Shloka 19

जलरूपमिवाकाशे तथैवात्मनि पश्यति । अपां व्यतिक्रमे चास्य वह्लिरूपं प्रकाशते,वह सम्पूर्ण आकाशमें जल-ही-जल-सा देखता है तथा आत्माको भी जलरूप अनुभव करता है (यह अनुभव जलतत्त्वकी धारणा करते समय होता है)। फिर जलका लय हो जानेपर अग्नितत्त्वकी धारणा करते समय उसे सर्वत्र अग्नि प्रकाशित दिखायी देती है

jalarūpam ivākāśe tathaivātmani paśyati | apāṁ vyatikrame cāsya vahlirūpaṁ prakāśate ||

വ്യാസൻ പറഞ്ഞു—അവൻ സമസ്ത ആകാശവും ജലം മാത്രമാണെന്നപോലെ കാണുന്നു; അതുപോലെ ആത്മാവിനെയും ജലരൂപമായി അനുഭവിക്കുന്നു—ഇത് ജലതത്ത്വധാരണയിൽ സംഭവിക്കുന്നു. പിന്നെ ആ ജലാവസ്ഥ ലയിക്കുമ്പോൾ, അഗ്നിതത്ത്വധാരണയിൽ അവന് എല്ലായിടത്തും അഗ്നി മാത്രമേ പ്രകാശിക്കുന്നതായി തോന്നൂ.

जलरूपम्water-form (as an object seen)
जलरूपम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootजलरूप
FormNeuter, Accusative, Singular
इवlike/as if
इव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव
आकाशेin the sky/space
आकाशे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआकाश
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
तथाthus/so
तथा:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootतथा
एवindeed/just
एव:
TypeIndeclinable
Rootएव
आत्मनिin the self
आत्मनि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootआत्मन्
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
पश्यतिsees
पश्यति:
TypeVerb
Rootदृश्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Parasmaipada
अपाम्of the waters
अपाम्:
TypeNoun
Rootअप्
FormFeminine, Genitive, Plural
व्यतिक्रमेat the passing away/cessation
व्यतिक्रमे:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootव्यतिक्रम
FormMasculine, Locative, Singular
and
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अस्यof him/of this (person)
अस्य:
TypePronoun
Rootइदम्
FormMasculine/Neuter, Genitive, Singular
वह्निरूपम्fire-form (as what appears)
वह्निरूपम्:
Karta
TypeNoun
Rootवह्निरूप
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
प्रकाशतेshines/appears
प्रकाशते:
TypeVerb
Rootकाश्
FormPresent, Third, Singular, Atmanepada

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
Ā
ākāśa (space/ether)
Ā
ātmā (Self)
A
ap (water element)
V
vahni/agni (fire element)

Educational Q&A

The verse describes how concentrated meditation on a particular element (water, then fire) can so saturate perception that the meditator experiences the world—and even the sense of self—in that elemental form; when that state ceases, a new elemental perception arises. It highlights the mind’s power to shape experience and the disciplined progression of yogic concentration.

Vyāsa is explaining a yogic process of dhāraṇā: first the practitioner holds the water-element in awareness, seeing space and the inner self as water; afterward, when the water-concentration dissolves, he takes up the fire-element and perceives fire shining everywhere.