SrI: SrImathE satakOpAya nama: SrImathE rAmAnujAya nama: SrImadh varavaramunayE nama:
Having explained the nature of the self (Athma-svarUpa) in detail, piLLai lOkAchAryar now presents a simple defining characteristic (lakshaNa) of the self.
Earlier, he explained many characteristics of the self, such as:
- being distinct from achith (achith-vilakshaNathva),
- being non-inert (ajadathva),
- being of the nature of bliss (Anandha-rUpathva),
- being unmanifest (avyakthathva),
- being beyond thought (achinthyathva),
- being without parts (niravayavathva),
- being free from change (nirvikArathva), and
- being the substratum of knowledge (gyAnASrayathva).
Among these, ajadathva, Anandha-rUpathva, avyakthathva, achinthyathva, niravayavathva, nirvikArathva, and gyAnASrayathva are common to both the jIva and ISvara.
The three characteristics beginning with niyAmyathva are common to both chith and achith.
nithyathva is common to all three realities (thathva-thraya).
aNuthva is common to the individual soul and the material atom (achith-paramANu).
Since all these characteristics together distinguish the self from both achith and ISvara, there is nothing improper in considering them to be the defining characteristics (lakshaNas) of the self.
Nevertheless, to make the subject easier to grasp (sugraha), the AchArya now presents one simple defining characteristic of the self.
sUthram 61
இப்போது இவர்களுக்கு லக்ஷணம் ஶேஷத்வத்தோடே கூடின ஜ்ஞாத்ருத்வம்.
ippOdhu ivargaLukku lakshaNam SEshathvaththOdE kUdina gyAthruthvam.
Meaning
Now, the defining characteristic of these three kinds of sentient beings is gyAthruthva (being a knower) together with SEshathva (subservience to the lord).
Explanation
The defining characteristic of the three types of souls
Here, “இவர்கள்” (ivargaL) refers to the three kinds of sentient beings:
- badhdha
- muktha
- nithya
The word lakshaNa means an asAdhAraNa-dharma, a distinguishing characteristic.
Why SEshathva alone is not sufficient
If only SEshathva is taken as the defining characteristic, it cannot distinguish the individual soul from achith, because achith is also a SEsha of the Lord.
Therefore, SEshathva alone is not a sufficient lakshaNa.
Why gyAthruthva alone is not sufficient
If only gyAthruthva is taken as the defining characteristic, it cannot distinguish the individual soul from ISvara, since ISvara is also a knower.
Therefore, gyAthruthva alone is also insufficient.
The complete definition
Hence, the defining characteristic of the individual soul is:
SEshathvE sathi gyAthruthvam
That is, being a knower while existing in the state of servitude.
This distinguishes the jIva from both:
- achith, which possesses SEshathva but is not a knower, and
- ISvara, who is a knower but is not a SEsha.
adiyen vAsudhEva rAmAnuja dhAsan
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