उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

222 $\hspace{60pt}$ A THOUSAND TEACHINGS $\hspace{60pt}$ [CHAP. XVIII
towards external objects through impurities (such as,
attachment and so on).
श्रुतानुमानजन्मानौ सामान्यविषयौ यतः ।
प्रत्ययावक्षजोऽवश्यं विशेषार्थो निवारयेत् ॥ १४ ॥
14. Perceptional Knowledge¹ which has for its
objects particular properties of things does surely
contradict that² which arises from hearsay and in-
ference and which is related only to generic properties
of things.
वाक्यार्थप्रत्ययी कश्चिन्निर्दुःखो नोपलभ्यते ।
यदि वा दृश्यते कश्चिद्वाक्यार्थश्रुतिमात्रतः ॥ १५ ॥
निर्दुःखोऽतीतदेहेषु कृतभावोऽनुमीयते ।
चर्या नोऽशास्त्रसंवेद्या स्यादनिष्टं तथासति ॥ १६ ॥
15, 16. No one is seen freed from the distress (of
this transmigratory existence) simply by understanding
the meaning of the sentence. If, however, a rare man³
is seen to be freed from such distress on the mere
hearing of it he must be inferred to have practised
repetition in previous lives. Moreover our⁴ conduct
will have to be regarded as non-scriptural (if you do not
admit the existence of an injunction) in this case.⁵ But
that is not desirable.
¹ E.g., the knowledge that arises by actually seeing fire.
² E.g., the knowledge that arises on hearing the word 'fire' or
through inference on seeing smoke.
³ E.g., Vâmadeva, who, while in his mother's womb, had Self-
knowledge. See Ai. U., 2. 5. $\hspace{30pt}$ ⁴ The conduct of mendicants.
⁵ In the case of one who has become acquainted with the
sentence, but not with the Self.