न हस्ती न तदारूढो मायाव्यन्यो यथा स्थितः । न प्राणादि न तद्द्रष्टा तथा ज्ञोऽन्यः सदा दृशिः ॥
na hastī na tadārūḍho māyāvyanyo yathā sthitaḥ | na prāṇādi na taddraṣṭā tathā jño'nyaḥ sadā dṛśiḥ ||
As the magician stands apart, neither the elephant nor the one mounted on it, so the knower is neither vital breath and the rest nor the one who [seems to] see them: it is other, ever pure seeing.
जैसे जादूगर न हाथी है, न उस पर बैठा हुआ, बल्कि अलग खड़ा है, वैसे ही ज्ञाता न प्राण आदि है, न उन्हें देखने वाला (व्यक्ति); वह उनसे भिन्न, सदा शुद्ध दृष्टि है।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
You are not your body, and not even the little 'me' who feels it is riding through life. Who you are is the plain awareness in which both appear; that is why you can notice your moods instead of only being swept by them.
आप न अपना शरीर हैं, न वह छोटा 'मैं' जो जीवन पर सवार-सा लगता है। आप वह सीधी-सादी चेतना हैं जिसमें दोनों दिखते हैं; इसीलिए आप अपनी मनोदशाओं को देख पाते हैं, केवल उनमें बहते नहीं।
Completing the magician image: the magician is neither the illusory elephant nor the rider seen on it. So the knowing Self is neither the body and breath nor the individual who seems to ride them, but pure seeing.