Verse 16

Yagyavalkya

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

मेरुशृङ्गतटोल्लासि गङ्गाजलस्योपमा ।

दृष्टा यस्मिन्मुने मुक्ताहारस्योल्लसशालिता ॥१६॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

मेरु-शृङ्ग-तट-उल्लासि । गङ्गा-जलस्य-उपमा ।

दृष्टा । यस्मिन् । मुने । मुक्त-आहारस्य । उल्लस-शालिता ॥१६॥

IAST Transliteration

meruśṛṅga-taṭollāsi gaṅgājalasyopamā |

dṛṣṭā yasmin mune muktāhārasyollasaśālitā ||16||

Translation

Like the radiant slope of Meru’s peak, comparable to the waters of the Gaṅgā—when that vision is seen in a sage, there shines the luminous excellence of one whose food is liberated, that is, restrained and purified.

Academic Translation

Like the shining slope of Meru’s peak, comparable to the water of the Gaṅgā—when that (state/vision) is seen in a sage, there is the radiant excellence of one whose food is liberated (i.e., restrained/purified).

Verse Context

• Vairāgya (dispassion) and śuddhi (purification) as supports to mokṣa
• Mahavakya: Indirect: prepares the mind for mahāvākya-jñāna (e.g., ‘aham brahmāsmi’) through purity and restraint; not itself a mahāvākya statement.
• Yajur
• Śukla-Yajurveda (Vājasaneyī) Shakha
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)