उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

43-48] DREAM AND MEMORY 149 46. If, according to you, the mind which assumes various forms like those of jars and other things through its modifications be not illumined (by the Self) the defects in It, in the forms of impurity, non-consciousness and change, cannot be prevented like those in the mind. [If one does not accept that the Self is the witness of the mind and, therefore, unattached to it it is inevitable that the defects of the mind will tarnish the Self. Liberation becomes impossible in that case.] यथा विशुद्धं गगनं निरन्तरं न सज्जते नापि च लिप्यते तथा । समस्तभूतेषु सदैव तेष्वयं समः सदात्मा ह्यजरोऽमरोभयः ॥४७॥ 47. Just as the pure and limitless ether does not get attached nor tainted, so, the Self is always the same in all beings and free from old age, death and fear. अमूर्तमूर्तानि च कर्मवासना दृशिस्वरूपस्य बहिः प्रकल्पिताः । अविद्यया ह्यात्मनि मूढदृष्टिभिरपोह्य नेतीत्यवशेषितो दृशिः ॥४८॥ 48. The elements¹ with and without forms and the seat² of desires, superimposed through delusion by ignorant people on the Self, are thrown³ out of It which consists of Consciousness only on the authority of the Vedic evidence, ‘Not this, not this’. The Self alone is then left over. [In this verse the whole of the gross and the subtle universes are negated from the Self.] ¹ The gross body consisting of the five elements. See Br. U., 2. 3. 1—4. ² The subtle body. See Br. U., 2. 3. 5. 6. ³ I.e., negated from It.