उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

80 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. I
2. Now¹ then² the Vedas begin to describe the
knowledge of Brahman after dealing with all actions³
preceded by marriage and the installation of sacred
fire.⁴
कर्माणि देहयोगार्थं देहयोगे प्रियाप्रिये ।
ध्रुवे स्यातां ततो रागो द्वेषश्चैव ततः क्रियाः ॥ ३ ॥
धर्माधर्मौ ततोऽज्ञस्य देहयोगस्तथा पुनः ।
एवं नित्यप्रवृत्तोऽयं संसारश्चक्रवद्धृशम् ॥ ४ ॥
3, 4. Actions, (both enjoined and prohibited), bring
about one’s connection with the body ; when the con-
nection with the body has taken place pleasure⁵ and
pain⁵ most surely follow ; thence come attraction and
repulsion, from them actions⁶ follow again, as the results
of which merit and demerit appertain to an ignorant⁷
man, which again are similarly followed by the con-
nection with the body. This transmigratory existence
is thus going on continually for ever like a wheel.
अज्ञानं तस्य मूलं स्यादिति तद्धानमिष्यते ।
ब्रह्मविद्यात आरब्धा ततो निःश्रेयसं भवेत् ॥ ५ ॥
¹ In the knowledge portion of the Vedas (for the benefit of seekers
after liberation).
² After one has acquired the qualifications such as, self-control
etc., in order to be able to gain the knowledge of Brahman.
³ Both enjoined and prohibited.
⁴ Sacred fire is established at the time of marriage. It burns
continuously throughout one’s life and with it one’s body is burnt
at death.
⁵ The effects of merit and demerit. The Bliss of Brahman
is not such an effect.
⁶ All efforts of the body, mind and speech. ⁷ One who was
not got the knowledge of Brahman.

2-8] INTRODUCTION 81
5. The cessation¹ of Ignorance² is desirable as
it is the root of this transmigratory existence. Hence
a delineation of the knowledge of Brahman through
which comes liberation (from Ignorance) is com-
menced.³
विद्यैवाज्ञानहानाय न कर्माप्रतिकूलतः ।
नाज्ञानस्याप्रहाणे हि रागद्वेषक्षयो भवेत् ॥ ६ ॥
रागद्वेषक्षयाभावे कर्म दोषोद्भवं ध्रुवम् ।
तस्मान्निःश्रेयसार्थाय विद्यैवात्र विधीयते ॥ ७ ॥
6, 7. Not being incompatible with Ignorance actions
do not destroy it; it is knowledge alone that does it.
Ignorance not being destroyed, the destruction of desire
and aversion is not possible. Actions⁴ caused by impuri-
ties⁵ are sure to follow in case desire and aversion
are not removed. Knowledge alone, therefore, is taught
here⁶ so that liberation (from Ignorance) may be accom-
plished.
ननु कर्म तथा नित्यं कर्तव्यं जीवने सति ।
विद्यायाः सहकारित्वं मोक्षं प्रति हि तद् व्रजेत् ॥ ८ ॥
8. (Objection) Obligatory duties should be performed
(along with the practice of knowledge) as long as life
lasts,⁷ because these duties co-operate with Knowledge
in producing liberation.⁸
¹ Just as a snake ceases to exist immediately on one's having the
knowledge of the rope in a rope-snake. ² Primeval Ignorance veil-
ing Brahman. ³ In the Upanishats. ⁴ Efforts of the body, the
mind and speech. ⁵ Desire, aversion and delusion. ⁶ In the
Upanishats. ⁷ Îsh. U., 2. ⁸ Objection, verses 8—11 (line 1).
6

82 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. I
यथा विद्या तथा कर्म चोदितत्वाविशेषतः ।
प्रत्यवायस्मृतेश्चैव कार्यं कर्म मुमुक्षुभिः ॥ ९ ॥
9. As they are equally enjoined¹ obligatory duties
and knowledge (should be practised together). They
should be undertaken by those who aspire after libera-
tion because Smritis² speak of sins³ also (arising out of
the omission of those actions).
ननु ध्रुवफला विद्या नान्यत्किंचिदपेक्षते ।
नाग्निष्टोमो यथैवान्यद् ध्रुवकार्योऽप्यपेक्षते ॥ १० ॥
तथा ध्रुवफला विद्या कर्म नित्यमपेक्षते ।
इत्येवं केचिदिच्छन्ति न कर्म प्रतिकूलतः ॥ ११ ॥
10, 11 (first line). You may say "Followed by a
sure result⁴ Knowledge does not depend⁵ on anything
else." But it is not so. Just as Agnishtoma,⁶ though
followed by an unfailing result,⁷ depends on things⁸
other than itself ; so, knowledge, though bringing about
a sure result, must depend⁵ on obligatory duties.
11 (last line). (Reply). Some people hold this
view. (We say :) No. As it is incompatible with actions
Knowledge does not depend⁹ on them (in producing
its result).¹⁰
¹ Îsh. U., 11. ² The whole body of the sacred tradition or what
is remembered by human Teachers. ³ See Manu Samhitâ,
11, 44. ⁴ Liberation. ⁵ In order to produce liberation. ⁶ The
name of a particular Vedic sacrifice. ⁷ Higher regions, where
there is pleasure higher than in this world. ⁸ Accessories such
as, chanting of certain Vedic hymns, reading of certain verses and
the knowledge of certain gods. ⁹ Though it depends on actions
for its own birth. ¹⁰ Liberation.

9-14] INTRODUCTION 83
विद्यायाः प्रतिकूलं हि कर्म स्यात्साभिमानतः ।
निर्विकारात्मबुद्धिश्च विद्येतीह प्रकीर्तिता ॥ १२ ॥
12. Accompanied by egoism$^1$ actions are in-
compatible with Knowledge. For it is well-known here
(in the Vedântas)$^2$ that Knowledge is the consciousness
that the Self is changeless.$^3$
अहं कर्ता ममेदं स्यादिति कर्म प्रवर्तते ।
वस्त्वधीना भवेद्विद्या कर्तृधीनो भवेद्विधिः ॥ १३ ॥
13. Actions have their origin in the consciousness
that one is a doer and has the desire of having the
results of what one does. Knowledge depends on a
thing, (its own object and also on evidence), while
actions depend entirely on the performer.
कारकाण्युपमृद्नाति विद्या बुद्धिमिवोषरे ।
इति तत्सत्यमादाय कर्म कर्तुं व्यवस्यति ॥ १४ ॥
14. The Knowledge (of one's own real nature)
destroys the ideas of doership etc.$^4$ (on the part of
oneself like the right Knowledge of the nature of the
desert which destroys) the conviction of there being
water in it. When this is so how can (a man
of Knowledge) accept$^5$ them as true and perform
actions ?
$^1$ E.g., ' I am a Brâhmaṇa ' etc. $^2$ Literally, the final portions of
the Vedas. $^3$ I.e., Brahman Itself. So, a man of Knowledge can
have nothing to do with agency of actions.
$^4$ All the grammatical cases are meant.
$^5$ For without accepting them as true actions are not possible.

84 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. I
विरुद्धत्वादतः शक्यं कर्म कर्तुं न विद्यया ।
सहैव विदुषा तस्मात्कर्म हेयं मुमुक्षुणा ॥ १५ ॥
15. It is, therefore, not possible on the part of a
man of Knowledge to have Knowledge and perform an
action at the same time as they are incompatible with
each other. So, one who aspires after liberation should
renounce actions.¹
देहाद्यैरविशेषेण देहिनो ग्रहणं निजम् ।
प्राणिनां तदविद्योत्थं तावत्कर्मविधिर्भवेत् ॥ १६ ॥
16. The natural² conviction on the part of the people
that the Self is not different from the body etc.³ arises
through Ignorance. The Vedic injunctions (and prohibi-
tions) are authoritative as long as it prevails.
नेतिनेतीति देहादीनपोह्यात्मावशेषितः ।
अविशेषात्मबोधार्थं तेनाविद्या निवर्तिता ॥ १७ ॥
17. The Self is left over by negating the body etc.
by the Sruti,⁴ 'Not this, not this,' so that one may have
the Knowledge of the Self which is devoid of all attri-
butes. Ignorance is brought to an end by this
Knowledge.
निवृत्ता सा कथं भूयः प्रसूयेत प्रमाणतः ।
असत्येवाविशेषेऽपि प्रत्यगात्मनि केवले ॥ १८ ॥
¹ I.e., (1) those of which the results are desired, (2) which are
prohibited, (3) that are obligatory and (4) those the performance of
which becomes necessary on certain special occasions.
² I.e., not arising from the teachings of the Sâstras.
³ I.e., the body, the senses, the mind, the intellect, vital force
and their properties. ⁴ Br. U., 2. 3. 6.

15-21] INTRODUCTION 85
18. How¹ can Ignorance, once negated (by Vedic
evidence), arise again? For it is neither in the inner-
most Self which is only one² without a second and
without attributes nor in the non-Self.³
न चेद्भूयः प्रसूयेत कर्ता भोक्तेति धीः कथम् ।
सदस्मीति च विज्ञाने तस्माद्विद्याऽसहायिका ॥ १९ ॥
19. How can there again be the idea⁴ that one is a
doer of actions and experiencer of their results if Ignor-
ance does not arise after there has grown the Know-
ledge, ‘ I am Brahman ’ ? Knowledge, therefore, is inde-
pendent of actions (in producing liberation).
अत्यरेचयदित्युक्तो न्यासः श्रुत्यात एव हि ।
कर्मभ्यो मानसान्तेभ्य एतावदिति वाजिनाम् ॥ २० ॥
अमृतत्वं श्रुतं यस्मात्त्याज्यं कर्म मुमुक्षुभिः ।
अग्निष्टोमवदित्युक्तं तत्रेदमभिधीयते ॥ २१ ॥
20, 21 (first line). Therefore, it is said by the Sruti
that the renunciation of actions including mental ones
(catalogued in the Nârâyanopanishat)⁵ is superior to their
performance. Again immortality is heard of in the
Brihadâranyakopanishat⁶ which says “ This⁷ alone.”
Hence they should be renounced by those who aspire
after liberation.
¹ This verse is an answer to the objection that Ignorance, though
negated, may prevail again. ² So, the Self cannot cause Ignor-
ance. ³ No category in the domain of the non-Self can cause
Ignorance as all such categories are caused by it. ⁴ So, actions,
naturally depending on this idea, become impossible then.
⁵ Nâ. U. 78. ⁶ 4. 5. 15. ⁷ I. e., knowledge alone, independent
of actions, is the cause of immortality (liberation).

86 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. I
21 (last line). We give the following reply¹ to the
objector who quoted the example of Agnishtoma.²
नैककारकसाध्यत्वात्फलान्यत्वाच्च कर्मणः ।
विद्या तद्विपरीतातो दृष्टान्तो विषमो भवेत् ॥ २२ ॥
22. Knowledge is quite opposite in nature to that of
actions like Agnishtoma etc. for they are accomplished
with the help of many³ materials and differ in the
quality⁴ of the result of each individual performance.
The example, therefore, is not parallel.
कृष्यादिवत्फलार्थत्वादन्यकर्मोपबृंहणम् ।
अग्निष्टोमस्त्वपेक्षेत विद्यान्यत्किमपेक्षते ॥ २३ ॥
23. As it produces a result (variable in quality) the
Agnishtoma sacrifice, like agriculture etc., requires
subsidiary⁵ actions⁶ other than itself. But what else
will Knowledge depend⁷ on ?
प्रत्यवायस्तु तस्यैव यस्याहंकार इष्यते ।
अहंकारफलार्थित्वे विद्येते नात्मवेदिनः ॥ २४ ॥
24. It is only one having egoism⁸ that may incur
sin (by the omission⁹ of duties). A man who has got
Self-knowledge has neither egoism nor a desire for the
results of actions.
¹ Verses 22 and 23. ² See verse 10 above. ³ The perfor-
mance of such an action becomes efficacious only when prescribed
articles, 'mantras' (Vedic formulae) etc., are used. ⁴ Chh. U., 1.

1. 10. ⁵ See footnote 3, sloka 22. ⁶ So that the quality of the
   result might be better. ⁷ Because liberation, the result of Know-
   ledge, does not vary in quality. ⁸ I. e., the idea that one is an
   agent and experiencer. ⁹ See verse 9 above.

22-26] INTRODUCTION 87
तस्मादज्ञानहानाय संसारविनिवृत्तये ।
ब्रह्मविद्याविधानाय प्रारब्धोपनिषत्त्वियम् ॥ २५ ॥
25. The Upanishats ¹ are, therefore, ² commenced in
order to teach the Knowledge of Brahman so that
Ignorance might be removed and transmigratory ex-
istence might for ever come to an end.³
सदेरुपनिपूर्वस्य क्विपि चोपनिषद्भवेत् ।
मन्दीकरणभावाच्च गर्भादेः शातनात्तथा ॥ २६ ॥
26. The word ‘Upanishat’ is derived from the root
‘sad’⁴ prefixed by two particles, ‘Upa’⁵ and ‘ni’⁶ and
followed by the suffix ‘Kvip’. So, that⁷ which loosens
the bondage of birth, (old age), etc., (enables a man to
approach Brahman) and destroys birth, (death), etc., is
called Upanishat.⁸
¹ Upanishadic texts are meant. ² As independent of actions
right knowledge produces liberation. ³ This verse states the main
conclusion of the Chapter.
⁴ This root has three meanings, (a) to slacken, (b) to move and
(c) to destroy. ⁵ Near. ⁶ Certainly. ⁷ The Knowledge of
Brahman. ⁸ In the primary sense, the books are so called in a
secondary sense only.

प्रतिषेधप्रकरणम् ॥ २ ॥
CHAPTER II
NEGATION
प्रतिषेद्धुमशक्यत्वान्नेतिनेतीति शेषितम् ।
इदं नाहमिदं नाहमित्यद्धा प्रतिपद्यते ॥ १ ॥

1. Impossible ¹ to be negated the Self is left over
   on the authority of the Sruti, ‘Not this, not this.’ So, the
   Self becomes clearly known on the reflection, ‘I am
   not this, I am not this.’ ²
   अहंधीरिदमात्मोत्था वाचारम्भणगोचरा ।
   निषिद्धात्मोद्भवत्वात्सा न पुनर्मानतां व्रजेत् ॥ २ ॥
2. The consciousness of egoism (i.e., the mistaken
   identity of the Self with the body etc.) has its origin in
   the intellect ³ and has for its object what ⁴ is based on
   words ⁵ only. As its very nature and origin are both
   negated (by the Sruti, ‘Not this, not this’), egoism ⁶ can
   never again ⁷ be regarded as founded on any evidence.
   ¹ For the Self is the witness of the process of negation itself.
   ² I.e., I am not the body, the senses, the mind, the intellect and
   the vital force. But I am the witness of all of them.
   ³ The object portion in the consciousness ‘I’. While using the word
   ‘I’ people mix up Pure Consciousness and the intellect. The
   intellect is the object portion of the consciousness ‘I’, Pure Consci-
   ousness is the non-object portion. ⁴ Name and form. ⁵ Chh. U.,
3. 1. 4-6. ⁶ Though as old as time itself and experienced by beings
      birth after birth. ⁷ After the nature of the Self has been known.

1-4] NEGATION 89
पूर्वबुद्धिमबाधित्वा नोत्तरा जायते मतिः ।
दृशिरेकः स्वयं सिद्धः फलत्वात्स न बाध्यते ॥ ३ ॥
3. A following ¹ knowledge does not arise without
negating ² the previous ³ one (e.g., the knowledge of the
rope does not come without destroying that of the
snake in a rope-snake). Pure Consciousness, the Self,
only has an independent existence and is never negated
as It is the result ⁴ of evidences.
इदं वनमतिक्रम्य शोकमोहादिदूषितम् ।
वनाद्गान्धारको यद्वत्स्वात्मानं प्रतिपद्यते ॥ ४ ॥
4. One attains one's own innermost ⁵ Self by
crossing ⁶ the forest of this body infested with ferocious
beasts of grief, delusion, etc., like the man ⁷ of the
country of Gândhâra who crossed the forest and
reached his own country.
¹ The right Knowledge of the substratum. ² So, the Knowledge
of the Self does not arise without destroying the previous Know-
ledge of egoism etc. ³ The superimposed Knowledge. ⁴ See paras
103 and 108 (Part I).
⁵ It is the innermost because It is the substratum of the intellect,
the mind, the vital force, the body, etc., each of which is supposed
by the ignorant to be the Self. ⁶ By discriminating the body and
the mind from the Self. ⁷ The story runs thus : This man, with
his eyes covered and thrown in a deep forest far away from his
own country, was very miserable and was crying loudly in order
that the covering of his eyes might be removed, when a kind
man did it and indicated the path to his country. The man then
did reach his own country by remembering the instruction of the
kind man. (Such is the case with the disciple and the teacher.)
See Chh. U., 6. 14.

ईश्वरात्मप्रकरणम् ॥ ३ ॥
CHAPTER III
SELF-BRAHMAN
ईश्वरश्चेदनात्मा स्यान्नासावस्मीति धारयेत् ।
आत्मा चेदीश्वरोऽस्मीति विद्या साऽन्यनिवर्तिका ॥ १ ॥

1. The aspirant cannot know that he is Brahman
   if It be different from the Self. (It then contradicts the
   Sruti.) But if he has the conviction that he, the Self, is
   Brahman (there is no contradiction to the Sruti). This
   is (right) Knowledge which destroys Ignorance.¹
   आत्मनोऽन्यस्य चेद्धर्मा अस्थूलत्वादयो मताः ।
   अज्ञेयत्वेऽस्य किं तैः स्यादात्मत्वे ह्यन्यधीह्नुतिः ॥ २ ॥
2. What would be the use (of the description by the
   Sruti) of the qualities, ‘not² large’ etc. if they were the
   qualities of one³ other than the Self, it being not⁴ an
   object of search? But if Brahman (with these qualities)
   is the Self the ideas⁵ such as, largeness, smallness, etc.
   are negated⁶ from the latter.
   ¹ Which falsely shows that there are things other than the Self.
   ² Br. U., 3. 8. 8. ³ Personal God. ⁴ For it is other than the Self.
   See Br. U., 1. 4. 7. ⁵ Superimposed on the Self. ⁶ And thus libera-
   tion is achieved.

1-4] SELF-BRAHMAN 91
मिथ्याध्यासनिषेधार्थं ततोऽस्थूलादि गृह्यताम् ।
परत्र चेन्निषेधार्थं शून्यतावर्णनं हि तत् ॥ ३ ॥
3. Know, therefore, that the Sruti, ‘not large’ etc. is
meant to negate the false superimposition (of largeness,
smallness, etc. on the Self) as it would be a description
of a void if it were meant to negate those qualities from
one other than the Self.
बुभुत्सोर्यदि चान्यत्र प्रत्यगात्मन इष्यते ।
अप्राणो ह्यमनाः शुभ्र इति चानर्थकं वचः ॥ ४ ॥
4. Moreover, the saying,¹ ‘devoid of the vital force,
devoid of the mind and pure’ would be unmeaning if
these qualities were meant to be negated from one
other² than the individual Self, the aspirant.
¹ Mu. U., 2. 1. 2. ² For the vital force and the mind are possessed
by none other than the individual Self. It possesses them owing
to Ignorance which is removed by this negation.

तत्त्वज्ञानस्वभावप्रकरणम् ॥ ४ ॥
CHAPTER IV
THE NATURE OF RIGHT KNOWLEDGE
अहंप्रत्ययबीजं यदहंप्रत्ययवत्स्थितम् ।
नाहंप्रत्ययवह्न्युष्टं कथं कर्म प्ररोहति ॥ १ ॥

1. How can those actions of which the root is
   egoism¹ and which are accumulated in the mind pro-
   duce results when they are burnt² by the fire of non-
   egoism, (the right Knowledge that one is neither the
   doer of actions nor the experiencer of their results) ?
   दृष्टवच्चेत्प्ररोहः स्यान्नान्यकर्मा स इष्यते ।
   तन्निरोधे कथं तत्स्यात्पृच्छामो वस्तदुच्यताम् ॥ २ ॥
2. (The objector). Actions burnt by the fire of
   Knowledge may produce results like the seen ones (of
   the actions of a man of Knowledge). (Reply). No.
   They are due to another cause.³ (The objector). I ask
   ¹ Identification of oneself with the gross and subtle bodies.
   ² Hence, actions accumulated in previous births are not obstacles
   to liberation when the Knowledge of Brahman arises.
   ³ I.e., those actions of past lives which have given birth to the
   present body and have begun to produce results.

1-5] THE NATURE OF RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 93
you how there can be actions ¹ when egoism ² is de-
stroyed. Please answer.
देहाद्यारम्भसामर्थ्याज्ज्ञानं सद्विषयं त्वयि ।
अभिभूय फलं कुर्यात्कर्मान्ते ज्ञानमुद्भवेत् ॥ ३ ॥
3. (Reply). Such actions ³ produce their results by
overpowering the Knowledge of Brahman in you, be-
cause they have the power of producing the body etc.
Knowledge, however, becomes manifest⁴ when ⁴ the
results of these actions come to an end.
आरब्धस्य फले ह्येते भोगो ज्ञानं च कर्मणः ।
अविरोधस्तयोर्युक्तो वैधर्म्यं चेतरस्य तु ॥ ४ ॥
4. As knowledge and the experiencing (of pain and
pleasure) are both results of actions that have given rise
to the present body and have begun to produce results
it is reasonable that they are not incompatible with each
other. But other kinds of actions⁵ are different⁶ in nature.
देहात्मज्ञानवज्ज्ञानं देहात्मज्ञानबाधकम् ।
आत्मन्येव भवेद्यस्य स नेच्छन्नपि मुच्यते ।
ततः सर्वमिदं सिद्धं प्रयोगोऽस्माभिरीरितः ॥ ५ ॥
¹ Even those actions that have begun to produce results.
² For egoism is the root of all actions. (See the previous verse.)
³ See Footnote 3. Verse 2.
⁴ They come to an end only when they are exhausted by being
experienced and one gets absolutely disembodied freedom.
⁵ (1) Actions accumulated in previous states of existence and (2)
those that are done in this life after the realization of Knowledge.
⁶ For Knowledge destroys accumulated actions and makes im-
potent those that are done in the present life after the attainment
of Knowledge.

94 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. IV
5. The Knowledge of one's identity with the pure
Self that negates the (wrong) notion of the identity of
the body and the Self sets a man free even against his
will when it becomes as firm as the belief of the man
that he is a human ¹ being.
All ² this, therefore, is established. And reasons
have been already given by us.
¹ Identifying himself with the body.
² The compatibility of Knowledge with the actions that have
begun to produce results and its incompatibility with other kinds
of actions.

बुद्धयपराधप्रकरणम् ॥ ५ ॥
CHAPTER V
ERROR IN UNDERSTANDING
मूत्राशङ्को यथोदङ्को नाग्रहीदमृतं यथा ।
कर्मनाशभयाज्जन्तोरात्मज्ञानाग्रहस्तथा ॥ १ ॥

1. People do not receive Self-knowledge on ac-
   count of the fear that their duties (according to their
   castes and orders of life) would be destroyed like
   Udanka ¹ who did not accept (genuine) nectar which, he
   thought, was urine.
   [That people do not like to receive Self-knowledge
   is due to their ignorance of the real nature of the Self
   and a wrong and false conception about It.]
   बुद्धिस्थश्चलतीवात्मा ध्यायतीव च दृश्यते ।
   नौगतस्य यथा वृक्षास्तद्वत्संसारविभ्रमः ॥ २ ॥
   ¹ This man practised much austerity in order to please Vishnu
   so that he might get nectar from him. Vishnu was pleased and
   sent Indra with a pot full of nectar to give it to Udanka. Indra
   wanted to deceive him and in the guise of a Chandâla he hung the
   pot containing nectar from his waist. The pot was hanging in
   such a way that urine would fall into it if Indra were to make
   water. When he appeared before Udanka in that fashion and
   offered him the nectar the latter thought the pot contained urine
   and refused to accept the nectar.

96 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. V
2. The Self seems to be moving when the intellect
moves and It seems to be at rest when it is at rest on
account of Its identification ¹ with the intellect like trees
appearing to move in the eyes of those who are in a
moving boat. Similar is the misconception ² about
transmigratory existence.
नौस्थस्य प्रातिलोम्येन नगानां गमनं यथा ।
आत्मनः संसृतिस्तद्वद्ध्यायतीवेति हि श्रुतिः ॥ ३ ॥
3. Just as trees are thought to be moving in a
direction opposite to that of a moving boat by a man
in it, so, transmigratory existence is (wrongly) thought
to belong to the Self (by a man who has identified
himself with the intellect). For there is the passage in
the Sruti, ‘ as ³ if at rest.’
चैतन्यप्रतिबिम्बेन व्याप्तो बोधो हि जायते ।
बुद्धेः शब्दादिभिर्भासस्तेन मोमुह्यते जगत् ॥ ४ ॥
4. The modifications of the intellect are pervaded
by the reflection of Consciousness when they come to
exist. So the Self appears to be identified with sound ⁴
etc. This is the reason why people are deluded.⁵
चैतन्यभास्यताहमस्तादर्थ्यं च तदस्य यत् ।
इदमंशप्रहाणेन परः सोऽनुभवो भवेत् ॥ ५ ॥
¹ Due to ignorance. ² For people make the mistake of believ-
ing that transmigratory existence belongs to the Self instead of to
the intellect. ³ Br. U., 4. 3. 7. ⁴ The objects of the modifica-
tions of the intellect i.e., the body etc. ⁵ For unable to distin-
guish between the Self and its reflection people attribute the pro-
perties of the intellect to the Self.

2-5] ERROR IN UNDERSTANDING 97
5. As it is the object of pure Consciousness and
exists¹ for It (the ego² is not the Self). Pure Conscious-
ness is the universal Self³ when the object portion⁴ is
rejected.⁵
¹ For the agency and experience of the Self is due to the
superimposition of the ego on It.
² See footnote 3, verse 2, Chapter 2.
³ What appears to be the individual Self owing to the proxi-
mity of the ego before the attaiment of right knowledge is known
to be no other than the universal Self when the discrimination of the
Self from the ego has been accomplished.
⁴ The object portion of the consciousness 'I', i.e., the ego.
⁵ I.e., when the identification of the Self with the ego is known
to be due to a wrong conception.
7

विशेषापोहप्रकरणम् ॥ ६ ॥
CHAPTER VI
NEGATION OF ATTRIBUTES
छित्त्वा त्यक्तेन हस्तेन स्वयं नात्मा विशिष्यते ।
तथा शिष्टेन सर्वेण येन येन विशेष्यते ॥ १ ॥

1. The Self Itself is not qualified by an arm which
   has been cut off and thrown away. Similarly, It is not
   qualified by any of the remaining things¹ by which It
   is (thought to be) qualified.²
   तस्मात्त्यक्तेन हस्तेन तुल्यं सर्वं विशेषणम् ।
   ऽनात्मत्वेन तस्माज्ज्ञो मुक्तः सर्वैर्विशेषणैः ॥ २ ॥
2. Therefore all the qualifications are similar to the
   arm (cut off and) thrown away as they are all non-Self.³
   So the Self is free from all qualifications.
   विशेषणमिदं सर्वं साध्वलंकराणं यथा ।
   अविद्याध्यासतः सर्वं ज्ञात आत्मन्यसद्भवेत् ॥ ३ ॥
   ¹ The gross and subtle bodies and their attributes.
   ² See verses 91-94, Ch. 18.
   ³ For they are all superimposed on the Self.

1-6] NEGATION OF ATTRIBUTES 99
3. It is reasonable that, like ornaments,¹ all these ²
are qualifications (of the Self) owing to superimposition
through Ignorance. When the Self is known they prove
to be unreal.
ज्ञातैवात्मा सदा ग्राह्यो ज्ञेयमुत्सृज्य केवलः ।
अहमित्यपि यद्ग्राह्यं व्यपेताङ्गसमं हि तत् ॥ ४ ॥
4. After rejecting the object portion ³ one should
accept the Self as the knower ⁴ free from all qualifica-
tions. The ego,⁵ the object portion, is also like the
part of the body cut off.⁶
यावान्स्यादिदमंशो यः स स्वतोऽन्यो विशेषणम् ।
विशेषप्रक्षयो यत्र सिद्धो ज्ञश्चित्रगुर्यथा ॥ ५ ॥
5. The Self of which the whole of the object portion ⁷
is the qualification is different from it. Bereft of all
qualifications It has an independent existence like that
of a man ⁸ possessing a variegated cow.
इदमंशोऽहमित्यत्र त्याज्यो नात्मेति पण्डितैः ।
अहं ब्रह्मेति शिष्टांशो भूतपूर्वगतेर्भवेत् ॥ ६ ॥
6. As it is not the Self the object portion in the
consciousness ‘I’ should be renounced ⁹ by the wise.
¹ Falsely appearing to be the qualifications of the wearer.
² See footnote 1, verse 1 above. ³ See foot note 7, verse 5.
⁴ Pure Consciousness, the witness. ⁵ Though to the ignorant
it appears to be Self. ⁶ See verse 1 of this Chapter.
⁷ In the consciousness ‘I’. ⁸ The man has an existence in-
dependent of the cow, so has the Self an existence independent of
the ego etc., Its qualifications, It having no connection with them.
⁹ See footnote 13, verse 2, Chapter 2.