Verses on the Recognition of the Lord· 5.12 / 21

Verses on the Recognition of the Lord5.12

5.12
आत्मात एव चैतन्यं चित्क्रिया चितिकर्तृता तात्पर्येणोदितस् तेन जडात् स हि विलक्षणः ॥१२॥
ātmāta eva caitanyaṃ citkriyā citikartṛtā tātparyeṇoditas tena jaḍāt sa hi vilakṣaṇaḥ
— the Self ; — for this very reason ; — (called) consciousness ; — the act of conscious awareness ; — the agency of awaring (being the agent of cognition) ; — in (its) essential import ; — is termed, is so designated ; — by that, therefore ; — from the insentient ; — he (the Self) ; — indeed ; — utterly different, distinct in character

For this very reason the Self is termed 'consciousness' (caitanya) — in its essential import, the act of conscious awareness, the agency of awaring; and by that he is indeed utterly different from the insentient.