उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

15-22] EYELESSNESS 133 their actions and the witness. It is I to whom all beings owe their consciousness. Without qualities and without a second I am eternal. न सच्चाऽहं न चासच्च नोभयं केवलः शिवः । न मे संध्या न रात्रिर्वा नाहर्वा सर्वदा दृशेः ॥ २० ॥ 20. I am not the three ¹ visible elements nor the two ² invisible ones, neither am I both (i.e., their combi- nation, the body). I am devoid of all attributes and the three Gunas.³ In Me there is neither night ⁴ nor day ⁴ nor their juncture ⁴ as I am always of the nature of light.⁵ सर्वमूर्तिवियुक्तं यद्यथा खं सूक्ष्ममद्वयम् । तेनाप्यस्मि विनाभूतं ब्रह्मैवाहं तथाऽद्वयम् ॥ २१ ॥ 21. Just as the ether is subtle, without a second and devoid of all forms, so, I am the non-dual Brahman devoid even of the ether. ममात्मा स्वत आत्मेति भेदो व्योम्नो यथा भवेत् । एकस्य सुषिभेदेन तथा मम विकल्पितः ॥ २२ ॥ 22. The distinction between the Self in Itself ⁶ and my Self is due to the superimposition (of different ⁷ adjuncts on one and the same Self), just as difference ¹ Earth, water, and fire. ² Air and ether. ³ Sattva, rajas and tamas, the three constituent essences of Mâyâ, the Power of Brahman transforming itself into the universe. See Bh. Gîtâ, 14. 5-19. ⁴ These words may also mean deep sleep, waking and dream respectively. ⁵ I.e., Consciousness. ⁶ Brahman. ⁷ The intellect etc.