Verse 2.531

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

मूर्तामूर्तात्मकस्यास्य ह्युत्कर्षः परमो रविः ।
स्वान्तर्गतेन तस्यैक्यं तन्निमित्तनिषेधतः ॥ ५३१ ॥

mūrtāmūrtātmakasyāsya hyutkarṣaḥ paramo raviḥ |
svāntargatena tasyaikyaṃ tannimittaniṣedhataḥ || 531 ||

English translation of verse 2.531:

The sun is, indeed, the object of the highest excellence in the universe consisting of gross and subtle objects. The identity of the consciousness in the sun with the consciousness in us is conveyed by negating avidyā which is the cause (of their superiority and inferiority).

Notes:

Why is it, it may be asked, that the sun has been singled out here by śruti? Śruti seeks to convey that distinctions such as superiority and inferiority arise because of the limiting adjuncts based on avidyā, and that by overcoming these distinctions through the removal of avidyā we can realize the non-difference between Brahman and Ātman. The universe consists of gross and subtle objects, and the sun is the most excellent among them. Brahman-consciousness which is in the sun is considered to be superior because of the adjunct (upādhi). The same Brahman-consciousness which is in the mind of the jīva is considered to be inferior only because of the adjunct. The superiority (utkṛṣṭatva [utkṛṣṭatvam]) in the case of the sun and the inferiority (nikṛṣṭatva [nikṛṣṭatvam]) in the case of the jīva are due to the adjuncts. When we say that Brahman-consciousness which is in the suu is identical with that in the jīva, the latter is no more inferior. And when it is realized that the jīva is not inferior, the superiority associated with the sun will also disappear. If we ignore the special features of the sun and the jīva, we will realize that Brahman-consciousness is the same both in the sun and in the jīva. It is this truth of non-duality Chat is taught by the Upaniṣad when it says: “And this one who is in the human person, and that one who is in the sun. He is one.”