Passage 7

In English

Several Rishis have described how we should understand the meaning of the word swa in the two places - Swasakha and Swechha. They have enquired into and provided an answer as to which people can read the Vedas with reference to Swasakha and Swadhyaya. When we are on the swadhyaya, we must understand the Vedas with special reference to mimamsa. We will take the first injunction, “Adhato Dharma jijnasa.” We have to first understand the details of the methodology and duties which go with the word dharma. It becomes clear that the aspect which envelops everything or that which we see all around us is dharma. Before dharma jijnasa and Brahma jijnasa, we must recognise the need for karma jijnasa. Only when we understand karma jijnasa, or the knowledge relating to karma, can we understand dharma jijnasa. Only after that can we understand Brahma jijnasa, or knowledge of Brahman.