𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

𝔹ℍ𝔸𝔾𝕍𝔸𝔻𝔾𝕀𝕋𝔸

 तेषामेवानुकम्पार्थमहमज्ञानजं तम: | नाशयाम्यात्मभावस्थो ज्ञानदीपेन भास्वता || 10.11||

Out of compassion for them, I, who dwell within their hearts, destroy the darkness born of ignorance, with the luminous lamp of knowledge.

In this verse, Shree Krishna further elaborates the concept of grace. Previously, he had explained that he bestows it upon those who lovingly absorb their minds in him and make him the paramount object of their plans, thoughts, and activities. Now, he reveals what happens when someone receives his grace. He says that he destroys the darkness in their heart with the lamp of wisdom.

Ignorance is often symbolized as darkness, but what is this lamp of wisdom that God talks about? At present, our senses, mind, and intellect are all material, while God is divine. Hence, we are unable to see him, hear him, know him, or be united with him. When God bestows his grace, he confers his divine Yogmaya energy upon the soul. It is also called śhuddha sattva (divine mode of goodness), which is distinct from the sattva guṇa (mode of goodness) of Maya. When we receive that śhuddha sattva energy, our sense, mind, and intellect become divine. To put it simply, by his grace, God bestows his divine senses, divine mind, and divine intellect to the soul. Equipped with these divine instruments, the soul is able to see God, hear God, know God, and be united with God. Hence, the Vedānt Darśhan states: viśheṣhānugrahaśh cha  “Only by God’s grace does one gain divine knowledge.” In this way, the torchlight that Shree Krishna refers to is his divine power. By the light of God’s divine power the darkness of the material energy is dispelled.

𝕍𝕀𝕍𝔼𝕂𝔸ℂℍ𝕌𝔻𝔸𝕄𝔸ℕ𝕀

स्वस्य द्रष्टुर्निर्गुणस्याक्रियस्य, प्रत्यग्बोधानन्दरूपस्य बुद्धेः ।

भ्रान्त्या प्राप्तो जीवभावो न सत्यो, मोहापाये नास्त्यवस्तुस्वभावात्  || 196 ||

The Jīvahood of the Ātman, the Witness, which is beyond qualities and beyond activity, and which is realised within as Knowledge and Bliss Absolute – has been superimposed by the delusion of the Buddhi, and is not real. And because it is by nature an unreality, it ceases to exist when the delusion is gone.

The verse teaches a pure Advaita Vedānta truth:

• The Self is ever free, actionless, and blissful.
• The jīva-identity is only a mistaken notion arising from ignorance. When ignorance is removed, the jīva disappears because it never truly existed.