उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

74 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS
cannot, for the very fact of my being not attached, be
made an object and touched by sound in general or by its
special forms such as, the notes of the gamut, praise,
etc. which are pleasant and desirable, and also false,
terrible, insulting and abusive words which are
undesirable. So there is no loss or gain due to
sound. Therefore what can sound, pleasant or un-
pleasant, consisting of praise or blame do to me?
Pleasant or unpleasant sound regarded as belonging
to the Self glorifies or injures an ignorant man
on account of indiscrimination. But it cannot do
even the slightest good or evil to me who am a
man of knowledge. (These ideas should thus be
repeated.)
“Similarly, no change consisting of gain or loss can
be produced in me by touch in general or by its special
forms such as fever, colic pain, etc., coldness, hotness,
softness or roughness which are unpleasant. Again,
pleasant touches connected with the body or brought
into existence by external and adventitious causes can
likewise produce no change in me inasmuch as I am
beyond touch like the ether which, when struck with
one's fist, does not meet with any change whatever.
“Likewise, as I am entirely unconnected with sight
no good or harm is done to me by it either in its
general form or in its special forms pleasant or
unpleasant, such as, ugly sights.
“Similarly, Independent of taste I am not harmed or
benefited by it either in its general form or in its
special forms ‘such as, sweetness, sourness, saltiness,