Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.11Famous
intermediate
स वा एष महानज आत्मा योऽयं विज्ञानमयः प्राणेषु। य एषोऽन्तर्हृदय आकाशस्तस्मिञ्छेते। सर्वस्य वशी सर्वस्येशानः सर्वस्याधिपतिः। स न साधुना कर्मणा भूयान्नो एवासाधुना कनीयान्। एष सर्वेश्वरः एष भूताधिपतिरेष भूतपाल एष सेतुर्विधरण एषां लोकानामसम्भेदाय॥
sa vā eṣa mahānaja ātmā yo\'yaṃ vijñānamayaḥ prāṇеṣu | ya eṣo\'ntarhṛdaya ākāśastasmiñchеte | sarvasya vaśī sarvasyеśānaḥ sarvasyādhipatiḥ | sa na sādhunā karmaṇā bhūyānno evāsādhunā kanīyān | eṣa sarveśvaraḥ eṣa bhūtādhipatireṣa bhūtapāla eṣa seturvidharaṇа eṣāṃ lokānāmasambhedāya ||
"This great unborn Self, made of consciousness, dwells in the space within the heart. It is the controller of all, the lord of all, the ruler of all. It does not become greater by good action nor smaller by bad action. It is the lord of all beings, the protector of beings, the bridge that holds these worlds apart."
What This Means:
The great, unborn Self in the heart is lord and ruler of all. It is unchanged by good or bad action. It is the bridge that keeps worlds separate.
Going Deeper:
The Self is unborn (aja), unchangeable by karma, the Ishvara (lord) of all. It is the dam (setu) preventing cosmic collapse.
How To Apply This:
Know the Self in your heart as the unborn lord. It is unaffected by your actions - yet it rules all.
#unborn Self#lord of all#unchanged by karma#setu#heart