उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

ईक्षितृत्वप्रकरणम् ॥ ११ ॥ CHAPTER XI NATURE OF THE WITNESS ईक्षितृत्वं स्वतःसिद्धं जन्तूनां च ततोऽन्यता । अज्ञान। दित्यतोऽन्यत्वं सदसीति निवर्त्यते ॥ १ ॥

1. All beings are by nature pure Consciousness Itself. It is due to Ignorance that they apppear to be different from It. Their (apparent) difference from It is removed by the teaching ‘Thou art Existence’.¹ एतावद्धमृतत्वं न किंचिदन्यत्सहायकम् । ज्ञानस्येति ब्रुवच्छास्त्रं सलिङ्गं कर्म बाधते ॥ २ ॥
2. The scriptures negate Vedic actions with their accessories ² by saying ‘Knowledge alone is the cause of immortality,³ and that there is nothing else to co- operate with it (in producing liberation).’ सर्वेषां मनसो वृत्तमविशेषेण पश्यतः । तस्य मे निर्विकारस्य विशेषः स्यात्कथंचन ॥ ३ ॥ ¹ Brahman. ² The sacred tuft of hair on the head, the sacred thread, etc. ³ Br. U., 4. 5. 15.