SrI: SrImathE satakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
sUthram 14
ஹ்ருதயப்ரதேசத்தில் நின்றும் உத்க்ரமித்துப் போவது வருவதாமென்று சாஸ்த்ரம் சொல்லுகையாலே, ஆத்மா அணுவாகக்கடவது
(hrudhaya pradhEsaththil ninRum uthkramiththup pOvadhu varuvadhAm enRu SAsthram sollugaiyAlE, AthmA aNuvAgak kadavadhu)
Meaning: Since the scriptures speak of the soul residing in the heart, departing from it, travelling, and returning, the soul must be atomic in size.
Explanation
In the previous sUthram, a doubt was raised:
“If the self is distinct from matter, self-luminous, blissful, and eternal, how do we know that it is atomic (aNu) rather than all-pervading (vibhu)?”
The commentator now gives the answer.
The vEdhic scriptures which are free from defect and are the highest authority, describe four things about the individual self:
- its residence,
- its departure,
- its journey,
- and its return.
From these scriptural statements, the atomic nature of the self is established.
The soul resides in the heart
Scripture declares:
हृदि ह्येवायमात्मा [bruhadhAraNyaka upanishadh]
(hrudhi hyEvAyam AthmA)
“This self indeed resides in the heart.”
This passage teaches that the individual self has a particular locus, namely the heart.
The soul departs from the body
Scripture further says:
तेन प्रद्योतेनैष आत्मा निष्क्रामति चक्षुषो वा मूर्ध्नो वा अन्येभ्यो वा शरीरदेशेभ्यः [kaushIthaki upanishadh]
(thEna pradhyOthEna Esha AthmA nishkrAmathi chakshushO vA mUrdhnO vA anyEbhyO vA SarIra-dhEshEbhya:)
“With that illumination, this self departs through the eye, or through the head, or through other parts of the body.”
This teaches the soul’s departure (uthkramaNa) from the body at the time of death.
The soul travels to other realms
Scripture also says:
ये वै के चास्माल्लोकात् प्रयन्ति चन्द्रमसमेव ते सर्वे गच्छन्ति [bruhadhAraNyaka upanishadh]
(yE vai kE chAsmAl lOkAth prayanthi chandhramasam Eva thE sarvE gachchanthi)
“Those who depart from this world go to the lunar realm.”
This teaches the soul’s journey (gamana) after leaving the body.
The Soul Returns
Another scriptural statement says:
तस्माल्लोकात् पुनरेत्यस्मै लोकाय कर्मणे [bruhadhAraNyaka upanishadh]
(thasmAl lOkAth punar Ethyasmai lOkAya karmaNE)
“From that world it returns again to this world for the experience of karma.”
This teaches the soul’s return (Agamana).
Why do these statements establish atomicity?
The scriptures speak of:
- residing in a particular place,
- departing,
- travelling,
- and returning.
These descriptions are meaningful only if the individual self is atomic.
If the self were all-pervading (vibhu), none of these statements would make sense.
An all-pervading entity cannot be said to:
- reside in one place,
- leave one place,
- travel to another place,
- or return from elsewhere.
Therefore, these scriptural statements establish that the self is atomic in nature.
Support from the brahma sUthrams
The commentator points out that the author of the brahma sUthrams also established the atomic nature of the self through these very considerations.
The brahma sUthram states:
उत्क्रान्ति–गत्यागतीनाम्
(uthkrAnthi-gathy-AgathInAm)
“Because of departure, movement, and return.”
sUthrakArar (vyAsa bhagavAn) uses these scriptural descriptions to establish that the individual self is atomic.
Additional scriptural support
The upanishadhs and smruthis further declare:
एषोऽणुरात्मा चेतसा वेदितव्यः [muNdaka upanishadh]
(EshO ‘Nur AthmA chEthasA vEdhithavya:)
“This atomic self is to be known through the mind.”
वालाग्रशतभागस्य शतधा कल्पितस्य च । भागो जीवः स विज्ञेयः ॥ [SvEthASvathara upanishadh]
(vAlAgra Satha bhAgasya SathadhA kalpithasya cha | bhAgO jIva: sa vigyEya: ||)
“The individual self should be understood as being comparable to one hundredth of one hundredth part of the tip of a hair.”
This statement is not intended as a physical measurement but to indicate the extreme subtlety and minuteness of the self.
आराग्रमात्रो ह्यवरोऽपि दृष्टः [SvEthASvathara upanishadh]
(ArAgra mAthrO hy avarO’pi dhrushta:)
“The self is seen as exceedingly minute, like the tip of a pointed instrument.”
स्वरूपमणुमात्रं स्याल्लक्षणं तु विभु स्मृतम् । त्रसरेणुप्रमाणा स्यात् तेजोरेश्मिकोटिविभूषिता ॥ [viSvaksEna samhithai]
(svarUpam aNumAthram syAl lakshaNam thu vibhu smrutham | thrasarENu pramANA syAth thEjo rESmi ko ti vibhUshithA ||)
“The essential nature of the self is atomic, though its attribute of knowledge extends far and wide.”
The commentator cites these passages to show that the atomic nature of the self is well established in scripture.
Conclusion
The vEdhic scriptures describe the soul as residing in the heart, departing from the body, travelling to other realms, and returning again.
Such descriptions are possible only if the self is atomic.
Therefore, both scripture and the brahma sUthram establish that the individual self is atomic in nature.
adiyen vAsudhEva rAmAnuja dhAsan
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