उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

222 $\hspace{60pt}$ A THOUSAND TEACHINGS $\hspace{60pt}$ [CHAP. XVIII towards external objects through impurities (such as, attachment and so on). श्रुतानुमानजन्मानौ सामान्यविषयौ यतः । प्रत्ययावक्षजोऽवश्यं विशेषार्थो निवारयेत् ॥ १४ ॥ 14. Perceptional Knowledge¹ which has for its objects particular properties of things does surely contradict that² which arises from hearsay and in- ference and which is related only to generic properties of things. वाक्यार्थप्रत्ययी कश्चिन्निर्दुःखो नोपलभ्यते । यदि वा दृश्यते कश्चिद्वाक्यार्थश्रुतिमात्रतः ॥ १५ ॥ निर्दुःखोऽतीतदेहेषु कृतभावोऽनुमीयते । चर्या नोऽशास्त्रसंवेद्या स्यादनिष्टं तथासति ॥ १६ ॥ 15, 16. No one is seen freed from the distress (of this transmigratory existence) simply by understanding the meaning of the sentence. If, however, a rare man³ is seen to be freed from such distress on the mere hearing of it he must be inferred to have practised repetition in previous lives. Moreover our⁴ conduct will have to be regarded as non-scriptural (if you do not admit the existence of an injunction) in this case.⁵ But that is not desirable. ¹ E.g., the knowledge that arises by actually seeing fire. ² E.g., the knowledge that arises on hearing the word 'fire' or through inference on seeing smoke. ³ E.g., Vâmadeva, who, while in his mother's womb, had Self- knowledge. See Ai. U., 2. 5. $\hspace{30pt}$ ⁴ The conduct of mendicants. ⁵ In the case of one who has become acquainted with the sentence, but not with the Self.