उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

192 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII 3. I bow down to my teacher whose words fell (into my ears) and destroyed Ignorance (in me) like the sun's rays falling on darkness and destroying it. I shall now state the right conclusion about the Know- ledge of Brahman. आत्मलाभात्परो नान्यो लाभः कश्चन विद्यते । यदर्था वेदवादाश्च स्मार्ताश्चापि तु याः क्रियाः ॥ ४ ॥ 4. There is no other attainment higher than that of the Self. For that is the purpose for which the teach- ings of the Vedas, the Smritis and the actions¹ (described in the work-portion of the Vedas) are there. आत्मार्थोऽपि हि यो लाभः सुखायेष्टो विपर्ययः । आत्मलाभः परः प्रोक्तो नित्यत्वाद्व्रह्मवेदिभिः ॥ ५ ॥ 5. The acquisition² considered to be a source of happiness on the part of oneself³ produces the opposite result⁴ also. The Knowers of Brahman say that the greatest acquisition is that of the Self as It is eternal.⁵ स्वयं लब्धस्वभावत्वाल्लाभस्तस्य न चान्यतः । अन्यापेक्षस्तु यो लाभः सोऽन्यदृष्टिसमुद्भवः ॥ ६ ॥ 6. Of the nature of being always⁶ attained the Self does not depend on anything else in order to be ¹ They lead to Knowledge through the purification of the mind. ² Such as, fame, wealth and so on. ³ Br. U., 1. 4. 8. and 2. 4. 5. ⁴ Pain; owing to the loss of such acquisition. ⁵ See verses 43 and 44, chapter 16. ⁶ For it is the Self.