उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

3-9] RIGHT KNOWLEDGE 193 acquired. The acquisition that depends on other things (e.g., effort etc.) is due to Ignorance (and so vanishes when the means to which it is due vanish). अन्यदृष्टिस्त्वविद्या स्यात्तन्नाशो मोक्ष उच्यते । ज्ञानेनैव तु सोऽपि स्याद्विरोधित्वान्न कर्मणा ॥ ७ ॥ 7. The conception (of the existence) of the non- Self is Ignorance the destruction of which is known to be liberation. This destruction is possible by means of Knowledge only which is incompatible with Ignorance. (Compatible with Ignorance) actions can- not destroy it. कर्मकार्यस्त्वनित्यः स्यादविद्याकामकारणः । प्रमाणं वेद एवात्र ज्ञानस्याधिगमे स्मृतः ॥ ८ ॥ 8. That actions produced by desires caused by Ignorance give rise to perishable results¹ (and, that Knowledge produces an imperishable result,²) are known on the evidence of the Vedas. ज्ञानैकार्थपरत्वात्तं वाक्यमेकं ततो विदुः । एकत्वं ह्यात्मनो ज्ञेयं वाक्यार्थप्रतिपत्तितः ॥ ९ ॥ 9. The learned know the Vedas³ to be one con- tinuous whole the only purpose of which is to demon- strate one thing viz., Knowledge inasmuch as the ¹ E.g., higher regions. See Chh. U., 8. 1. 6. ² Liberation which is the Self Itself and therefore imperishable. ³ The work and the Knowledge portions of the Vedas. The work portion leads an aspirant performing Vedic actions through the purification of the mind, to Self-knowledge. 13