साक्षादेव स विज्ञेयः साक्षादात्मेति च श्रुतेः । भिद्यते हृदयग्रन्थिर्न चेदित्यादितः श्रुतेः ॥
sākṣādeva sa vijñeyaḥ sākṣādātmeti ca śruteḥ | bhidyate hṛdayagranthirna cedityāditaḥ śruteḥ ||
He is to be known directly, as the śruti says, 'the Self that is direct'; and from the śruti beginning 'the knot of the heart is cut', [which would] not [happen] if [he were not known directly].
आत्मा को साक्षात् ही जानना चाहिए, जैसा श्रुति कहती है, 'जो साक्षात् आत्मा है'; और 'हृदय की गाँठ खुल जाती है' इत्यादि श्रुति से भी, क्योंकि साक्षात् न जानने पर वह गाँठ नहीं खुलती।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
Knowing about yourself second-hand does not untie anything. The knot of fear and confusion loosens only when the understanding becomes your own, as plain as knowing that you are here.
अपने बारे में सुनी-सुनाई जानकारी से कोई गाँठ नहीं खुलती। भय और उलझन की गाँठ तभी खुलती है जब समझ अपनी हो जाए, उतनी ही साफ़ जितना यह जानना कि आप यहाँ हैं।
Shankaracharya insists the Self must be known directly, not as a distant inference, citing Bṛhadāraṇyaka 3.4.1 ('the Self that is immediate and direct') and Muṇḍaka 2.2.8 ('the knot of the heart is cut').