आत्मा शुद्धः सदा नित्यः सुखरूपः स्वयम्प्रभः। अज्ञानान्मलिनो भाति ज्ञानाच्छुद्धो भवत्ययम्॥
ātmā śuddhaḥ sadā nityaḥ sukharūpaḥ svayaṃprabhaḥ । ajñānān malino bhāti jñānāc chuddho bhavaty ayam ॥
PM's MessageTrue knowledge paves the way for the welfare of the nation, society, and all humanity. Therefore, it is essential that our knowledge and our actions become an inspiration for all humanity.
Meaning of Ātmā Śuddhaḥ Sadā Nityaḥ
The Atman is by nature always pure, eternal, blissful, and self-luminous. However, because of ignorance, it appears impure; through true knowledge, it once again reveals its pure nature.
Word by word
- आत्माātmā
the Self
आत्मन्
- शुद्धःśuddhaḥ
pure
√शुध्
- सदाsadā
always
- नित्यःnityaḥ
eternal
नित्य
- सुखरूपःsukharūpaḥ
of the nature of bliss
सुख + रूप
- स्वयम्प्रभःsvayaṁprabhaḥ
self-luminous
स्वयम् + प्रभा
- अज्ञानात्ajñānāt
through ignorance
अ + √ज्ञा
- मलिनःmalinaḥ
impure
मल
- भातिbhāti
appears
√भा
Appears impure — it does not become impure.
- ज्ञानात्jñānāt
through knowledge
√ज्ञा
- शुद्धः भवतिśuddho bhavati
becomes pure
√भू
- अयम्ayam
this
इदम्
Commentary
This verse presents the Atman as innately pure, eternal, blissful, and self-luminous. The impurity spoken of here is not a real stain on the Self, but the appearance created by ajñāna, or ignorance, just as a clear mirror may seem dull when covered by dust. Knowledge does not create purity; it removes the covering that prevents one from recognizing what was always present. In that sense, jñāna is inwardly liberating because it corrects a mistaken appearance. The argument rests on one verb. The Self bhāti malinaḥ — appears impure — it does not become impure, and the contrast with bhavati in the next clause is exact. Ignorance produces an appearance; knowledge produces a state, and the state it produces is the one that was there before the appearance arose. Nothing is added by jñāna and nothing was ever lost, which is why the verse can call the Self svayamprabhaḥ, self-luminous, needing no light brought to it.
Sources and textual variants
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View topic pageज्ञानवांश्च तथा वाग्मी कर्मस्वपि च निष्ठितः। एवं युक्तोऽपि न श्रेयान् यदि शीलविवर्जितः॥
jñānavāṃśca tathā vāgmī karmasvapi ca niṣṭhitaḥ । evaṃ yukto'pi na śreyān yadi śīlavivarjitaḥ ॥
Knowledge, eloquence, and skill in work do not make a person worthy of esteem if good character is absent.
उद्यमः साहसं धैर्यं बुद्धिः शक्तिः पराक्रमः। षडेते यत्र वर्तन्ते तत्र दैवं सहायकृत्॥
udyamaḥ sāhasaṃ dhairyaṃ buddhiḥ śaktiḥ parākramaḥ । ṣaḍete yatra vartante tatra daivaṃ sahāyakṛt ॥
Effort, courage, patience, intelligence, strength, and valor prepare a person to receive the help of providence.
अनुद्वेगकरं वाक्यं सत्यं प्रियहितं च यत्। स्वाध्यायाभ्यसनं चैव वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते॥
anudvegakaraṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priyahitaṁ ca yat । svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅmayaṁ tapa ucyate ॥
The Bhagavad Gita describes truthful, pleasant, beneficial, and non-agitating words, together with regular study, as austerity of speech.