Chapter 2, Verse 29 (Bhagavad Gita 2.29)
Chapter 2: Sānkhya Yog – Transcendental Knowledge
Sanskrit Shloka
आश्चर्यवत्पश्यति कश्चिदेन माश्चर्यवद्वदति तथैव चान्यः। आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः श्रृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित्
Transliteration
āśhcharya-vat paśhyati kaśhchid enan āśhcharya-vad vadati tathaiva chānyaḥ āśhcharya-vach chainam anyaḥ śhṛiṇoti śhrutvāpyenaṁ veda na chaiva kaśhchit
Word Meanings
āśhcharya-vat—as amazing; paśhyati—see; kaśhchit—someone; enam—this soul; āśhcharya-vat—as amazing; vadati—speak of; tathā—thus; eva—indeed; cha—and; anyaḥ—other; āśhcharya-vat—similarly amazing; cha—also; enam—this soul; anyaḥ—others; śhṛiṇoti—hear; śhrutvā—having heard; api—even; enam—this soul; veda—understand; na—not; cha—and; eva—even; kaśhchit—some
Translation
One looks upon this Soul as a wonder; another speaks of It as a wonder; another hears of It as a wonder; yet, even after hearing, no one truly understands It.
Meaning & Commentary
This verse highlights the profound subtlety of the Atman, which transcends the reach of logic, language, and sensory perception. Even when one is exposed to the highest spiritual truths, the ego often filters them through intellectual curiosity rather than direct experience. It teaches that true spiritual realization is not an act of gathering information but a transformative shift in consciousness that defies mundane articulation. By acknowledging the wonder of the Self, we are encouraged to move beyond mere intellectual analysis and enter the state of silent, intuitive recognition. This understanding humbles the seeker, reminding us that the ultimate truth is felt in the depths of being rather than comprehended by the analytical mind.