the two.
For He who does not partake of the fruits is the knower of self
as of others. But the partaker of fruits is not so. He (Jiva) who is
joined with Avidya is always imprisoned. He (Isvara) who is joined
with Vidya is always liberated. (Maya of Isvara or Vidya does not
throw a veil round and does not delude). The " conscious " are two in
every individual. The consciousness of fsvara is universal. Jivatma
however takes upon himself the limitations of individuality and be-
comes the conscious centre in every man. " I perceive" " I conceive"
"I do," that " I " is Atma limited by the sense of individuality. The
perception and conceptions are of Jivatma and he is the partaker of
the fruits. This "Jiva" element in an individual is in bondage. But
the fsvara element in him is always liberated. And Jiva becomes
liberated, when the individual limitation is withdrawn).
(Now the difference amongst Jivas liberated and imprisoned).
[[384]]
p383 _
-chap- _
toc-1 _
p384w _
toc-2 _
+chap+ _
p385
v?