उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

174-180] ‘ THOU ART THAT 271
agreement and contrariety which words should be
placed first ¹ and which next.
For the order of words in Vedic sentences follows ²
the meaning of the sentences. No rule about (the order
of) remembering the meanings of words in sentences
holds good in the Vedas.
यदा नित्येषु वाक्येषु पदार्थस्तु विविच्यते ।
वाक्यार्थज्ञानसंक्रान्त्यै तदा प्रश्नो न युज्यते ॥ १७९ ॥
179. The question ³ is out of place when the mean-
ings of words in sentences ⁴ having fixed meanings are
made clear ⁵ in order that the meanings of sentences
may be comprehended.
अन्वयव्यतिरेकोक्तिः पदार्थस्मरणाय तु ।
स्मृत्यभावे न वाक्यार्थो ज्ञातुं शक्यो हि केनचित् ॥ १८० ॥
180. The method of agreement ⁶ and contrariety is
spoken of in order that one may be acquainted with
the (implied) meanings of words. For no one can know
the meaning of a sentence without knowing (the mean-
ings of the words in it).
¹ In construing sentences we place the words having known
meanings, 'I', 'thou', etc. first and 'That,' 'Brahman', etc. next,
which have unknown meanings.
² In the Vedic statement, 'oblations should be offered to fire',
'barley gruel should be cooked', though offering of oblations
precedes it is done next; for the offerings must be made with
the cooked gruel. Such is the case with the words 'That' and
'thou' in the sentence 'That thou art' (तत्त्वमसि).
³ How one is Brahman. ⁴ 'Thou art That' etc.
⁵ By the method of agreement and contrariety. See verse
96 above. ⁶ See verse 96 above.