Verse 2.525

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

अज्ञातं ज्ञायते यत्र प्रमातृत्वाद्यनिह्नवात् ।
तत्र मानान्तरापेक्षा न स्वतोऽवगमात्मके ॥ ५२५ ॥

ajñātaṃ jñāyate yatra pramātṛtvādyanihnavāt |
tatra mānāntarāpekṣā na svato'vagamātmake || 525 ||

English translation of verse 2.525:

Where an unknown object is to be known, involving the knower, etc., there is the need of other means of knowledge, but not in the case of that (Brahman) which is self-luminous.

Notes:

It was stated in the previous verse that, when avidyā which veils Brahman is removed, the latter manifests itself of its own accord without seeking the help of anything. This view, the critic argues, is mtenable. An object like a pot can be known only through a means of knowledge (pramāṇa). The knowledge of an object involves pramāṇa, pramātā, etc. In the same way the help of a pramāṇa, it is urged by the critic, is required for knowing Brahman. It means that Brahman cannot reveal itself without a pramāṇa, etc. But this argument is wrong as it overlooks a basic difference between Brahman and other objects. Objects ike a pot are insentient. So they can be known only through apramāṇa. But Brahman, being self-luminous, does not require any pramāṇa for its manifestation.