B.G 2.29
आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति कश्चिदेनम् आश्चर्यवद् वदति तथैव चान्यः। आश्चर्यवच्चैनमन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्वाप्येनं वेद न चैव कश्चित् ॥२-२९॥
āścaryavat paśyati kaścidenam āścaryavad vadati tathaiva cānyaḥ। āścaryavaccainamanyaḥ śar̥ṇoti śrutvāpyenaṁ veda na caiva kaścit ॥2-29॥
[ आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति कश्चित् एनम् आश्चर्यवद् वदति तथ एव च अन्यः। आश्चर्यवत् च एनम् अन्यः शृणोति श्रुत्व अपि एनं वेद न च एव कश्चित् ॥२-२९॥
āścaryavat = as a marvel; paśyati = sees; kaścit = some; enam = Him; āścaryavad = as a marvel; vadati = speak; tatha eva = Him only; ca = and; anyaḥ = others; āścaryavat = as marvel; ca = and; enam = Him; anyaḥ = others; śar̥ṇoti = hear; śrutva = listen; api = as well; enaṁ = Him; veda = know; na = not; ca = and; eva kaścit = even then;]
Some one sees him as a marvel, someone speaks of him as a marvel, others hear him as a marvel. Yet even after such a hearing, no one knows him at all.
Gīta Bhāshya 2.29
The Lord, who is hard to comprehend, is seen as a marvel in the world.
देहयोगवियोगस्य नियतत्वात् आत्मनश्चेश्वर सरूपत्वात् सर्वथा अनाशात् न शोकः कार्यः इत्युपसंहर्तुम् ईश्वर सामर्थ्यं पुनर्दर्शयति आश्चर्यवदिति। दुर्लभत्वेन इत्यर्थः। तद्धि आश्चर्यं लोके। दुर्लभोपि इश्वरसरूपत्वात् सूक्ष्मत्वाच्च आत्मनः तद्द्रष्टा ॥२९-३८॥
dehayogaviyogasya niyatatvāt ātmanaśceśvara sarūpatvāt sarvathā anāśāt na śokaḥ kāryaḥ ityupasaṁhartum īśvara sāmarthyaṁ punardarśayati āścaryavaditi। durlabhatvena ityarthaḥ। taddhi āścaryaṁ loke। durlabhopi iśvarasarūpatvāt sūkṣmatvācca ātmanaḥ taddraṣṭā ॥29-38॥
[dehayogaviyogasya = Union and separation of body; niyatatvāt = and is invetiable as well; ātmanaśceśvara sarūpatvāt = and the 'ātma'is of the essence simiar to Lord; sarvathā = always; anāśāt = without distruction; na śokaḥ kāryaḥ = hence, no need to lament; ityupasaṁhartum = to summarize and conclude thus; īśvara sāmarthyaṁ = power of the lord; punardarśayati = is again presented;āścaryavaditi = in the verse 'āścaryavat'; durlabhatvena = it is rare to obtain; ityarthaḥ = thus, to be interpreted; taddhi = therefore; āścaryaṁ loke = it is a marvel in the world; durlabhopi = even rare is; iśvarasarūpatvāt = one who knows the essence of the Lord; sūkṣmatvācca = its subtle nature; ātmanaḥ taddraṣṭā = one sees him in 'ātman'.]
Union and separation of the body is unavoidable. The 'ātman' is of the essence similar to Lord, without destruction ever. Hence, no need to lament. To summarize and conclude thus, power of the lord is again presented in the verse 'āścaryavat'. The word 'āścaryavat' is used to show that which is rare is considered as a marvel in the world. It is rare to come across someone who comprehends the essence of the Lord, comprehends his subtlety, and perceives him in the 'ātman'.
Gīta Tātparya 2.29
Lord is a marvel, despite knowing him as a marvel, we forget his speciality!
किं तर्हि आश्चर्यो भगवानेवेत्याह - आश्चर्यवदिति। आश्चर्यमेव सन्तमेनम् आश्चर्यवत् पश्यति न पुनः अनाश्चर्यम्।"गगनं गगनाकारं सागरं सागरोपम्" -इत्यादिवत्।
kiṁ tarhi āścaryo bhagavānevetyāha - āścaryavaditi। āścaryameva santamenam āścaryavat paśyati na punaḥ anāścaryam। "gaganaṁ gaganākāraṁ sāgaraṁ sāgaropam" -ityādivat।
[kiṁ tarhi = what then? āścaryo = marvel; bhagavānevetyāha = in the Lord is stated; - āścaryavaditi = by 'āścaryavat' verse; āścaryameva = he is marvel because; santamenam = though exists; āścaryavat = as marvel; paśyati = seen; na punaḥ = again not; anāścaryam = as not a marvel; gaganaṁ = the sky; gaganākāraṁ = is of the form of sky; sāgaraṁ = the sea; sāgaropam" = is like the form of sea; ityādivat = in a similar manner;]
What is the marvel of the Lord? - is stated in 'āścaryavat' verse. He is the marvel, because though he is perceived as a marvel, he is not seen as one. Here the lord is compared to himself as a marvel, similar to ancient sayings - "The Sky is of the form of Sky, the Sea is of the form of Sea."
"आश्चर्यो भगवान् विष्णुः यस्मान्नैतादृशं क्वचित्। तस्मात् तद्गोचरं ज्ञानं तद्गोचरवदेव तु" -इति ब्रह्मतर्के।
"āścaryo bhagavān viṣṇuḥ yasmānnaitādr̥śaṁ kvacit। tasmāt tadgocaraṁ jñānaṁ tadgocaravadeva tu" -iti brahmatarke।
[āścaryo = marvel is; bhagavān viṣṇuḥ = the lord Vishnu; yasmānnaitādr̥śaṁ = because, like him we cant see; kvacit = other; tasmāt = therefore; tadgocaraṁ = the ability to see Him; jñānaṁ = knowledge; tadgocaravadeva = he can only see; tu = only; iti brahmatarke = states Brahmatarka;]
"Lord Vishnu is the marvel because, like him, we can't see any other. Therefore, the knowledge that enables to see Him, only he can see." - states Brahmatarka
अनाश्चर्यवदपि असुरादयः पश्यन्तीति कश्चिदिति विशेषणम् ॥२९॥
anāścaryavadapi asurādayaḥ paśyantīti kaściditi viśeṣaṇam ॥29॥
[anāścaryavadapi = he is not a marvel; asurādayaḥ = so say the demoniacal; paśyantīti = see him that way; kaściditi = like everyone else; viśeṣaṇam = that is the speciality;]
The Lord is not a marvel, so say the demoniacal. Seeing the Lord like any other is their speciality.
