eṣa brahmaìṣa indra eṣa prajāpatir ete sarve devā imāni ca pañca mahā-bhūtāni pṛthivī vāyur ākāśa āpo jyotīṁṣīty etānīmāni ca kṣudra-miśrāṇīva bījānītarāṇi cetarāṇi cāṇḍajāni ca jārujāni ca svedajāni codbhijjāni cāśvā gāvaḥ puruṣā hastino yat kiñcedaṁ prāṇi jaṅgamaṁ ca patatri ca yac ca sthāvaraṁ sarvaṁ tat prajñānetraṁ prajñāne pratiṣṭhitaṁ prajñānetro lokaḥ prajñā pratiṣṭhā prajñānaṁ brahma ||
"This is Brahman, this is Indra, this is Prajapati, these are all the gods, these are the five great elements — earth, air, space, water, light — these and those that are mixed, as it were, of fine seeds, those born from eggs, from wombs, from sweat, from sprouts — horses, cattle, humans, elephants, whatever breathes, whatever moves, whatever flies, whatever is stationary — all this is guided by consciousness, is established in consciousness. The world is guided by consciousness. Consciousness is the foundation. Consciousness is Brahman."
Mahavakya (Great Saying)
प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म
Prajñānam Brahma
"Consciousness is Brahman"
What This Means:
This is the great climax — the Mahavakya "Prajnanam Brahma" (Consciousness is Brahman). Everything that exists — gods, elements, all creatures born in any way, all that moves or is still — is guided by and established in consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate reality.
Going Deeper:
One of the four Mahavakyas of Vedanta. Unlike other declarations that might seem abstract, this one is immediate: consciousness — the very awareness reading these words — IS Brahman. Not will become, not is like, but IS. The entire universe rests in and is pervaded by this consciousness.
How To Apply This:
The consciousness that knows your experience right now is Brahman itself. Not a path to Brahman, not a reflection of Brahman — Brahman. This recognition is available in this very moment. What knows this?
Key Sanskrit Terms: