Verse 18

Atma

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

इतस्ततश्चाल्यमानो यत्किञ्चित्प्राणवायुना ।

स्रोतसा नीयते दारु यथा निम्नोन्नतस्थलम्॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

इतस् ततश् च । आल्यमानः । यत् किञ्चित् । प्राण-वायुना ।

स्रोतसा । नीयते । दारुः । यथा । निम्न-उन्नत-स्थलम् ॥

IAST Transliteration

itas tataś cālyamāno yat kiñcit prāṇa-vāyunā |

srotasā nīyate dāru yathā nimnonnata-sthalam ||

Translation

Ballotté çà et là par le souffle vital (prāṇa), tout cet ensemble corps-mental est emporté par le courant, tel un morceau de bois entraîné par l’eau à travers bas-fonds et hauteurs.

Academic Translation

Moved this way and that by the vital wind, whatever (this body-mind complex is), it is carried along by the current—like a piece of wood (carried) over low and high ground (by a stream).

Verse Context

• Prārabdha and the momentum of prāṇa; non-agency (akartṛtva) of the Self; body as instrument
• Mahavakya: Indirect: reinforces that the Self (implied by Mahāvākyas) is not the doer; movements belong to prāṇa and guṇas, not to Ātman.
• Atharva
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka-style)