उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः।
यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।।15.17।।
।।15.17।।उत्तम पुरुष तो अन्य ही है? जो परमात्मा नामसे कहा गया है। वही अविनाशी ईश्वर तीनों लोकोंमें प्रविष्ट होकर सबका भरणपोषण करता है।
।।15.17।। परन्तु उत्तम पुरुष अन्य ही है? जो परमात्मा कहलाता है और जो तीनों लोकों में प्रवेश करके सबका धारण करने वाला अव्यय ईश्वर है।।
।।15.17।। व्याख्या -- उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः -- पूर्वश्लोकमें क्षर और अक्षर दो प्रकारके पुरुषोंका वर्णन करनेके बाद अब भगवान् यह बताते हैं कि उन दोनोंसे उत्तम पुरुष तो अन्य ही है (टिप्पणी प0 782)।यहाँ अन्यः पद परमात्माको अविनाशी अक्षर(जीवात्मा) से भिन्न बतानके लिये नहीं? प्रत्युत उससे विलक्षण बतानेके लिये आया है। इसीलिये भगवान्ने आगे अठारहवें श्लोकमें अपनेको नाशवान् क्षरसे अतीत और अविनाशी अक्षरसे उत्तम बताया है। परमात्माका अंश होते हुए भी जीवात्माकी दृष्टि या खिंचाव नाशवान् क्षरकी ओर हो रहा है। इसीलिये यहाँ भगवान्को उससे विलक्षण बताया गया है।परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः -- उस उत्तम पुरुषको ही परमात्मा नामसे कहा जाता है। परमात्मा शब्द निर्गुणका वाचक माना जाता है? जिसका अर्थ है -- परम (श्रेष्ठ) आत्मा अथवा सम्पूर्ण जीवोंकी आत्मा। इस श्लोकमें परमात्मा और ईश्वर -- दोनों शब्द आये हैं? जिसका तात्पर्य है कि निर्गुण और सगुण सब एक पुरुषोत्तम ही है।यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः -- वह उत्तम पुरुष (परमात्मा) तीनों लोकोंमें अर्थात् सर्वत्र समानरूपसे नित्य व्याप्त है।यहाँ बिभर्ति पदका तात्पर्य यह है कि वास्तवमें परमात्मा ही सम्पूर्ण प्राणियोंका भरणपोषण करते हैं? पर जीवात्मा संसारसे अपना सम्बन्ध मान लेनेके कारण भूलसे सांसारिक व्यक्तियों आदिको अपना मानकर उनके भरणपोषणादिका भार अपने ऊपर ले लेता है। इससे वह व्यर्थ ही दुःख पाता रहता है (टिप्पणी प0 783.1)।भगवान्को अव्ययः कहनेका तात्पर्य है कि सम्पूर्ण लोकोंका भरणपोषण करते रहनेपर भी भगवान्का कोई व्यय (खर्चा) नहीं होता अर्थात् उनमें किसी तरहकी किञ्चिन्मात्र भी कमी नहीं आती। वे सदा ज्योंकेत्यों रहते हैं।ईश्वरः शब्द सगुणका वाचक माना जाता है? जिसका अर्थ है -- शासन करनेवाला।मार्मिक बातयद्यपि मातापिता बालकका पालनपोषण किया करते हैं? तथापि बालकको इस बातका ज्ञान नहीं होता कि मेरा पालनपोषण कौन करता है? कैसे करता है और किसलिये करता है इसी तरह यद्यपि भगवान् मात्र प्राणियोंका पालनपोषण करते हैं? तथापि अज्ञानी मनुष्यको (भगवान्पर दृष्टि न रहनेसे) इस बातका पता ही नहीं लगता कि मेरा पालनपोषण कौन करता है। भगवान्का शरणागत भक्त ही इस बातको ठीक तरहसे जानता है कि एक भगवान् ही सबका सम्यक् प्रकारसे पालनपोषण कर रहे हैं।पालनपोषण करनेमें भगवान् किसीके साथ कोई पक्षपात (विषमता) नहीं करते। वे भक्तअभक्त? पापीपुण्यात्मा? आस्तिकनास्तिक आदि सभीका समानरूपसे पालनपोषण करते हैं (टिप्पणी प0 783.2)। प्रत्यक्ष देखनेमें आता है कि भगवान्द्वारा रचित सृष्टिमें सूर्य सबको समानरूपसे प्रकाश देता है? पृथ्वी सबको समानरूपसे धारण करती है? वैश्वानरअग्नि सबके अन्नको समानरूपसे पचाती है? वायु सबको (श्वास लेनेके लिये) समानरूपसे प्राप्त होती है? अन्नजल सबको समानरूपसे तृप्त करते हैं? इत्यादि। सम्बन्ध -- पूर्वश्लोकमें वर्णित उत्तम पुरुषके साथ अपनी एकता बताकर अब साकाररूपसे प्रकट भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण अपना अत्यन्त गोपनीय रहस्य प्रकट कहते हैं।
।।15.17।। कोई एक व्यक्ति विभिन्न उपाधियों? व्यक्तियों? कार्यों और पदों की दृष्टि से विभिन्न नामों से संबोधित किया जाता है और यदि इन आपेक्षिक दृष्टिकोणों को दूर कर दिया जाय? तो वह व्यक्ति शून्य रूप नहीं हो जायेगा। वह मात्र एक निर्विशेष व्यक्ति रह जाता है। इसी प्रकार? जो परम तत्त्व नित्यपरिवर्तनशील जगत् के रूप में क्षर पुरुष कहलाता है और क्षर के ज्ञाता के रूप में अक्षर पुरुष? वह स्वयं इन दोनों से भिन्न ही है? जिसे यहाँ उत्तम पुरुष? परमात्मा और अव्यय ईश्वर कहा गया है।क्षर से परे पहुँचने पर अक्षर ही नहीं? वरन् उत्तम पुरुष ही रह जाता है? क्योंकि क्षरत्व के अभाव में अक्षरत्व का भी अभाव हो जाता है। तब रह जाता है? इन दोनों का परमार्थ अधिष्ठान परमात्मा। यह परमात्मा या अव्यय ईश्वर तीनों लोकों में प्रवेश करके उनका धारणपोषण करता है। संस्कृत में लोक शब्द का अर्थ है वह वस्तु जो देखी या अनुभव की जाती है। इस दृष्टि से? यहाँ लोक शब्द का अर्थ स्वर्गादि लोक हो सकता है और हमारी परिचित अनुभवों की तीन अवस्थाएं जाग्रत? स्वप्न और सुषुप्ति भी हो सकती हैं। एक ही संवित् (चैतन्य) इन तीनों को प्रकाशित करता है।यहाँ विशेष ध्यान देने की बाता यह है कि इन तीनों पुरुषों को भिन्नभिन्न नहीं समझना चाहिये। केवल उत्तम पुरुष ही पारमार्थिक सत्य है? जो दो विभिन्न उपाधियों की दृष्टि से क्षर और अक्षर के रूप में प्रतीत हो रहा है। उपाधियों के अभाव में वह केवल अपने नित्यशुद्ध? निरुपाधिक स्वरूप में रह जाता है। उदाहरणार्थ? एक ही सर्वगत आकाश घट और मठ इन दो उपाधियों से अवच्छिन्न होकर घटाकाश और मठाकाश के रूप में प्रतीत होता है। यहाँ यह स्पष्ट है कि यह कोई तीन आकाश घटाकाश? मठाकाश और महाकाश नहीं बन गये हैं। घट और मठ की उपाधियों से ध्यान दूर कर लें तो ज्ञात होता कि वस्तुत आकाश एक ही है।इसी प्रकार? उत्तम पुरुष ही दृश्य और दृष्टा के रूप में क्षर और अक्षर पुरुष कहलाता है। परन्तु उपाधियों से विवर्जित हुआ वह परमात्मा ही है।अगले श्लोक में? भगवान् श्रीकृष्ण पुरुषोत्तम शब्द की व्युत्पत्ति दर्शाकर यह बताते हैं कि वे किस प्रकार परम ब्रह्म स्वरूप हैं
15.17 But different is th supreme Person who is spoken of as the transcendental Self, who, permeating the three worlds, upholds (them), and is the imperisahble God.
15.17 But distinct is the Supreme Purusha called the highest Self, the indestructible Lord Who, pervading the three worlds, sustains them.
15.17. But the Highest Person, distinct [from both this] is spoken of as the Supreme Self, which, being the changeless Lord, sustains the triad of the world by entering into it.
15.17 उत्तमः the Supreme? पुरुषः Purusha? तु but? अन्यः another? परमात्मा the highest? Self? इति thus? उदाहृतः called? यः who? लोकत्रयम् the three worlds? आविश्य pervading? बिभर्ति sustains? अव्ययः the indestructible? ईश्वरः Lord.Commentary Purushottama is beyond the universe though He pervades the three worlds. Therefore He is called the Supreme Being by the Vedas and men of this world. He pervades the three worlds and upholds them yet? He is not tainted by the world. He is above the world or worldliness.Just as the waking state is different from the dram or the deep sleep states? just as the orb of the sun is different from his rays or the mirage they casue? so also is the highest Purusha different from the perishable and the imperishable Purushas.The highest Purusha is the haven of peace. In Him all take their refuge and eternal rest. He is incomparable for He is selfcontained there is nothing like Him. He can only be compared to Himself. The imperishable Being (Akshara Brahman) Who is beyond the world and the Avyaktam (the Unmanifested) are essentially the same as the Purushottama Who transcends both the Kshara and the Akshara.The Purushottama is ite distinct from the two -- Kshara and Akshara. He is the Supreme Being. The physical body? the astral body and the causal body are also termed the Self. But these are secondary selves. Paramatma or the Supreme Self is the primary Self. Purushottama or Paramatma is the supreme or the highest when compared with the other secondary selves created by ignorance. He is the innermost consciousness of all beings. He is the support of everything. He is the Niyanta? the Inner Ruler. He is independent. Therefore He is known as the Supreme Self in the Vedanta.Anyah Another? ite distinct from the two.Lokatrayam The three worlds Bhuh (the earth)? Bhuvah (the midregion) and Svah (heaven) are the three worlds.Purushottama is further described as follows He is the imperishable and omniscient Lord Narayana Who permeates the three worlds by His vital energy and sustains them by His mere existence in them.Avyaya Imperishable? that which is free from the modifications such as birth? death? etc. Just as the king who rules his subjects and controls them is distinct from them? so also the Supreme Being Who is the ruler of the perishable and the imperishable is distinct from them. (Cf.VIII.20)
15.17 Tu, but; anyah, different, entirely contrary in characteristics from these; is the uttamah, supreme, most excellent; purusah, Person, who is different in characteristics from these-the mutable and the immutable-, untouched by the mutable and the immutable limiting adjuncts, and is by nature eternal, pure, conscious and free; udahrtah, spoken of in the Upanisads; iti, as; the paramatma, supreme Self; He is paramah, supreme, as compared with the selves like body etc. created by ignorance, and is the atma, Self, the inmost Consciousness of all beings. Hence He is the supreme Self. He Himself is being specially described: yah, who, by dint of His own active power inhering in the energy that is Maya; [Caitanya, consciousness, itself is the bala (energy); the sakti (active power) therein is Maya. Through that He upholds.] avisya, permeating; loka-trayam, the three worlds-called Bhuh (Earth), Bhuvah, (Intermediate Space) and Svah (Heaven); bibharti, upholds (them) by merely being present in His own nature. (And He) is the avyayah, imperishable; isvarah, God, the Omniscient One called Narayana, who is the Lord by nature. This name-the supreme Person-of God as described is well known. Showing that the name is apt by virtue of its etymological significance, the Lord reveals Himself saying, I am the unsurpassable God:
15.17 See Comment under 15.18
15.17 But there is the Supreme Person who is other than the bound and liberated selves expressed by the terms, the perishable and the imperishable. He forms a completely different category. All Srutis call Him the Supreme Self. But by that very designation as the Supreme Self, it may be known that the Supreme Person is a category distinct from the bound and the liberated selves. How? Entering the threefold world, supports it. Loka (world) is that which is perceived. There are three such perceivable worlds, He enters the three worlds which can be understood from the authority of the Srutis. These are the world of unconscient matter, the world of conscient selves conjoined with matter, and the world of liberated selves. As understandable from the Srutis, He enters into these three categories as their Atman and supports them. Thus, He is an entity different from the triad which He pervades and maintains. Further He is different, as He is imperishable and as He is the Lord. Being imperishable, He is different from the bound non-conscient matter whose nature is subject to decay. He is different from the bound conscient selves as the latter is subject to Prakrti and follows its laws. He is also distinguished from the liberated selves, because in their previous condition they were connected with matter and mixed with it. Similarly, He is the Lord of these three worlds, a category distinct from those which have to be ruled.
Having just spoken about the impersonal brahman, which the jnanis worship, the Lord now speaks about the paramatma which the yogis worship. The word tu indicates a distinction from what was previously spoken. As the yogi is a different worshipper than the jnani, the object worshipped will also be different. The Lord shows the nature of paramatma. Paramatma is he who, though having the nature of commanding (isvara) and being unchanging (avyayah), enters into the three worlds completely and supports and protects it (bibharti).
Here Lord Krishna shows the reason why the two types of beings persihable and impesihable were described in the previous verse for transcendental to both is the Supreme Lord, Himself. In the Vedic scriptures He is described as Parama the supreme and as Atma the eternal soul. Combined they become Paramatma the Supreme Soul which is different from the temporary impersihable as well as distinct from the immortal individual atma which is infintesimal, eternal consciousness. The Supreme Lord Krishna expands as the three Purusa Avataras of Vishnu who are Karanadaksayi Vishnu laying upon the unlimited casual ocean in yoga nidra or internal meditation, creating trillions upon trillions of universes which emmante unlimitedly from His pores during one exhalation.. They are ruled by His expansion of Garbodayaksayi Vishnu who served by Laksmi-devi, rules each universe and expands as all the avataras or incarnations throughout creation who manifest in various universes according to time, circumstances and schedule. From Garbodayaksayi Vishnu is expanded Ksisrodaksayi Vishnu who enters into the etheric heart of every jiva or embodied being in all of existence as Paramatma; maintaining and sustaining each and every jiva throughout all creation as one undivided reality.
Now Lord Krishna expounds upon the supreme soul which is transcendent to both ksarah or fallible and the aksarah or infallible respectively as the conditioned and the liberated. This supreme soul is designated as paramatma in all the Vedic scriptures. The very epithet of parama meaning exaltedly supreme reveals that paramatma is distinctly unique and different from even the atma or immortal soul. All the atmas collectively in all of creation comprise the spiritual form of paramatma which penetrates all creation sustaining and maintaining it. The word loka means world and because it is written as lokyate it refers to the three classifications of worlds. One of them is achetana the inanimate worlds. Two is buddha- chetana or the animate worlds mixed with the inanimate worlds. Three is the unlimited and eternally liberated spiritual worlds. It is these three categories of worlds and all the jivas or embodied beings upon them that the Supreme Lord Krishna pervades and permeates, maintains and sustains by the fact that all the worlds are originally generated by Him. As the soveriegn creator of all creation this makes Him distinctly different from everything else yet at the same time a part of it. Because He alone is infinite it can be comprehended that only He can be distinctly different from the finite consisting of the inanimate, the animate, the jivas in bondage and those who have achieved liberation.
Now Lord Krishna expounds upon the supreme soul which is transcendent to both ksarah or fallible and the aksarah or infallible respectively as the conditioned and the liberated. This supreme soul is designated as paramatma in all the Vedic scriptures. The very epithet of parama meaning exaltedly supreme reveals that paramatma is distinctly unique and different from even the atma or immortal soul. All the atmas collectively in all of creation comprise the spiritual form of paramatma which penetrates all creation sustaining and maintaining it. The word loka means world and because it is written as lokyate it refers to the three classifications of worlds. One of them is achetana the inanimate worlds. Two is buddha- chetana or the animate worlds mixed with the inanimate worlds. Three is the unlimited and eternally liberated spiritual worlds. It is these three categories of worlds and all the jivas or embodied beings upon them that the Supreme Lord Krishna pervades and permeates, maintains and sustains by the fact that all the worlds are originally generated by Him. As the soveriegn creator of all creation this makes Him distinctly different from everything else yet at the same time a part of it. Because He alone is infinite it can be comprehended that only He can be distinctly different from the finite consisting of the inanimate, the animate, the jivas in bondage and those who have achieved liberation.
Uttamah purushastwanyah paramaatmetyudaahritah; Yo lokatrayamaavishya bibhartyavyaya ishwarah.
uttamaḥ—the Supreme; puruṣhaḥ—Divine Personality; tu—but; anyaḥ—besides; parama-ātmā—the Supreme Soul; iti—thus; udāhṛitaḥ—is said; yaḥ—who; loka trayam—the three worlds; āviśhya—enters; bibharti—supports; avyayaḥ—indestructible; īśhvaraḥ—the controller
