B.G 8.09
कविं पुराणमनुशासितारम् अणोरणीयांसमनुस्मरेद्यः। सर्वस्य धातारमचिन्त्यरूपम् आदित्यवर्णं तमसः परस्तात् ॥९॥
The omniscient one, the ancient, the ruler, subtler than the subtlest, the sustainer of all, the one with an inconceivable form, of sun-like brilliance, and beyond darkness.
Gīta Bhāshya 8.09
This verse states the object of meditation. 'kavim' - the omniscient; 'dhātāram' - the sustainer of all; 'tamasaḥ' - beyond darkness, i.e. beyond the unmanifest as well. References are given from Vedic testimonial to substantiate the meaning of these words.
ध्येयम् आह - कविं इति। कविं सर्वज्ञम् -
The object of meditation is declared in the verse 'kavi', i.e. the omniscient one.
"यः सर्वज्ञः"
"He who is the omniscient."
-इति श्रुतिः।
- it is stated thus in the Vedic testimonials.
"त्वं कविः सर्ववेदनात्"
"You are the 'kavi' as you know everything."
इति च ब्राह्मे।
- stated thus in the Brāhma Purāṇa.
धातारं धारणपोषणकर्तारम्। 'डु धाञ् धारणपोषणयोः' इति धातोः।
'Dhātā' means the one who sustains, supports, and nourishes. It is derived from the root verb 'dhāñ' which is declared to mean 'to support and nourish'.
"धाता विधाता परमोत सन्दृग्।"
"The sustainer, the ordainer, the supreme one, and the all-seeing."
इति च श्रुतिः।
- stated thus in the Vedic testimonial.
'ब्रह्मा स्थाणुः' इत्यारभ्य 'तस्य प्रसादादिच्छन्ति तदादिष्ट फलां गतिम्'
The statement begins with 'Brahmā and Śiva' and ends stating 'by his grace they desire and as He ordains, they get the end results'.
इति च मोक्षधर्मे।
- it is stated thus in the Mokṣa-dharma (section of the Mahabharata).
तमसः अव्यक्तात् परतः स्थितम् -
He is called 'tamasa' as he is situated beyond the unmanifest -
"तमसः परस्तादिति। अव्यक्तं वै तमः। परस्ताद्धि स ततः॥"
"He is said 'tamasa', of darkness, as he is beyond. Indeed, the unmanifest is 'tamasa', the darkness. He is indeed beyond that."
इति पिप्पलादशाखायाम्।
- it is stated in the Pippalāda branch of the Veda.
"मृत्युर्वा व तमः। मृत्युर्वै तमो ज्योतिरमृतम्॥"
"Death is indeed 'tamasa', the darkness. While Death is darkness, light is indeed immortality."
इति श्रुतेः ॥९॥
- stated thus in the Vedic testimonial.
Gīta Tātparya 8.09
'tamasaḥ parastāt' - indicates a non-material body.
तमसः परस्तात् अप्राकृतदेहम् ॥९॥
The phrase 'tamasaḥ parastāt' indicates (the Lord) possessing a non-material body.
