सर्गाणामादिरन्तश्च मध्यं चैवाहमर्जुन | अध्यात्मविद्या विद्यानां वादः प्रवदतामहम्
sargāṇāmādirantaśca madhyaṃ caivāhamarjuna . adhyātmavidyā vidyānāṃ vādaḥ pravadatāmaham
Ô Arjuna, des créations, Je suis le commencement, la fin et aussi le milieu. Parmi les sciences, Je suis la science de l'Ātman (la connaissance du Soi) ; parmi les débatteurs, Je suis le Vāda (la discussion constructive).
O Arjuna, of creations I am the beginning and the end as also the middle, I am the knowledge of the Self among knowledge; of those who date I am vada.
La connaissance de l'Ātman, ou la science du Soi, est considérée comme la plus élevée de toutes les connaissances car elle mène à la libération finale. Le Vāda est une forme de débat philosophique où les participants cherchent sincèrement la vérité, sans désir de victoire personnelle, par opposition aux joutes oratoires visant à vaincre l'adversaire.
I am the metaphysics among all sciences. I am knowledge of the Self among all branches of knowledge. I am the argument of dators. I am the logic of disputants. I am the speech of orators.In verse 20 above the Lord says? I am the beginning? the middle and the end of the whole movable and immovable creation. Here the whole creation in general is referred to.As the knowledge of the Self leads to the attainment of the final beatitude of life or salvation? it is the chief among all branches of knowledge.Pravadatam By the word controversialists? we should here understand the various kinds of people using various kinds of argumentation in logic such as Vada? Jalpa and Vitanda. Yada is a way of arguing by which one gets at the truth of a certain estion. The aspirants who are free from RagaDvesha and jealousy raise amongst themselves estions and answers and enter into discussions on philosophical problems in order to ascertain and understand the nature of the Truth. They do not argue in order to gain victory over one another. This is Vada. Jalpa is wrangling in which one asserts his own opinion and refutes that of his opponent. Vitanda is idle carping at the arguments of ones opponents. No attempt is made to establish the other side of the estion. In Jalpa and Vitanda one tries to defeat another. There is desire for victory.