Abhayam means fearlessness. So long we are in this body, material body, there are four principles, out of which one is bhayam, fearfulness: "What will happen? What will happen?" Because I am eternal, na hanyate śarīre, but my body is to be annihilated. But because I am . . . this is the psychology. Because I am eternal, I do not want my body be annihilated. But it will be. Therefore I am always fearful, "When it will be annihilated? When it will be annihilated? Is the time come? Is the time come?" This is called bhayam. Bhayaṁ dvitīyābhinniveṣataḥ syāt. Because I am identifying with this body, therefore there is fearfulness. And if by knowledge I can understand that "I am not this body. I am spirit soul," ahaṁ brahmāsmi, and if you are actually convinced, then there is no fearfulness.
In the Western countries there is only one philosopher, Socrates . . . he was condemned to death because he was speaking that "I am soul. I am eternal." That was his fault. So the judges enquired, "Mr. Socrates, now you are going to die, so what kind of grave you want?" So Socrates replied, "First of all capture me. Then you put me into the grave." (laughter) That is the fact. "You rascal, you are talking of my this body. So body is already material. You put it in the grave or in the hell, it doesn't matter. But I am eternal. You cannot capture me." So this is knowledge. This abhayam. He was going to be hanged or killed. He is fearless: "But what is this nonsense? He will kill my body, that's all."
So it requires very firm knowledge.