“For the Jīvātmā (individual Soul, with its innate intelligence and keen perception pervading far and wide), it is possible to know its own inherent nature and quality through a rigorous process of enquiry, intuition and contemplation. But a similar perception by the Individual Soul, of Iṟainilai (the Divine Nature, Īśvara Svarūpa) is hardly possible. (And yet) ye folks,
In this sixth pāsuram of the chapter, our venerable Nammāzhvār addresses a profound spiritual dilemma. Even after one succeeds in the arduous task of realizing one's own self (ātmā)—which is by nature pure consciousness (jñāna-svarūpam), possessing knowledge (jñānam), and entirely distinct from insentient matter (acit)—one finds it exceedingly difficult to apprehend