उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

172 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVI Self exists before ¹ the intellect comes ² into (apparent) existence. अविकल्पं तदस्त्येव यत्पूर्वं स्याद्विकल्पतः । विकल्पोत्पत्तिहेतुत्वाद्यस्यैव तु कारणम् ॥ १६ ॥ 16. (Whatever ³ is pervaded by anything ⁴ is an effect of that thing, the cause.) Itself uncaused the cause ⁵ producing effects (such as, the intellect ⁶ etc.) must, therefore have an existence invariably anterior to that of the effect. अज्ञानं कल्पनामूलं संसारस्य नियामकम् । हित्वात्मानं परं ब्रह्म विद्यान्मुक्तं सदाभयम् ॥ १७ ॥ 17. Discarding Ignorance,⁷ the root of all superim- position and the controller of transmigratory existence, one should know the Self to be the Supreme Brahman which is always free and devoid of fear. जाग्रत्स्वप्नौ तयोर्बीजं सुषुप्ताख्यं तमोमयम् । अन्योन्यस्मिन्नसत्त्वाच्च नास्तीत्येतत्त्रयं त्यजेत् ॥ १८ ॥ 18. (Transmigratory existence consists of) waking and dream. Their root is deep sleep consisting of Ignor- ance. No one of these three states has a real existence because each goes out of existence when another ¹ E.g., in deep sleep. ² In waking and dream. ³ E.g., an earthen jar. ⁴ E.g., earth. ⁵ The Self. ⁶ Pervaded by (the reflection of) Existence, the Self. The Self must, therefore, have an existence anterior to that of everything. Hence nihilism cannot be accepted. ⁷ Superimposed and therefore unreal.