Ashtavakra Gita · Verse 2.15 · Janaka speaks
Knowledge, knower and knowable — these three do not in reality exist. I am that stainless Self in which this triad appears through ignorance.
Word by word
ज्ञानम्
jñānam
knowledge, the act of knowing
noun, neuter, nominative singular
One of the three constituents of the epistemological triad (tripuṭī); from the Advaita standpoint, knowledge as an act belongs to the realm of appearance, not to the absolute Self.
ज्ञेयम्
jñeyam
knowable, object of knowledge
gerundive/noun, neuter, nominative singular
The object of knowledge — the external world — is itself only an appearance in the Self.
तथा
tathā
and also
indeclinable
ज्ञाता
jñātā
the knower
noun (agent), masculine, nominative singular
The knower — the empirical ego that identifies with the body-mind — is also ultimately unreal; only the witnessing Self (sākṣī) is real.
त्रितयम्
tritayam
the triad
noun, neuter, nominative singular
Tripuṭī or tritaya — the triad of knower, knowing and known; Advaita holds that this triad vanishes in Self-realization, where only pure awareness remains.
न
na
not
negative particle
अस्ति
asti
exists
verb, 3rd person singular, present
वास्तवम्
vāstavam
real, in reality
adjective, neuter, nominative singular
अज्ञानात्
ajñānāt
from ignorance
noun, neuter, ablative singular
Ajñāna — the fundamental spiritual ignorance (avidyā) that is the cause of all phenomenal appearance.
भाति
bhāti
appears, shines forth
verb, 3rd person singular, present
यत्र
yatra
in which
indeclinable relative
इदम्
idam
this
pronoun, neuter, nominative singular
सः
saḥ
that (Self)
pronoun, masculine, nominative singular
अहम्
aham
I
pronoun, nominative singular
अस्मि
asmi
I am
verb, 1st person singular, present
निरञ्जनः
nirañjanaḥ
stainless, untainted
adjective, masculine, nominative singular
Nirañjana — free from the coloring (añjana) of māyā; the pure, attributeless Self.