उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

A METHOD OF ENLIGHTENING THE DISCIPLE 19
29. "The Sruti text commencing with 'Whatever¹
these creatures are here, whether a tiger or' and similar
other texts, after asserting that 'One² becomes one's
own master (i.e. Brahman)' by the knowledge of (the
reality of) non-difference, show that one continues to
remain in the transmigratory condition in the opposite
case as the result of the acceptance of (the reality of)
difference, saying, 'Knowing³ differently from this they
get other beings for their masters and reside in perish-
able regions'. Such statements are found in every
branch of the Veda. It was, therefore, certainly wrong
on your part to say that you were the son of a Brâh-
mana, that you belonged to such and such a lineage,
that you were subject to transmigration and that you
were different from the supreme Self.
तस्मात् प्रतिषिद्धत्वाद्भेददर्शनस्य, भेदविषयत्वाच्च कर्मोपा-
दानस्य, कर्मसाधनत्वाच्च यज्ञोपवीतादेः कर्मसाधनोपादानस्य
परमात्माभेदप्रतिपत्त्या प्रतिषेधः कृतो वेदितव्यः । कर्मणां
तत्साधनानां च यज्ञोपवीतादीनां परमात्माभेदप्रतिपत्तिविरुद्ध-
त्वात् । संसारिणो हि कर्माणि विधीयन्ते तत्साधनानि च
यज्ञोपवीतादीनि, न परमात्मनोऽभेददर्शिनः । भेददर्शनमात्रेण च
ततोऽन्यत्वम् ॥ ३० ॥
30. "As the acceptance of (the reality of) difference
s forbidden, it should be understood that, on the know-
ledge of one's identity with the supreme Self, the under-
taking of religious rites which have difference for their
¹ Chh. U., 6. 9. 3. ² Chh. U., 6. 25. 2. ³ Chh. U., 7. 25. 2.