उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

192 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII
3. I bow down to my teacher whose words fell
(into my ears) and destroyed Ignorance (in me) like
the sun's rays falling on darkness and destroying it.
I shall now state the right conclusion about the Know-
ledge of Brahman.
आत्मलाभात्परो नान्यो लाभः कश्चन विद्यते ।
यदर्था वेदवादाश्च स्मार्ताश्चापि तु याः क्रियाः ॥ ४ ॥
4. There is no other attainment higher than that of
the Self. For that is the purpose for which the teach-
ings of the Vedas, the Smritis and the actions¹ (described
in the work-portion of the Vedas) are there.
आत्मार्थोऽपि हि यो लाभः सुखायेष्टो विपर्ययः ।
आत्मलाभः परः प्रोक्तो नित्यत्वाद्व्रह्मवेदिभिः ॥ ५ ॥
5. The acquisition² considered to be a source of
happiness on the part of oneself³ produces the opposite
result⁴ also. The Knowers of Brahman say that the
greatest acquisition is that of the Self as It is eternal.⁵
स्वयं लब्धस्वभावत्वाल्लाभस्तस्य न चान्यतः ।
अन्यापेक्षस्तु यो लाभः सोऽन्यदृष्टिसमुद्भवः ॥ ६ ॥
6. Of the nature of being always⁶ attained the
Self does not depend on anything else in order to be
¹ They lead to Knowledge through the purification of the mind.
² Such as, fame, wealth and so on. ³ Br. U., 1. 4. 8. and 2. 4. 5.
⁴ Pain; owing to the loss of such acquisition.
⁵ See verses 43 and 44, chapter 16. ⁶ For it is the Self.