Verse 16

Yogatattva

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अज्ञानादेव संसारो ज्ञानादेव विमुच्यते । ज्ञानस्वरूपमेवादौ ज्ञानं ज्ञेयैकसाधनम् ॥१६॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

अज्ञानात् एव संसारः । ज्ञानात् एव विमुच्यते । ज्ञान-स्वरूपम् एव आदौ । ज्ञानम् ज्ञेय-एक-साधनम् ॥१६॥

IAST Transliteration

ajñānād eva saṃsāro jñānād eva vimucyate | jñānasvarūpam evādau jñānaṃ jñeyaikāsādhanam ||16||

Translation

अज्ञानादेव संसारः प्रवर्तते; ज्ञानादेव विमुक्तिः। आदौ ज्ञानं स्वस्वरूपमेव; ज्ञेयस्यैकं साधनं ज्ञानमेव॥१६॥

Academic Translation

From ignorance alone is saṃsāra; from knowledge alone one is released. In the beginning, knowledge is indeed of the nature of knowledge itself; knowledge is the sole means to what is to be known.

Verse Context

• Avidyā–jñāna as the cause of bondage and liberation; mokṣa through ātma-jñāna
• Mahavakya: Supports the purport of mahāvākyas such as “tat tvam asi” and “ahaṃ brahmāsmi” by asserting liberation through knowledge of the Self/Brahman (jñāna as the direct means).
• Krishna Yajurveda
• Chandas: Anuṣṭubh (śloka)