Pancha Tattva (Five Eternal Realities)
पञ्चतत्त्वानि
The five eternally distinct, uncreated realities of Akshar-Purushottam Darshan: (1) Jiva — individual souls, (2) Ishvara — divine souls presiding over universes, (3) Maya — the root of material existence, (4) Akshar — the eternal Brahman and abode of Purushottam, (5) Purushottam — the Supreme Being, Krishna.
Shlokas (5)
+ Add ShlokaFive Eternal Realities — Always Distinct
Akshar-Purushottam Darshan — Core Doctrine (Vachanamrut, Gadhada I.7) · Chapter 1 · Verse 7
जीवः ईश्वरो माया च ह्यक्षरः पुरुषोत्तमः। इमे पञ्च सदा भिन्नाः परस्परमसंकराः।।
jivah ishvaro maya ca hy aksharah purushottamah | ime pancha sada bhinnah parasparam asamkarah ||
Jiva (individual soul), Ishvara (presiding divine soul), Maya (root of matter), Akshar (imperishable Brahman), and Purushottam (the Supreme) — these five are always distinct and are never blended into one another.
Akshar — Eternal Abode and Means to Purushottam
Akshar-Purushottam Darshan — Core Doctrine (Vachanamrut, Gadhada II.3) · Chapter 2 · Verse 3
अक्षरो ब्रह्म नित्यं च श्रीपुरुषोत्तमालयः। सद्गुरुः स च तद्भावात् मोक्षहेतुर्मतः सदा।।
aksharo brahma nityam ca shri-purushottamalayah | sadguruh sa ca tadbhavat moksha-hetur matah sada ||
Akshar-Brahman is eternal — the divine abode of Purushottam and also his supreme devotee. The Sadguru who manifests as Akshar is the means to liberation; by attaining his nature (Brahmaswarup) one reaches Purushottam.
Kshara and Akshara — Two Kinds of Being
Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 15 · Verse 16
द्वाविमौ पुरुषौ लोके क्षरश्चाक्षर एव च। क्षरः सर्वाणि भूतानि कूटस्थोऽक्षर उच्यते।।
dvav imau purushau loke ksharas cakshara eva ca | ksharah sarvani bhutani kutastho akshara ucyate ||
There are two kinds of beings in creation: the perishable (Kshara) and the imperishable (Akshara). All created beings are perishable; Akshar — unchanging and immovable — is called imperishable.
Purushottama — Beyond Both Kshara and Akshara
Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 15 · Verse 17
उत्तमः पुरुषस्त्वन्यः परमात्मेत्युदाहृतः। यो लोकत्रयमाविश्य बिभर्त्यव्यय ईश्वरः।।
uttamah purushastv anyah paramatmety udahritah | yo loka-trayam avishya bibharty avyaya ishvarah ||
But beyond both stands the Supreme Purusha — called Paramatma — the immutable Lord who pervades the three worlds and sustains them all.
I Am Purushottama — Highest in Veda and World
Bhagavad Gita · Chapter 15 · Verse 18
यस्मात्क्षरमतीतोऽहमक्षरादपि चोत्तमः। अतोऽस्मि लोके वेदे च प्रथितः पुरुषोत्तमः।।
yasmat ksharam atito aham aksharad api cottamah | ato asmi loke vede ca prathitah purushottamah ||
Because I transcend the perishable and am higher even than the imperishable, I am celebrated in this world and in the Vedas as Purushottama — the Supreme Person.