उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

156 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XV 16. What is called the ego is not the property of the Self as it is an object of perception like jars and other things. So are to be known the other functions and the impurities¹ of the mind. The Self, therefore, is without any impurity. सर्वप्रत्ययसाक्षित्वादविकारी च सर्वगः । विक्रियेत यदि द्रष्टा बुद्ध्यादीवाल्पविद्भवेत् ॥ १७ ॥ 17. The Self is changeless and all-pervading on account of Its being the witness of all the functions of the mind. It would be of limited knowledge like the intellect etc. if It were subject to change.² न दृष्टिर्लुप्यते द्रष्टुश्चक्षुरादेर्यथैव तत् । नहि द्रष्टुरिति ह्युक्तं तस्माद्द्रष्टा सदैकदृक् ॥ १८ ॥ 18. Unlike the knowledge gained through the eye etc. the Knowledge³ of the Knower does not cease to exist. It is said that, 'the Knowledge³ of the Knower does not go out of existence'. The Knower, therefore, is always of the homogeneous nature of Knowledge.³ संघातॊ वास्मि भूतानां करणानां तथैव च । व्यस्तं वान्यतमो वास्मि को वास्मीति विचारयेत् ॥ १९ ॥ 19. One should discriminate thus : Who am I ? Am I a combination of the elements or the senses, or am I any one of them separately ?⁴ ¹ These stand for all the qualities of the mind, good and bad. ² Verses 157, 158, Chap 18. ³ Pure Consciousness. ⁴ Br. U., 4. 3. 23.