उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

51-58] ‘ THOU ART THAT ’ 235
55. The word ‘knowledge’, in the sense of the
action of knowing, cannot, similarly, be applied to the
Self. For the Self is not a change only (as is indicated
by an action) inasmuch as it is taught (in the Srutis)
that It is eternal.
न बुद्धेर्बुद्धिवाच्यत्वं करणं न ह्यकर्तृकम् ।
नापि ज्ञायत इत्येवं कर्मशब्दैर्निरूप्यते ॥ ५६ ॥
56. The word, ‘knowledge’, in the sense of the
instrument of the action of knowing, is applied to the
intellect and not to the Self as an instrument cannot
exist without an agent.¹ Neither can the word, in the
sense of that which is the object of the action of know-
ing, be applied to the Self.
न येषामेक एवात्मा निर्दुःखोऽविक्रियः सदा ।
तेषां स्याच्छब्दवाच्यत्वं ज्ञेयत्वं चात्मनः सदा ॥ ५७ ॥
57. The Self is never knowable and is not directly
denoted by any word according to those who hold²
that It is eternally changeless, free from pain and
one only.
यदाहंकर्तृगात्मत्वं तदा शब्दार्थमुख्यता ।
नाशनायादिमत्त्वात्तु श्रुतौ तस्यात्मतेष्यते ॥ ५८ ॥
58. If the ego were the Self a word might be applied
to it in its primary sense.³ But it is not the Self
according to the Sruti as it is possessed of hunger etc.
¹ If the Self becomes an instrument there will be no agent left.
² It is the doctrine of the author. ³ See verse 29 above.