उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

208 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
always knows¹ all things in general and all particular
things and is pure.
अन्यदृष्टिः शरीरस्थस्तावन्मात्रो ह्यविद्यया ।
जलेन्द्राद्युपमाभिस्तु तद्धर्मा च विभाव्यते ॥ ५६ ॥
56. Appearing to be in the body² owing to Ignorance
and, therefore, appearing to be of the same size² as the
body the Self is regarded as different from things other
than the body (and possessed of its qualities) like the
moon etc. reflected in water and appearing to be
possessed of its qualities.
दृष्ट्वा बाह्यं निमील्याथ स्मृत्वा तत्प्रविहाय च ।
अथोन्मील्यात्मनो दृष्टिं ब्रह्म प्राप्नोत्यनध्वगः ॥ ५७ ॥
57. One merges the gross external objects experienced
in the waking state in the subtle objects experienced in
dream and these again in Ignorance. One then comes
to have the vision of the Consciousness of the Self,
attains Brahman⁴ and has not to follow any path
(northern⁵ or southern.⁶)
प्राणाद्येवं त्रिकं हित्वा तीर्णोऽज्ञानमहोदधिम् ।
स्वात्मस्थो निर्गुणः शुद्धो बुद्धो मुक्तः स्वतो हि सः ॥ ५८ ॥
¹ With Its consciousness which is Itself.
² Gross and subtle. ³ See verse 22, chapter 16.
⁴ For a clearer exposition see verses 65 and 66 of this chapter,
and also Mâ. U., 3—7.
⁵ The path which leads one to the region of Brahmâ (Hiranya-
garbha) at death. See Br. U., 6. 2. 15, and Bh. Gîtâ, 8. 24.
⁶ The path leading to the region of the moon when one dies.
See Br. U., 6. 2. 16, and Bh. Gîtâ, 8. 25.

56-61] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 209
58. Having thus renounced ¹ the three states of the
undifferentiated ² etc. one gets across the great ocean of
Ignorance, for one is by nature established in the Self
without qualities, pure, awakened and free.
अजोऽहं चामरोऽमृत्युरजरोऽभय एव च ।
सर्वज्ञः सर्वदृक् शुद्ध इति बुद्धो न जायते ॥ ५९ ॥
59. One is not born again when one knows that
one is unborn, deathless, devoid of old age, free from
fear, pure and all-knowing (i.e. knowing all particular
things and things in general).
पूर्वोक्तं यत्तमोबीजं तन्नास्तीति विनिश्चयः ।
तदभावे कुतो जन्म ब्रह्मैकत्वं विजानतः ॥ ६० ॥
60. How can one be born again who has known
the oneness of the Self and Brahman and is sure of
the non-existence of the seed, called Ignorance, stated
before ³ ?
क्षीरात्सर्पिर्यथोद्धृत्य क्षिप्तं तस्मिन्नपूर्ववत् ।
बुद्ध्यादेर्ज्ञस्तथाऽसत्यान्न देही पूर्ववद्भवेत् ॥ ६१ ॥
61. When the Witness is discriminated from the
intellect etc. which are unreal It does not identify Itself
again with the (gross or the subtle) body as before, just
as butter raised from milk and thrown into it does
not get mixed with it again.
¹ I.e., one's identity with the three states. ² Deep sleep.
³ Verse 26 above.
14

210 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं च रसादेः पञ्चकात्परम् ।
स्यामदृश्यादिशास्त्रोक्तमहं ब्रह्मेति निर्भयः ॥ ६२ ॥
62. One becomes free from fear when one knows
that one is Brahman which is Existence, Knowledge
and Infinite beyond the five sheaths consisting of food
etc.¹ and which is described in the Sruti² as not
perceivable and so on.
यस्माद्भीताः प्रवर्तन्ते वाङ्मनःपावकादयः ।
तदात्मानन्दतत्त्वज्ञो न बिभेति कुतश्चन ॥ ६३ ॥
63. That knower of the Truth of the Bliss of the
Self has no cause of fear whatsoever. For afraid³ of
Him the organ of speech, the mind, fire and so on act
regularly.
नामादिभ्यः परे भूम्नि स्वाराज्ये चेत्स्थितोऽद्वये ।
प्रणमेत्कं तदात्मज्ञो न कार्यं कर्मणा तदा ॥ ६४ ॥
64. Whom should the knower of the Self salute
if he is established in his own Glory which is infinite,
non-dual and beyond name⁴ etc. ? Actions then have
no utility (for him).
विराड्वैश्वानरो बाह्यः स्मरन्नन्तः प्रजापतिः ।
प्रविलीने तु सर्वस्मिन्प्राज्ञोऽव्याकृतमुच्यते ॥ ६५ ॥
वाचारम्भणमात्रत्वात्सुषुप्तादित्रिकं त्वसत् ।
सत्यो ज्ञश्चाहमित्येवं सत्यसन्धो विमुच्यते ॥ ६६ ॥
¹ The vital force, the mind, the intellect and bliss. See Tai. U.,
2. 1. 5. ² Tai. U., 2. 7. ³ Tai. U., 2. 8. 1.
⁴ Chh. U., chapter 7, parts 1—15.

62-69] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 211
65, 66. The externally conscious individual which
is one with the aggregate of the gross bodies, and the
individual which is conscious internally only and one
with the aggregate of the subtle bodies, are both
merged¹ in the individual experiencing deep sleep
which is one with the undifferentiated.
As the three states viz., deep sleep etc. have words
only for their support they are unreal. The truthful²
man, therefore, who knows that he is Existence-
Brahman gets liberated.
भारूपत्वाद्यथा भानोर्नाहोरात्रे, तथैव च ।
ज्ञानाज्ञाने न मे स्यातां चिद्रूपत्वाविशेषतः ॥ ६७ ॥
67. I have no knowledge or ignorance in Me as I
am of the nature of homogeneous Consciousness only,
just as there is no day or night in the sun which is of
the nature of light only.
शास्त्रस्यानतिशङ्क्यत्वाद्वह्मैव स्यामहं सदा ।
ब्रह्मणो मे न हेयं स्याद् ग्राह्यं वेति च संस्मरेत् ॥ ६८ ॥
68. As the truth of the scriptures may never be
doubted one should always remember that one is
Brahman and, therefore, has nothing to accept or reject.
अहमेव च भूतेषु सर्वेष्वेको नभो यथा ।
मयि सर्वाणि भूतानि पश्यन्नेवं न जायते ॥ ६९ ॥
69. A man is never born again who knows that he
is the One Existence in all beings like the ether and that
all beings are in him.
¹ Mâ; U., 3—7 and verse 57 above. ² Chh. U., 6. 16. 1—3.

212 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
न बाह्यं मध्यतो वान्तर्विद्यतेऽन्यत्स्वतः क्वचित् ।
अबाह्यान्तःश्रुते किंचित्तस्माच्छुद्धः स्वयंप्रभः ॥ ७० ॥
70. The Self is pure and self-effulgent having by
nature no interior, exterior, middle or anything else
anywhere according to the Sruti,¹ 'devoid of the interior
and exterior.'
नेतिनेत्यादिशास्त्रेभ्यः प्रपञ्चोपशमोऽद्वयः ।
अविज्ञातादिशाखाच्च नैव ज्ञेयो ह्यतोऽन्यथा ॥ ७१ ॥
71. The Self is non-dual (and left over) by the
negation of the universe according to the Sruti,² 'Not
this, not this.' It should be known as described in the
Sruti, 'Unknown³ knower' and never otherwise.
सर्वस्यात्माहमेवेति ब्रह्म चेद्विदितं परम् ।
स आत्मा सर्वभूतानामात्मा ह्येषामिति श्रुतेः ॥ ७२ ॥
72. If one knows that one is the supreme Brahman,
the Self of all, one should be regarded as the Self
of all beings according to the Sruti,⁴ 'their Self.'
जीवश्चेत्परमात्मानं स्वात्मानं देवमञ्जसा ।
देवोपास्यः स देवानां पशुत्वाच्च निवर्तते ॥ ७३ ॥
73. An individual becomes adorable by gods and
free from being under their control (unlike beasts⁴ under
men) if he clearly knows the supreme Self, the shining
One to be himself.
¹ Br. U., 2. 5. 19. ² Br. U., 2. 3. 6.
³ Br. U., 3. 8. 11. ⁴ Br. U., 1. 4. 10.

70-77] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 213
अहमेव सदात्मज्ञः शून्यस्त्वन्यैर्यथाम्बरम् ।
इत्येवं सत्यसंधत्वादसद्घाता न बध्यते ॥ ७४ ॥
74. The Truthful man ¹ who has renounced every-
thing unreal ² does not get bound again when he knows
that he is always Consciousness, the eternally existing
Self devoid of everything like the ether.
कृपणास्तेऽन्यथैवातो विदुर्ब्रह्म परं हि ये ।
स्वराड्योऽनन्यदृक् स्वस्थस्तस्य देवा असन्वशे ॥ ७५ ॥
75. Those are to be pitied who know the supreme
Brahman to be otherwise.³ Those, on the other hand,
who know It to be not different from themselves are
established in the Self and are their own masters.⁴ They
have all the gods under their control.
हित्वा जात्यादिसंबन्धान्वाचोऽन्याः सह कर्मभिः ।
ओमित्येवं सदात्मानं सर्वं शुद्धं प्रपद्यथ ॥ ७६ ॥
सेतुं सर्वव्यवस्थानामहोरात्रादिवर्जितम् ।
तिर्यगूर्ध्वमधः सर्वं सकृज्ज्योतिरनामयम् ॥ ७७ ॥
76, 77. Give up all connection with caste etc., all
actions and all talk regarding the non-Self. Always
meditate on the pure Self, the all-comprehensive
Principle as Aum⁵—The Self which like a causeway⁶
¹ Chh. U., 6. 16. 1—3. ² Chh. U., 6. 1. 4.
³ I.e., to be other than the Self.
⁴ Not subordinate to anyone else. See Chh. U., 7. 25. 2.
⁵ The sound ‘Aum’ is the name and symbol of Brahman. See Kath. U., 1. 2. 16, 17.
⁶ A causeway protects cornfields etc. by preventing water from entering into them.

214 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
protects everything established (such as, castes, orders
of life etc.) and which, untouched by day and night, is
all directions, horizontal, upward and downward and
which, free from unhappiness, is of the nature of eternal
Consciousness.
धर्माधर्मविनिर्मुक्तं भूतभव्यात्कृताकृतात् ।
स्वमात्मानं परं विद्याद्विमुक्तं सर्वबन्धनैः ॥ ७८ ॥
78. One should know oneself to be the Supreme
Brahman free from all bondage—merit, demerit, past,
future, cause and effect.
अकुर्वन्सर्वकृच्छुद्धस्तिष्ठन्नत्येति धावतः ।
मायया सर्वशक्तित्वादजः सन्बहुधा मतः ॥ ७९ ॥
79. The Self is the doer of everything though It
is a non-doer. It is pure. It runs ahead of those
that run though It does not move at all. It appears
to be many though unborn. For It possesses all powers
by Mâyâ.
राजवत्साक्षिमात्रत्वात्सांनिध्याद्भ्रामको यथा ।
भ्रामयञ्जगदात्माहं निष्क्रियोऽकारकोऽद्वयः ॥ ८० ॥
80. Without action, a non-agent and one without a
second I, the universal Self, make the world go round
like a king who is only a witness or like the loadstone
which moves iron by its proximity only.
निर्गुणं निष्क्रयं नित्यं निर्द्वन्द्वं यन्निरामयम् ।
शुद्धं बुद्धं तथा मुक्तं तद्ब्रह्मास्मीति धारयेत् ॥ ८१ ॥

78-83] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 215
81. One should have the conception that one is
Brahman which is without qualities, without actions,
Eternal, free from duality, free from unhappiness, pure,
awakened and free.
बन्धं मोक्षं च सर्वं यत इदमुभयं हेयमेकं द्वयं च ।
ज्ञेयं ज्ञेयाभ्यतीतं परममधिगतं तत्त्वमेकं विशुद्धम् ।
विज्ञायैतद्यथावच्छ्रुतिमुनिगदितं शोकमोहावतीतः ।
सर्वज्ञः सर्वकृत्स्याद्भवभयरहितो ब्राह्मणोऽवाप्तकृत्यः ॥ ८२ ॥
82. Having gained a perfect knowledge of bondage
and liberation with their causes (viz., Ignorance and
Knowledge respectively), having acquired a complete
understanding of the cause¹ and effect² which are
objects of knowledge and are, (therefore,) to be negated,
and having properly known the one supreme and pure
Truth (to be the Self) which is beyond all objects of
knowledge, known in the Vedântas and taught by Śrutis
and knowers of Brahman one stands freed from the fear
of being born again, becomes all-knowing, has every-
thing accomplished, goes beyond grief and delusion and,
(therefore,) has the acme of his life fulfilled.
न स्वयं स्वस्य नान्यश्च नान्यस्यात्मा च हेयगः ।
उपादेयो न चाप्येवमिति सम्यङ्मतिः स्मृता ॥ ८३ ॥
83. The Self cannot be accepted or rejected by
Itself or others, nor does It accept or reject anyone else.
This is right Knowledge.
¹ एकं in the text. ² द्वयं in the text.

216 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVII
आत्मप्रत्यायिका ह्येषा सर्ववेदान्तगोचरा ।
ज्ञात्वैतां हि विमुच्यन्ते सर्वसंसारबन्धनैः ॥ ८४ ॥
84. For this Knowledge, the subject of all the
Vedântas produces the conviction that the Self is
Brahman. One becomes perfectly free from the
bondage of this transmigratory existence when one
achieves it.
रहस्यं सर्ववेदानां देवानां चापि यत्परम् ।
पवित्रं परमं ह्येतत्तदेतत्संप्रकाशितम् ॥ ८५ ॥
85. This Knowledge, the supreme purifier, the
greatest secret¹ of all the Vedas and gods² is revealed
here (in this chapter).
नैतद्देयमशान्ताय रहस्यं ज्ञानमुत्तमम् ।
विरक्ताय प्रदातव्यं शिष्यायानुगताय च ॥ ८६ ॥
86. This supreme and secret Knowledge should not
be imparted to one who has not controlled oneself,
but should be given to a disciple who is obedient and
dispassionate.
ददतश्चात्मनो ज्ञानं निष्क्रयोऽन्यो न विद्यते ।
ज्ञानमिच्छंस्तरेत्तस्माद्युक्तः शिष्यगुणैः सदा ॥ ८७ ॥
87. As there is no other equivalent (which a disciple
may offer to the teacher) for imparting (to him)
¹ For this Knowledge does not come without being taught by a
Teacher. ² Not easily attainable even by gods. See
Kath. U., 1. 1. 21.

84-89] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 217
Selfknowledge one should always possess the qualities ¹
of a disciple, achieve Knowledge and thus get across
the ocean of transmigratory existence.
ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं तथा ज्ञाता यस्मादन्यो न विद्यते ।
सर्वज्ञः सर्वशक्तिर्यस्तस्मै ज्ञानात्मने नमः ॥ ८८ ॥
88. I bow down to that All-knowing and All-power-
ful One who is of the nature of Consciousness and be-
sides whom there is nothing else viz., a knower, know-
ledge or an object of knowledge.
विद्यया तारिताः स्मो यैर्जन्ममृत्युमहोदधिम् ।
सर्वज्ञेभ्यो नमस्तेभ्यो गुरुभ्योऽज्ञानसंकुलम् ॥ ८९ ॥
89. I bow down to my most adorable Teacher who
is all-knowing and has, by imparting Knowledge to me,
saved me from the great ocean of births and deaths
filled with Ignorance.
¹ See verse 72, chapter 16.

तत्त्वमसिप्रकरणम् ॥ १८ ॥
CHAPTER XVIII
'THOU ART THAT'
येनात्मना विलीयन्ते उद्भवन्ति च वृत्तयः ।
नित्यावगतये तस्मै नमो धीप्रत्ययात्मने ॥ १ ॥

1. I bow down to that Eternal consciousness, the
   Self of the modifications of the intellect, in which¹ they
   merge² and from which they spring.³
   प्रमथ्य वज्रोपमयुक्तिसंभृतैः श्रुतेररातीञ्शतशो वचोऽसिभिः ।
   ररक्ष वेदार्थनिधिं विशालधीर्नमो यतीन्द्राय गुरोर्गरीयसे ॥ २ ॥
2. I bow down to the great mendicant, the Teacher
   of my Teacher who, of great intellect, routed hundreds
   of enemies of the Sruti by means of words comparable
   to swords and made impenetrable through thunder-like
   reasoning, and who protected the treasure of the real
   import of the Vedas.
   नित्यमुक्तः सदेवास्मीत्येवं चेन्न भवेन्मतिः ।
   किमर्थं श्रावयत्येव मातृवच्छ्रुतिरादरात् ॥ ३ ॥
   ¹ Just as circles of fire (e.g., in a revolving torch) merge in and
   spring from fire. ² E.g., during deep sleep. ³ E.g., during waking
   and dream when they spring from the Self.

1-7] 'THOU ART THAT' 219
3. If the conviction, 'I am nothing but Existence
and am ever free' were impossible to be attained, why
should the Sruti teach us that so affectionately like a
mother ?
सिद्धादेवाहमित्यस्माद्युष्मद्धर्मो निषिध्यते ।
रज्ज्वामिवाहिधीर्युक्त्या तत्त्वमित्यादिशासनैः ॥ ४ ॥
4. Just as the idea of a snake is negated from a
rope (in a rope-snake), so, everything of the nature of
the non-Self is negated from the eternally existing Self
implied by the word 'I', on the evidence of the Srutis,
'Thou art That' etc. and by reasoning.
शास्त्रप्रामाण्यतो ज्ञेया धर्मादेरस्तिता यथा ।
विषापोहो यथा ध्यानाद् ह्नुतिः स्यात्पाप्मनस्तथा ॥ ५ ॥
5. Brahman should be regarded as the Self on the
evidence of the scriptures, just as religious duties are
known from the same source. Ignorance vanishes (im-
mediately on the attainment of right Knowledge) like
the effect of poison coming to an end when mantras¹
are remembered.
सद्ब्रह्माहं करोमीति प्रत्ययावात्मसाक्षिकौ ।
तयोरज्ञानजस्यैव त्यागो युक्ततरो मतः ॥ ६ ॥
सदस्मीति प्रमाणोत्था धीरन्या तन्निभोद्भवा ।
प्रत्यक्षादिनिभा वापि बाध्यते दिग्भ्रमादिवत् ॥ ७ ॥
¹ Sacred formulae addressed to individual deities like Garuda and
others.

220 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII
6, 7. It is reasonable that of the two ideas, 'I am
Existence-Brahman' and 'I am an agent' both of which
have the Self for their witness, the one owing its origin
to Ignorance should be given up. Springing from
evidences which are only apparently so viz., sense-
perceptions etc., it gets negated like a mistaken notion
of a direction by the other one which has its source in
the right evidence of the Vedas.¹
कुरु भोक्तेति यच्छास्त्रं लोकबुद्ध्यनुवादि तत् ।
सदस्मीति श्रुतेर्जाता बाध्यतेऽन्यैतयैव धीः ॥ ८ ॥
8. When they say 'Do this' and 'You are ex-
periencers' the scriptures restate popular conceptions.
The Knowledge, 'I am Existence' arises from the
Sruti. The other ² (arising from injunctive scriptures) is
negated by it.
सदेव त्वमसीत्युक्ते नात्मनो मुक्तता स्थिरा ।
प्रवर्तते प्रसंख्यामतो युक्त्याऽनुचिन्तयेत् ॥ ९ ॥
9. (Objection).³ Absolute liberation does not arise
when one is told, 'Thou art That.' One should, there-
fore, have recourse to the reiteration (of the idea, 'I am
Brahman') and support it with reasoning.
सकृदुक्तं न गृह्णाति वाक्यार्थज्ञोपि यो भवेत् ।
अपेक्षतेऽत एवान्यदवोचाम द्वयं हि तत् ॥ १० ॥
¹ For they are the words of the Lord. See Br. Su., 1. 1. 3.
² I.e., the idea of agency and of experiencing.
³ Objections—verses 9-18.

6-13] 'THOU ART THAT' 221
10. Even acquainted with the (literal) meaning of
the sentence ¹ one, once told, cannot know its true im-
port but requires other things which, as we have said,
are two.²
नियोगोऽप्रतिपन्नत्वात्कर्मणां स यथा भवेत् ।
अविरुद्धो भवेत्तावद्यावत्संवेद्यताऽदृढा ॥ ११ ॥
11. Just as an injunction regarding Vedic actions is
necessary,³ so, it is not incompatible (in the case of one)
so long as one has not directly known the Self and
Self-Knowledge has not been firmly grasped by one.
चेष्टितं च तथा मिथ्या स्वच्छन्दः प्रतिपद्यते ।
प्रसंख्यानमतः कार्यं यावदात्मानुभूतये ॥ १२ ॥
12. All one's efforts (viz., self-control etc.) become
useless if one can know Brahman without being enjoin-
ed. One should, therefore, go on with the repetition so
long as the Self is not known.
सदस्मीति च विज्ञानमक्षजो बाधते ध्रुवम् ।
शब्दोत्थं दृढसंस्कारो दोषैश्चाकृष्यते बहिः ॥ १३ ॥
13. Firm impressions originating from sense-percep-
tion do surely negate the Knowledge, 'I am Brahman'
arising from the Sruti.⁵ Moreover an aspirant is attracted
¹ I.e., 'Thou art That'.
² (1) Mental repetition of the sentence and (2) looking for reason-
ing in support of it.
³ Even when actions are known from Vedic statements an injunc-
tion regarding them is necessary so that one may get the result
arising from the observance of the injunction.
⁴ From the Vedic statement, 'Thou art that'.
⁵ Br. U., 1. 4. 10.

222 $\hspace{60pt}$ A THOUSAND TEACHINGS $\hspace{60pt}$ [CHAP. XVIII
towards external objects through impurities (such as,
attachment and so on).
श्रुतानुमानजन्मानौ सामान्यविषयौ यतः ।
प्रत्ययावक्षजोऽवश्यं विशेषार्थो निवारयेत् ॥ १४ ॥
14. Perceptional Knowledge¹ which has for its
objects particular properties of things does surely
contradict that² which arises from hearsay and in-
ference and which is related only to generic properties
of things.
वाक्यार्थप्रत्ययी कश्चिन्निर्दुःखो नोपलभ्यते ।
यदि वा दृश्यते कश्चिद्वाक्यार्थश्रुतिमात्रतः ॥ १५ ॥
निर्दुःखोऽतीतदेहेषु कृतभावोऽनुमीयते ।
चर्या नोऽशास्त्रसंवेद्या स्यादनिष्टं तथासति ॥ १६ ॥
15, 16. No one is seen freed from the distress (of
this transmigratory existence) simply by understanding
the meaning of the sentence. If, however, a rare man³
is seen to be freed from such distress on the mere
hearing of it he must be inferred to have practised
repetition in previous lives. Moreover our⁴ conduct
will have to be regarded as non-scriptural (if you do not
admit the existence of an injunction) in this case.⁵ But
that is not desirable.
¹ E.g., the knowledge that arises by actually seeing fire.
² E.g., the knowledge that arises on hearing the word 'fire' or
through inference on seeing smoke.
³ E.g., Vâmadeva, who, while in his mother's womb, had Self-
knowledge. See Ai. U., 2. 5. $\hspace{30pt}$ ⁴ The conduct of mendicants.
⁵ In the case of one who has become acquainted with the
sentence, but not with the Self.

14-19] 'THOU ART THAT' 223
सदसीति फलं चोक्त्वा विधेयं साधनं यतः ।
न तदन्यत्प्रसंख्यानात्प्रसिद्धार्थमिहेष्यते ॥ १७ ॥
17. (Just as everywhere in the Vedas) the means to
an end is enjoined after stating the result¹ to be
achieved, so, here² (the result, 'Thou art That' is
stated and) the means can be nothing but this repetition
which only³ is regarded as being capable of revealing
an eternally existing thing.⁴
तस्मादनुभवायैव प्रसंचक्षीत यत्नतः ।
त्यजन्साधनतत्साध्यविरुद्धं शमनादिमान् ॥ १८ ॥
18. Therefore, practising self-control etc. and re-
nouncing everything⁵ incompatible with this end⁶ and
the means⁷ to it one should carefully practise the said
reiteration in order directly to know the Self.
नैतदेवं रहस्यानां नेतिनेत्यवसानतः ।
क्रियासाध्यं पुरा श्राव्यं न मोक्षो नित्यसिद्धतः ॥ १९ ॥
19. (Reply). This is not so; for the Upanishats
end⁸ with 'Not this, not this' (and deal with nothing⁹
else). Results to be achieved by means of actions
are heard of in the previous¹⁰ part of the Vedas but
¹ For example, 'desirous of attaining heaven a man should per-
form sacrifices.' Similarly, desirous of attaining Brahman one should
practise the said repetition. ² In the Vedântas.
³ And not sacrifices etc. ⁴ Brahman.
⁵ All actions. ⁶ The direct Knowledge of Brahman.
⁷ The said repetition.
⁸ I.e., with Brahman having duality negated from It.
⁹ I.e., they do not enjoin actions. ¹⁰ In the work portion.

224 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII
not liberation which has an eternal existence (and is not
achievable by means of any action).
पुत्रदुःखं यथाऽध्यस्तं पित्राऽदुःखे स्व आत्मनि ।
अहंकर्ता तथाऽध्यस्तो नित्यादुःखे स्व आत्मनि ॥ २० ॥
20. Just as the distress experienced by one's son is
superimposed by the father on himself who has no dis-
tress at all, so, the ego is superimposed on the Self
which is eternally free from any pain whatsoever.
सोऽध्यासो नेतिनेतीति प्राप्तवत्प्रतिषिध्यते ।
भूयोऽध्यासविधिः कश्चित्कुतश्चिन्नोपपद्यते ॥ २१ ॥
21. This superimposition (of the ego on the Self) is
negated on the evidence of the Sruti ‘ Not this, not this ’,
as if ¹ it were a reality. And hence no injunctions ²
which are all due to superimposition can by any means
be reasonable (after such a negation has taken place).
आत्मनीह तथाध्यासः प्रतिषेधस्तथैव च ।
मलाध्यासनिषेधौ खे क्रियेते च यथाऽबुधैः ॥ २२ ॥
22. Just as colour is superimposed on and negated
from the sky by ignorant people, so, there are the
superimposition (of the ego) on the Self and its negation
from It.
प्राप्तश्चेत्प्रतिषिध्येत मोक्षोऽनित्यो भवेद्ध्रुवम् ।
अतोऽप्राप्तनिषेधोऽयं दिव्यग्निचयनादिवत् ॥ २३ ॥
¹ For it is only things superimposed that are negated.
² Such as, the repetition of the sentence.

20-26] ' THOU ART THAT ' 225
23. This negation is not one of a reality, but of a
false superimposition only like the prohibition of the
placing of fire¹ on the highest region of the sky ;
for liberation would have surely been transitory if things
really existing were negated.
सम्भाव्यो गोचरे शब्दः प्रत्ययो वा न चान्यथा ।
न सम्भाव्यौ तदात्मत्वादहंकर्तुस्तथैव च ॥ २४ ॥
24. It is only to objects of knowledge and not to
non-objects that a word² or an idea² can be applied.
Brahman which is the Self of them and also of the
ego is not within the scope of a word or an idea.
अहंकर्त्रात्मनि न्यस्तं चैतन्ये कर्तृतादि यत् ।
नेति नेतीति तत्सर्वं साहंकर्त्रा निषिध्यते ॥ २५ ॥
25. Everything such as agency etc. superimposed³
by the ego on (the Self), Pure Consciousness is negated
together with the ego on the evidence of the Sruti, ‘Not
this, not this.’
उपलब्धिः स्वयंज्योतिर्दृशिः प्रत्यक्सदक्रियः ।
साक्षात्सर्वान्तरः साक्षी चेता नित्योऽगुणोऽद्वयः ॥ २६ ॥
26. (The Self is then known to be) Intelligence,
Self-effulgent, a Seer, the Innermost, Existence, free
from actions, directly cognised, the Self of all, the
¹ There is the scriptural statement that fire should be placed
neither in the highest nor in the middle region of the sky. The
placing of fire in those two regions is an impossibility ; still it is
forbidden like the real placing of fire on the earth.
² I.e., all the evidences.
³ Through the indiscrimination between the intellect and the Self.
15

226 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII
Witness, One imparting consciousness to others,
Eternal, devoid of qualities and without a second.
संनिधौ सर्वदा तस्य स्यात्तदाभोऽभिमानकृत् ।
आत्मात्मीयं द्वयं चातः स्यादहंममगोचरः ॥ २७ ॥
27. On account of the constant proximity of the
conscious Self the ego also appears to be conscious.¹
Hence the two things viz., oneself ² and things related
to oneself denoted by the words, 'I' and 'mine'
originate.
जातिकर्मादिमत्त्वाद्धि तस्मिञ्छब्दास्त्वहंकृति ।
न कश्चिद्वर्तते शब्दस्तदभावात्स्व आत्मनि ॥ २८ ॥
28. As the ego is possessed of species action, etc.
words are applicable to it. But no word can be used
with respect to the innermost Self owing to the absence ³
of these from it.
आभासो यत्र तत्रैव शब्दाः प्रत्यग्दृशि स्थिताः ।
लक्षयेयुर्न साक्षात्तमभिदध्युः कथंचन ॥ २९ ॥
नह्यजात्यादिमान्कश्चिदर्थः शब्दैर्निरूप्यते ॥ ३० ॥
29, 30. Words which denote the ego and the other
things which reflect the innermost Self express the
latter only indirectly but by no means describe It
directly. For nothing that has no species etc. can be
described by means of words.
¹ E.g., Proximate to a red flower a crystal appears to be red.
² The experiencer, the agent.
³ See verse 24 above.

27-33] ' THOU ART THAT ' 227
आत्माभासो यथाहंकृदात्मशब्दैस्तथोच्यते ।
उल्मुकादौ यथाग्न्यर्थाः परार्थत्वान्न चाञ्जसा ॥ ३१ ॥
31. Just as words denoting¹ the action of fire are
applied only indirectly and nor directly to torches etc.
(having fire in them) as they imply a thing² different
from torches etc. ; so, words³ implying the Self are
applied to the ego having the reflection of the Self (and
appearing like It).
मुखादन्यो मुखाभासो यथादर्शानुकारतः ।
आभासान्मुखमप्येवमादर्शाननुवर्तनात् ॥ ३२ ॥
अहंकृत्यात्मनिर्भासो मुखाभासवदिष्यते ।
मुखवत्स्मृत आत्मान्योऽविविक्तौ तौ तथैव च ॥ ३३ ॥
32, 33. As it imitates the mirror the reflection of a
face is different from the face. The face which does
not depend on the mirror (for its existence) is also
different⁴ from its reflection. Similarly, the reflection
of the Self in the ego is also regarded (as different from
the pure Self) like that of the face which is different
from the face. The pure Self is considered to be
different (from Its reflection) like the face (which is
different from its own). In fact, however, the Self and
¹ The word: 'burn' for example, is used with reference to a torch
when we say 'The torch burns a thing'. ² Fire.
³ E.g., the word, 'I' implying Existence, Knowledge, Bliss, etc.
⁴ As a matter of fact it is the real face reflected in a mirror and
acquiring, as it were, the quality of being in it and possessing its
properties that is called the reflection. The reflection cannot be
real, because it is not always in the mirror; nor can it be called
absolutely unreal, because it is sometimes seen there. Therefore,
the reflection is indescribable and the face is different from it.