The works of Ramaṇa Maharṣi

Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu

Verse 13

ஞானமாந் தானேமெய் நானாவா ஞானமஞ்ஞானமாம் பொய்யாமஞ் ஞானமுமே ஞானமாந்தன்னையன்றி யின்றணிக டாம்பலவும் பொய்ம்மெய்யாம்பொன்னையன்றி யுண்டோ புகலுடனா னென்னுமத்

ஞானமாம் தானே மெய் நானாவாம் ஞானம் அஞ்ஞானமாம் பொய்யாம் அஞ்ஞானமுமே ஞானமாம் தன்னை அன்றி இன்று அணிகள் தாம் பலவும் பொய் மெய்யாம் பொன்னை அன்றி உண்டோ புகல் உடனாம் நான் என்னும் அத்

In plain words

You, who are awareness, are the real thing. Knowledge that has broken into many pieces is not knowledge at all — it is the other thing. And even that scattering does not get to stand on its own. It borrows from you too. Think of ornaments. A dozen shapes with a dozen names, and every one of them false as a separate thing and true as gold. Has anyone ever picked up a bangle without picking up gold? Say so yourself.

Word for word

The Self, which is knowledge, alone is real. Knowledge which is manifold is ignorance. And even that ignorance, which is false, does not exist apart from the Self which is knowledge. The ornaments, many though they are, are false and are real: is there any apart from the gold? Say. That which is together with, called 'I' —