Vivekachudamani: The Innermost Self (Atman)

These verses (125, 127–131) describe the nature of the Ātman (or Puruṣa) as the eternal witness, the source of all illumination, and the innermost reality which pervades everything but remains untouched.

---

1. The Eternal Witness (Verse 125)

Sanskrit

अस्ति कश्चित्स्वयं नित्यमहंप्रत्ययलम्बनः ।
अवस्थात्रयसाक्षी संपञ्चकोशविलक्षणः ॥ १२५ ॥

Transliteration

asti kaścitsvayaṃ nityamahaṃpratyayalambanaḥ | avasthātrayasākṣī saṃpañcakośavilakṣaṇaḥ || 125 ||

Translation

There is some Absolute Entity, the eternal substratum of the consciousness of egoism, the witness of the three states, and distinct from the five sheaths or coverings.

---

2. The Illumining Consciousness (Verse 127-129)

The Self is the ultimate subject that can never be an object of perception, yet it is by its light that all organs and the intellect perform their functions.

Verse 127: The Seer of All

Sanskrit

यः पश्यति स्वयं सर्वं यं न पश्यति कश्चन ।
यश्चेतयति बुद्ध्यादि न तद्यं चेतयत्ययम् ॥ १२७ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ paśyati svayaṃ sarvaṃ yaṃ na paśyati kaścana | yaścetayati buddhyādi na tadyaṃ cetayatyayam || 127 ||

Translation

Which Itself sees all, but which no one beholds, which illumines the intellect etc., but which they cannot illumine. – This is That.

Verse 128: The All-Pervading Substratum

Sanskrit

येन विश्वमिदं व्याप्तं यं न व्याप्नोति किंचन ।
अभारूपमिदं सर्वं यं भान्त्यमनुभात्ययम् ॥ १२८ ॥

Transliteration

yena viśvamidaṃ vyāptaṃ yaṃ na vyāpnoti kiṃcana | abhārūpamidaṃ sarvaṃ yaṃ bhāntyamanubhātyayam || 128 ||

Translation

By which this universe is pervaded, but which nothing pervades, which shining, all this (universe) shines as Its reflection. – This is That.

Verse 129: The Silent Mover

Sanskrit

यस्य सन्निधिमात्रेण देहेन्द्रियमनोधियः ।
विषयेषु स्वकीयेषु वर्तन्ते प्रेरिता इव ॥ १२९ ॥

Transliteration

yasya sannidhimātreṇa dehendriyamanodhiyaḥ | viṣayeṣu svakīyeṣu vartante preritā iva || 129 ||

Translation

By whose very presence the body, the organs, mind and intellect keep to their respective spheres of action, like servants!

---

3. The Primeval Purusha (Verse 131)

Sanskrit

एषोऽन्तरात्मा पुरुषः पुराणो निरन्तराखण्डसुखानुभूतिः ।
सदैकरूपः प्रतिबोधमात्रो येनेषिता वागसवश्चरन्ति ॥ १३१ ॥

Transliteration

eṣo’ntarātmā puruṣaḥ purāṇo nirantarākhaṇḍasukhānubhūtiḥ | sadaikarūpaḥ pratibodhamātro yeneṣitā vāgasavaścaranti || 131 ||

Translation

This is the innermost Self, the primeval Purusha (Being), whose essence is the constant realisation of infinite Bliss, which is ever the same, yet reflecting through the different mental modifications, and commanded by which the organs and Prāṇas perform their functions.

---

Index: Vivekachudamani