SrI: SrImathE satakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
sUthram 15
அணுவாய், ஹ்ருதயத்தளவிலே நிற்குமாகில் சரீரமெங்குமொக்க ஸுகதுக்கங்களை புஜிக்கிறபடியென்னென்னில்
(aNuvAy, hrudhayaththaLavilE niRkumAgil SarIram engumokka sukha dhukkangaLai bhujikkiRapadi en ennil)
Meaning: If the soul is atomic in size and remains in the region of the heart, how does it experience pleasure and pain throughout the entire body?
Explanation
In the previous sUthram, it was established that the individual self is atomic (aNu) and resides in the heart.
A doubt now arises.
If the self is so minute and remains only in the heart region, how can it experience pleasure and pain occurring throughout the body?
The Doubt
The self has been established as:
- atomic in size,
- located in the heart,
- and distinct from the body.
If that is so, one may ask:
How does it experience sensations occurring in distant parts of the body?
For example, a person says:
“ पादे मे वेदना“
(pAdhE mE vEdhanA)
“There is pain in my foot.”
Or:
“ शिरसि मे वेदना“
(Sirasi mE vEdhanA)
“There is pain in my head.”
Similarly, one experiences pleasure in different parts of the body and says:
“ पादे मे सुखम्“
(pAdhE mE sukham)
“There is pleasure in my foot.”
“ शिरसि मे सुखम्“
(Sirasi mE sukham)
“There is pleasure in my head.”
Thus, from head to foot, various experiences of pleasure and pain are felt.
Why does this doubt arise?
If the self occupies only the region of the heart, it seems difficult to explain how it experiences sensations occurring throughout the body.
The question therefore is not about whether the self experiences pleasure and pain.
That is accepted by everyone.
The doubt concerns the manner in which those experiences take place.
How can an atomic self, located in one place, experience conditions occurring everywhere in the body?
Purpose of this sUthram
The commentator is not yet answering the question.
He is only presenting the doubt that naturally follows from accepting the atomic nature of the self.
The answer will be given in the following sUthram.
adiyen vAsudhEva rAmAnuja dhAsan
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