उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

198 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
be taken to purify the mind by यम (Yama ¹), नियम
(Niyama ²), sacrifices ³ and religious austerities.
शारीरादि तपः कुर्यात्तद्विशुद्ध्यर्थमुत्तमम् ।
मनआदिसमाधानं तत्तद्देहविशोषणम् ॥ २३ ॥
23. The best ⁴ austerities ⁵ regarding the body, the
mind and speech should be practised in order to
purify the mind. The controlling of the mind and
the emaciating of the body should be undertaken.
मनसश्चेन्द्रियाणां च ह्यैकाग्र्यं परमं तपः ।
तज्ज्यायः सर्वधर्मेभ्यः स धर्मः पर उच्यते ॥ २४ ॥
24. The attainment of the onepointedness ⁶ of the
mind and the senses is the best of austerities. It is
superior to all religious duties and all other austerities.
दृष्टं जागरितं विद्यात्स्मृतं स्वप्ने तदेव तु ।
सुषुप्तं तदभावं च स्वमात्मानं परं पदम् ॥ २५ ॥
25. Sensuous perceptions are to be regarded as the
waking state. Those very perceptions revealed in
sleep as impressions constitute the dream state. The
absence of perceptions and their impressions is known
¹ Speaking the truth, non-stealing, continence, non-injury and
non-acceptance of gifts.
² External and internal cleanliness, contentment, study of the
Vedas and meditation on God.
³ Enjoined according to one's own caste and order of life, the
result being offered to the Lord by the performer.
⁴ Bh. Gîtâ, 17. 17.
⁵ Bh. Gîtâ, 17. 14—16.
⁶ Regarding Brahman.