Verse 12

Amritbindu

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

एक एव हि भूतात्मा भूते भूते व्यवस्थितः । एकधा बहुधा चैव दृश्यते जलचन्द्रवत् ॥१२॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

एकः एव हि भूत-आत्मा । भूते भूते व्यवस्थितः । एकधा बहुधा च एव । दृश्यते जल-चन्द्र-वत् ॥१२॥

IAST Transliteration

eka eva hi bhūtātmā bhūte bhūte vyavasthitaḥ | ekadhā bahudhā caiva dṛśyate jala-candravat ||12||

Translation

The one Self indeed, as the inner Self of beings, is established in each and every being. It is seen as one and also as many, like the moon reflected in water.

Academic Translation

For the one Self indeed, as the inner Self of beings, is established in each and every being. It is seen as one and also as many, like the moon (reflected) in water.

Verse Context

• Ātman as antaryāmin; ekatva-bahutva (one appearing as many); pratibimba-vāda (reflection analogy)
• Mahavakya: Directly supports ‘sarvaṃ khalv idaṃ brahma’ (though not one of the four classical mahāvākyas) and coheres with ‘tat tvam asi’ by implying the same Self in all beings; also aligns with ‘aham brahmāsmi’ insofar as the one Self is universal, not individual.
• Atharva
• Atharva-veda (commonly transmitted with the Atharva corpus; specific śākhā not securely attested) Shakha
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)