Shloka 30
The Prayers of the Personified Vedas (Śruti-stuti) and the Indescribable Absolute
अपरिमिता ध्रुवास्तनुभृतो यदि सर्वगता- स्तर्हि न शास्यतेति नियमो ध्रुव नेतरथा । अजनि च यन्मयं तदविमुच्य नियन्तृ भवेत् सममनुजानतां यदमतं मतदुष्टतया ॥ ३० ॥
aparimitā dhruvās tanu-bhṛto yadi sarva-gatās tarhi na śāsyateti niyamo dhruva netarathā ajani ca yan-mayaṁ tad avimucya niyantṛ bhavet samam anujānatāṁ yad amataṁ mata-duṣṭatayā
もし無数の जीवが遍在し、しかも変化しない形体を持つなら、不変なる主よ、あなたは彼らの絶対支配者とはなり得ない。だが彼らはあなたの局在する展開であり、その形体は変転するゆえ、あなたは彼らを統御される。生成の素材を与える原因は必ずその支配者である。結果は素材因から離れて存在しないからだ。ゆえに、物質的手段で得た不完全な知によって「私は至上主を知る」と思うのは迷妄にすぎない。
Because the conditioned soul cannot directly understand the Supreme, the Vedas commonly refer to that Supreme Truth in such impersonal terms as Brahman and oṁ tat sat. If an ordinary scholar presumes to know the confidential meaning of these symbolic references, he should be rejected as an imposter. In the words of Śrī Kena Upaniṣad (2.1), yadi manyase su-vedeti dabhram evāpi nūnaṁ tvaṁ vettha brahmaṇo rūpaṁ, yad asya tvaṁ yad asya deveṣu: “If you think you know Brahman well, then your knowledge is very meager. If you think you can identify Brahman’s form from among the demigods, indeed you know but little.” And again:
FAQs
This verse argues that if the jīva were truly all-pervading and independent like the Supreme, it could not be controlled; but since the jīva is governed by higher laws and dependence, claims of equality with Bhagavān are rejected as flawed philosophy.
The speakers are the personified Vedas (Śrutis), offering philosophical and devotional prayers that establish the Supreme Lord’s unique position as the ultimate controller.
It encourages humility and devotion by recognizing our dependence—accepting guidance, living responsibly under dharma, and turning to the Supreme Lord as the true controller rather than cultivating false notions of absolute independence.