उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

228 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII
Its reflection are free ¹ from (real) distinction (between
each other like the face and its reflection ²).
संसारी च स इत्येक आभासो यस्त्वहंकृति ।
वस्तुच्छाया स्मृतेरन्यान्माधुर्यादि च कारणम् ॥ ३४ ॥
34. (Objection). Some say that the reflection in
the ego (as distinct from the Self) is the individual
soul.³ (But if one asks how the reflection which is
not a reality can experience anything at all the objector
answers that) the reflection is a reality as the shadows
of things are known to be realities according to the
_Smriti._⁴ Not only so, there is another reason also (why
a shadow should be regarded as a reality). For a man
in a shadow feels refreshingly cool.
ज्ञैकदेशो विकारो वा तदाभासाश्रयः परे ।
अहंकर्तैव संसारी स्वतन्त्र इति केचन ॥ ३५ ॥
35. (Other objections). Some say that the indi-
vidual soul is a part of Pure Consciousness. Others
hold that it is a modification of the same. Still others
are of opinion that the ego together with the reflection
¹ Though there is an apparent distinction there is not a real one
between the Self and Its reflection nor between the Self and the
intellect. For as a matter of fact neither the reflection nor the in-
tellect has an existence independent of the Self. The conclusion is
that Pure Consciousness, reflected in Ignorance and the ego etc.,
its modifications, is regarded as the individual experiencing trans-
migratory existence owing to a nondiscrimination between Itself
and Its reflection. See verse 43 of this Chapter.
² Which has an existence dependent on that of the face.
³ The experiencer of this transmigratory existence.
⁴ 'One should not deliberately cross the shadows of one's teachers
and other superiors.' ⁵ Therefore a shadow must be a real
thing having the property of coolness.