Verse 12

Parabrahma

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

ज्ञानशिखिनो ज्ञाननिष्ठा ज्ञानयज्ञोपवीतिनः । ज्ञानमेव परं तेषां पवित्रं ज्ञानमीरितम् ॥१२॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

ज्ञान-शिखिनः । ज्ञान-निष्ठाः । ज्ञान-यज्ञोपवीतिनः । ज्ञानम् । एव । परम् । तेषाम् । पवित्रम् । ज्ञानम् । ईरितम् ॥१२॥

IAST Transliteration

jñānaśikhino jñānaniṣṭhā jñānayajñopavītinaḥ | jñānam eva paraṃ teṣāṃ pavitraṃ jñānam īritam ||12||

Translation

Having knowledge as their crest (śikhā), established in knowledge, and having knowledge as their yajñopavīta—knowledge alone is declared to be their supreme purifier.

Verse Context

• Jñāna as the supreme purifier (jñāna-pavitratva) and marker of the jñānī
• Mahavakya: Resonates with ‘tat tvam asi’ and ‘ahaṃ brahmāsmi’ insofar as liberating purity is identity-knowledge of Brahman/Ātman, not external observance.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)