उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

228 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII Its reflection are free ¹ from (real) distinction (between each other like the face and its reflection ²). संसारी च स इत्येक आभासो यस्त्वहंकृति । वस्तुच्छाया स्मृतेरन्यान्माधुर्यादि च कारणम् ॥ ३४ ॥ 34. (Objection). Some say that the reflection in the ego (as distinct from the Self) is the individual soul.³ (But if one asks how the reflection which is not a reality can experience anything at all the objector answers that) the reflection is a reality as the shadows of things are known to be realities according to the _Smriti._⁴ Not only so, there is another reason also (why a shadow should be regarded as a reality). For a man in a shadow feels refreshingly cool. ज्ञैकदेशो विकारो वा तदाभासाश्रयः परे । अहंकर्तैव संसारी स्वतन्त्र इति केचन ॥ ३५ ॥ 35. (Other objections). Some say that the indi- vidual soul is a part of Pure Consciousness. Others hold that it is a modification of the same. Still others are of opinion that the ego together with the reflection ¹ Though there is an apparent distinction there is not a real one between the Self and Its reflection nor between the Self and the intellect. For as a matter of fact neither the reflection nor the in- tellect has an existence independent of the Self. The conclusion is that Pure Consciousness, reflected in Ignorance and the ego etc., its modifications, is regarded as the individual experiencing trans- migratory existence owing to a nondiscrimination between Itself and Its reflection. See verse 43 of this Chapter. ² Which has an existence dependent on that of the face. ³ The experiencer of this transmigratory existence. ⁴ 'One should not deliberately cross the shadows of one's teachers and other superiors.' ⁵ Therefore a shadow must be a real thing having the property of coolness.