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Shloka 12

Dharma-Pramāṇa-Vicāra: The Elusiveness of Dharma and the Limits of Rule-Lists

तमेतमतितेजों5शं भूतात्मानं हृदि स्थितम्‌ । तमोरजो भ्यामाविष्टा नानुपश्यन्ति मूर्तिषु,यह जीवात्मा परमात्माका ही अंश है और देहधारियोंके हृदयमें विराजमान है तथापि जो लोग रजोगुण और तमोगुणसे अभिभूत हैं वे देहके भीतर उस जीवात्माकी स्थितिको देख या समझ नहीं पाते हैं

tam etam atitejoṁśaṁ bhūtātmānaṁ hṛdi sthitam | tamo-rajobhyām āviṣṭā nānupaśyanti mūrtiṣu ||

อาตมันปัจเจกนี้เป็นส่วนอันรุ่งเรืองยิ่งของปรมาตมัน สถิตอยู่ในดวงใจของผู้มีร่างกาย; แต่ผู้ที่ถูกครอบงำด้วยตมัสและรชัส ย่อมไม่อาจเห็นอาตมันนั้นภายในรูปกายของตน.

तम्him/that (one)
तम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
एतम्this (one)
एतम्:
Karma
TypePronoun
Rootएतद्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
अतितेजसम्of surpassing splendor
अतितेजसम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootअतितेजस्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
भूतात्मानम्the being-self / the self of beings
भूतात्मानम्:
Karma
TypeNoun
Rootभूतात्मन्
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
हृदिin the heart
हृदि:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootहृद्
FormNeuter, Locative, Singular
स्थितम्situated/abiding
स्थितम्:
Karma
TypeAdjective
Rootस्था (क्त)
FormMasculine, Accusative, Singular
तमःdarkness; tamas (quality)
तमः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootतमस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
रजःpassion; rajas (quality)
रजः:
Karana
TypeNoun
Rootरजस्
FormNeuter, Nominative, Singular
भ्याम्by the two (i.e., by tamas and rajas)
भ्याम्:
Karana
TypeIndeclinable
Rootद्वि (instrumental dual ending -भ्याम्)
FormInstrumental dual ending used with the two nouns तमः, रजः
आविष्टाःoverpowered/possessed
आविष्टाः:
Karta
TypeAdjective
Rootआ-विश् (क्त)
FormMasculine, Nominative, Plural
not
:
TypeIndeclinable
Root
अनुपश्यन्तिthey perceive/see (clearly)
अनुपश्यन्ति:
TypeVerb
Rootअनु-√पश्
FormPresent, Third, Plural, Parasmaipada
मूर्तिषुin bodies/forms
मूर्तिषु:
Adhikarana
TypeNoun
Rootमूर्ति
FormFeminine, Locative, Plural

व्यास उवाच

V
Vyāsa
J
jīvātman (individual self)
P
paramātman (Supreme Self)
H
hṛdaya (heart)
T
tamas
R
rajas

Educational Q&A

The indwelling self, a radiant portion of the Supreme, resides in the heart, but it is not recognized when the mind is dominated by rajas (restless desire) and tamas (delusion and inertia). Ethical clarity depends on cultivating sattva-like lucidity so that one’s actions are guided by the inner self rather than bodily impulses.

In Śānti Parva’s instruction on liberation and right understanding, Vyāsa explains to his listener that the true self is present within all embodied beings. He contrasts the ever-present reality of the ātman with the psychological condition of those clouded by the guṇas, who therefore fail to perceive the self within the body.