उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

42 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS
59. "It is not a fact¹ that the absolute non-existence
of the body contradicts sense-perception etc. inasmuch
as the existence of the body in the Self is not known
by these evidences. The body is not known to exist in
the Self by perception etc. like a plum in a hole, ghee
in milk, oil in sesame or a picture painted on a wall.
There is, therefore, no² contradiction to sense-percep-
tion etc."
कथं तर्हि प्रत्यक्षाद्यप्रसिद्धात्मनि देहाध्यारोपणा, देहे च
आत्मारोपणा ? ॥ ६० ॥
60. Disciple.— "How can then there be the super-
imposition of the body etc. on the Self which is not
known by sense-perception etc. and that of the Self on
the body?"
नायं दोषः । स्वभावप्रसिद्धत्वादात्मनः । नहि कादाचि-
त्कत्वसिद्धावेव अध्यारोपणा, न नित्यसिद्धौ, इति नियन्तुं
शक्यं, आकाशे तलमलाद्यध्यारोपणदर्शनात् ॥ ६१ ॥
61. Teacher.— "It is not a (valid) objection. For
the Self is naturally well-known. As we see the form
of a frying pan and blueness superimposed on the sky
¹ As stated by the disciple. See para 55 above.
² One, therefore, should not refuse to accept mutual superimposi-
tion on the false ground that it contradicts sense-perception etc.
As a matter of fact it is only the qualities like consciousness etc.
of the Self and not the Self itself that is superimposed, though the
non-Self itself and its qualities are superimposed. Hence Nihilism
does not come in.
See Padmapâda's gloss (Panchapâdikâ, Division 1) where it is
explained how consciousness is a quality of the Self.