CHAPTER TWO

Apavada Darsanam—Vision of Refutation

Verse - 9


आनन्द एवास्ति भाति नान्यः कश्चिदथोऽखिलम् ।

आनन्दघनमन्यन्न विनाऽऽनन्देन विद्यते ॥ ९ ॥


Then wonder-joy is completely shining forth, so not another (shines forth);

Wonder-joy is a compact mass, no other exists except wonder-joy.


Sree Narayana Guru

Commentary


All that exists is wonder-joy shining forth from pure consciousness. The sage links this verse with the previous one, because what shines forth has high spiritual value and constancy. Not another shines forth, because wonder-joy is absolute. As the Taittiriya Upanishad (III. 6.1) declares, "He knew wonder-joy as the Absolute." In the state of unconditioned consciousness only wonder-joy exists, spiritually experienced as beyond the limitations of existence and non-existence. The wise person knows this from spiritual experience and not from mere intellectual formulation. If Krishnadasan has never experienced the snow and cold of the Himalayas, living all his life in the tropics it is of no use trying to explain it to him. So too with spiritual experience.

Unconditioned consciousness does not expand nor contract like the ego and mind. What is experienced in the state of unconditioned consciousness is wonder-joy or ecstasy. This all-embracing experience of the Absolute cannot adequately be put into words, as Sankaracharya implies in the final verse of Nirvanashatakam.

Narayana Guru declares, "wonder-joy is a compact mass" echoing the words of the Harivamsa, "She (Sakti) is a compact mass of wonder-joy", and "She (Sakti) is the Supreme Absolute." Therefore, no other shines forth except wonder-joy.

Sree Narayana Guru