thathva thrayam (Commentary) – sUthram 22

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sUthram 22

இப்படியிருக்கையாலே ஶஸ்த்ரம், அக்3னி, ஜலம், வாதம், ஆதபம் தொடக்கமானவற்றால் சே2தி3த்தல், த3ஹித்தல், நனைத்தல், ஶோஷிப்பித்தல் செய்கைக்கு அயோக்3யமாயிருக்கும்.

ippadiyirukkaiyAlE Sasthram, agni, jalam, vAtham, Athapam thodakkamAnavaRRAl chEdhiththal, dhahiththal, nanaiththal, SOshippiththal seygaiykkE ayOgyamAyirukkum.

Meaning: Because of its nature as explained above, the soul cannot be cut, burnt, wetted, or dried by weapons, fire, water, wind, sunlight and similar agencies.

Explanation

Meaning of “இப்படி” (ippadi)

The word “இப்படி“ (ippadi) refers to the qualities already established for the soul. It may refer to the four qualities explained immediately before:

  • अव्यक्त (avyaktha) – beyond the reach of the external senses.
  • अचिन्त्य (achinthya) – not belonging to the same category as अचित् (achith).
  • निरवयव (niravayava) – not made up of parts.
  • निर्विकार (nirvikAra) – free from modification.

The commentator notes that it may also refer specifically to निर्विकारत्व (nirvikArathva).

Why cannot these agencies affect the soul?

Weapons, fire, water, wind, and similar entities can cut, burn, wet, or dry only those objects which they are able to pervade and modify.

The soul, however, is subtler than all insentient entities. Therefore, these gross material agencies cannot pervade or alter it.

For this reason, the soul is not subject to cutting, burning, wetting, or drying.

Scriptural reference

bhagavAn declares: bhagavath gIthA 2.23

नैनं छिन्दन्ति शस्त्राणि नैनं दहति पावकः ।
न चैनं क्लेदयन्त्यापो न शोषयति मारुतः ॥

(nainam chindhanthi SasthrANi nainam dhahathi pAvaka: |
na chainam klEdhayanthy ApO na SOshayathi mArutha: ||)

“Weapons do not cut it; fire does not burn it; water does not wet it; wind does not dry it.”

Further: bhagavath gIthA 2.24

अच्छेद्योऽयमदाह्योऽयमक्लेद्योऽशोष्य एव च ।
नित्यः सर्वगतः स्थाणुरचलोऽयं सनातनः ॥

(achchEdhyO’yamadhAhyO’yamaklEdhyO’SOshya Eva cha |
nithya: sarvagatha: sthANurachalO’yaṁ sanAthana: ||)

“This self cannot be cut, burnt, wetted, or dried. It is eternal, stable, immovable, and ancient.”

Thus, because of its nature, the soul is beyond the effects of cutting, burning, wetting, and drying.

adiyen vAsudhEva rAmAnuja dhAsan

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