Atma Upanishad: Verse 7
न देशं नापि कालं वा न शुद्धिं वाप्यपेक्षते । देवदत्तोऽहमित्येतद्विज्ञानं निरपेक्षकम् ॥७॥
न । देशम् । न । अपि । कालम् । वा । न । शुद्धिम् । वा । अपि । अपेक्षते । देवदत्तः । अहम् । इति । एतत् । विज्ञानम् । निरपेक्षकम् ॥
na deśaṃ nāpi kālaṃ vā na śuddhiṃ vāpyapekṣate | devadatto’ham ity etad vijñānaṃ nirapekṣakam ||7||
لا يَتَوَقّفُ على مكانٍ ولا على زمانٍ، ولا حتى على الطهارةِ والنجاسةِ الطقسية. إنّ إدراكَ «أنا ديفَدَتّا» معرفةٌ مستقلّة لا تفتقر إلى تلك الشروط.
It depends neither on place nor on time, nor even on purity (ritual cleanliness). The cognition “I am Devadatta” is independent (of such conditions).
- नापि = न + अपि
- वाप्यपेक्षते = वा + अपि + अपेक्षते
- देवदत्तोऽहम् = देवदत्तः + अहम् (विसर्ग-लोप, अवग्रह)
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Immediate self-cognition (aparokṣa-anubhava) and independence from ritual conditions; jñāna over karma
- The mahavakyas
- Analogical support for ‘Aham Brahmāsmi’—identity-knowledge is immediate and not produced by external conditions.
- Veda
- Atharva
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh (śloka)
Yoga and practice
Encourages inward inquiry (ātma-vicāra) independent of external settings; supports meditation as recognition rather than attainment; reduces dependence on ritual/auspicious timing for Self-knowledge.
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