Devotion - 12 - 03

The Shloka

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ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।

सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यञ्च कूटस्थमचलन्ध्रुवम् ॥

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Ye tvakṣaram anirdeśyam avyaktaṁ paryupāsate ।

Sarvatragam acintyañca kūṭastham acalaṁ dhruvam ॥

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Meaning / Summary

This shloka, along with the subsequent one, details the path of devotion to the Nirguna Brahman (the formless, unmanifest Absolute Truth). It highlights the challenges and the nature of such a path, emphasizing that the object of worship is beyond human perception, thought, and description. It serves to differentiate this path from devotion to Saguna Brahman (God with form) which was discussed in the preceding verses, laying the groundwork for Arjuna’s question regarding which path is superior.

But those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest; the all-pervading, the inconceivable, the immutable, the unmoving, the eternal.

This shloka describes the attributes of the impersonal, unmanifest Brahman that some spiritual seekers meditate upon and worship. It lists characteristics such as imperishability, indefinability, unmanifest nature, omnipresence, inconceivability, immutability, steadfastness, and eternality. This is presented as an alternative path to worshipping a personal form of God.

In this verse, Lord Krishna begins to describe the characteristics of the supreme reality for those devotees who choose to worship the impersonal, unmanifest aspect of God, known as Nirguna Brahman. He lists several profound attributes of this ultimate truth: it is ‘Akṣaram’ (imperishable, eternal, beyond destruction), ‘Anirdeśyam’ (indefinable, that which cannot be grasped or described by words or senses due to its transcendental nature), and ‘Avyaktam’ (unmanifest, invisible, not perceptible to the material senses, beyond the realm of physical manifestation). Furthermore, this unmanifest reality is ‘Sarvatragam’ (all-pervading, present everywhere simultaneously, omnipresent), ‘Acintyam’ (inconceivable, beyond the reach of the human mind and intellect), ‘Kūṭastham’ (immutable, unwavering, eternally fixed, not subject to change like material objects), ‘Acalam’ (immovable, steadfast, not moving or changing its position), and ‘Dhruvam’ (eternal, constant, permanent, everlasting). These descriptors emphasize that this path involves meditating on an entity that is abstract, without form, beyond material attributes, and eternally existent.

Sentence - 1

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ये त्वक्षरमनिर्देश्यमव्यक्तं पर्युपासते ।

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Meaning

But those who worship the imperishable, the indefinable, the unmanifest.

Meaning of Words

ये	ye	Those who
तु	tu	But, indeed
अक्षरम्	akṣaram
The imperishable Refers to that which is indestructible, eternal, immutable, and not subject to decay or change. In a spiritual context, it signifies the ultimate reality, Brahman, which is beyond the cycles of birth and death, creation and dissolution.
अनिर्देश्यम्	anirdeśyam
The indefinable That which cannot be described, defined, or characterized by words, concepts, or senses. It is beyond the scope of human language and empirical knowledge, transcending all attributes and distinctions.
अव्यक्तम्	avyaktam
The unmanifest That which is not manifest, invisible, unperceivable by the senses, and not bound by any form or physical appearance. It exists in an unrevealed, subtle state, beyond the grasp of material perception.
पर्युपासते	paryupāsate
Worship, meditate upon To worship, adore, meditate upon, or intensely focus one’s spiritual efforts on a particular object of devotion. It implies a deep and dedicated spiritual practice.

Sentence - 2

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सर्वत्रगमचिन्त्यञ्च कूटस्थमचलन्ध्रुवम् ॥

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Meaning

The all-pervading, the inconceivable, the immutable, the unmoving, the eternal.

Meaning of Words

सर्वत्रगम्	sarvatragam
All-pervading That which is present everywhere, omnipresent, pervading all space and time. It signifies the boundless and all-encompassing nature of the ultimate reality.
अचिन्त्यम्	acintyam
The inconceivable That which cannot be grasped or fully comprehended by the human mind or intellect. It is beyond thought, reasoning, and conceptualization, existing on a transcendental plane.
च	ca	And
कूटस्थम्	kūṭastham
The immutable That which remains constant, unchangeable, and firm like an anvil (kūṭa means anvil or peak). It refers to the steady, unvarying, and unchanging essence of reality, unaffected by external modifications or conditions.
अचलम्	acalam
The unmoving That which is motionless, steady, and steadfast. It implies an inherent stability and lack of agitation or displacement, signifying an unchanging, fundamental reality.
ध्रुवम्	dhruvam
The eternal That which is constant, permanent, everlasting, and fixed. It refers to the enduring nature of the ultimate reality, which is perpetual and never ceases to be.

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