Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 2.22
॥
Devanāgarī
मामेव विदित्वामृतत्वमेति । तरति शोकम् । मामेव विदित्वा सांसृतिकीं रुजं द्रावयति
Transliteration (IAST)
māmeva viditvāmṛtatvameti | tarati śokam | māmeva viditvā sāṃsṛtikīṃ rujaṃ drāvayati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
माम् एव विदित्वा अ-मृत-त्वम् एतिmām eva viditvā a-mṛta-tvam etihaving known me alone, he attains immortality
तरति शोकम्tarati śokamcrosses beyond sorrow
माम् एव विदित्वा सांसृतिकीं रुजंmām eva viditvā sāṃsṛtikīṃ rujaṃhaving known me alone, the disease of the cycle
द्रावयतिdrāvayatihe drives away
Translation
«Having known me alone, he attains immortality; crosses beyond sorrow. Having known me alone, he drives away the disease of the cycle».
Version
ffaafe73e303 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
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The phrase tarati śokam, «crosses beyond sorrow», is taken from the Chāndogya (7.1.3), where Nārada says to Sanatkumāra: «I have heard from those like you that one who knows the Ātman crosses beyond sorrow». Worth noting that sorrow is called something crossed over, not something destroyed. This distinction is precise. Sorrow is not abolished by knowledge: the knower does not stop losing those close to him and does not become unfeeling. But he crosses over it — that is, passes through and comes out on the other bank.
The Vaishnava side insists on this distinction especially, for it has been accused of the opposite. The devotee is not dispassionate: the Bhāgavatam is full of descriptions of weeping, longing, and separation; and the highest state, vipralambha, is a state of separation, not of calm. Hence «crosses over» suits it better than «destroys». One who is swimming gets wet.
Worth noting too the second expression: sāṃsṛtikīṃ rujam, «the disease of the cycle». The cycle is called ruja, «disease, ailment»; and this is a medical word. This definition exists in Vaishnava books too and is worked out at length: bhava-roga, «the disease of existence», and the Lord is called bheṣaja, «the medicine», as discussed when reading Annapūrṇā (5.72). The sick are not scolded for their sickness; they are treated.