उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

53-59] " CONSISTING OF EARTH " 185
स्यान्मालाऽपरिहार्या तु ज्ञानं चेज्ज्ञेयतां व्रजेत् ।
युगपद्वापि चोत्पत्तिरभ्युपेतात इष्यते ॥ ५६ ॥
56. If knowledge be the object of a second¹ know-
ledge a regressus ad infinitum is inevitable. If, however,
a simultaneous production (of the two knowledges from
one single contact of the mind with the self) be
admitted you must accept (the simultaneous production
of colour, taste, smell, etc. from the same contact).
अनवस्थान्तरत्वाच्च बन्धो नात्मनि विद्यते ।
नाशुद्धिश्चाप्यसङ्गत्वादसङ्गो हीति च श्रुतेः ॥ ५७ ॥
57. There is no bondage in the Self as there is no
change of condition in It. There is no impurity in the
Self inasmuch as It is ‘unattached’ as the Sruti² says.
सूक्ष्मैकागोचरेभ्यश्च न लिप्यत इति श्रुतेः ॥ ५८ ॥
58. (The Self is eternally pure) as It is beyond the
mind and speech, one only and without any attributes,
as the Sruti³ says “It does not get attached.”
एवं तर्हि न मोक्षोऽस्ति बन्धाभावात्कथंचन ।
शास्त्रानर्थक्यमेव स्यान्न बुद्धेर्भ्रान्तिरिष्यते ।
बन्धो, मोक्षश्च तन्नाशः स यथोक्तो न चान्यथा ॥ ५९ ॥
59. (Objection). If this be so, in the absence of
bondage there cannot be any liberation and the
scriptures are, therefore, useless.
¹ It is admitted by the Vaiseshikas.
² Br. U., 3. 9. 26.
³ Kath. U., 5. 11.