शब्दादेव प्रमितः ॥ २४ ॥
śabdādeva pramitaḥ || 24 ||
śabdāt—From the word; eva—itself; pramitaḥ—measured.
24. From the very word (‘Lord’ by which it is referred to in the text) (the being) measured (by the size of the thumb is Brahman).
“The being of the size of a thumb, resides in the centre of the body. (Knowing that) Lord of the past and future, one does not seek to hide oneself any more. This is That” (Kath. 2. 4. 12).
The being referred to is Brahman, because he is spoken of as the Lord or ruler of the past and future. It cannot be the individual soul, though the limitation in size and residence in the centre of the body by themselves might be more applicable in its case. Moreover in reply to the request of Nachiketas who wanted to know Brahman, Yama refers to this being of the size of a thumb thus: “That which you wanted to know is this.”