उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

232 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII which is changeless, neither to the reflection which is not real nor to the ego which is not a conscious entity ? अविद्यामात्र एवातः संसारोऽस्त्वविवेकतः । कूटस्थेनात्मना नित्यमात्मवानात्मनीव सः ॥ ४५ ॥ 45. (Reply). Let the transmigratory condition then be only a delusion due to the indiscrimination (between the Self and the non-Self). It always has an (apparent) existence due to the real existence of the changeless Self and, therefore, appears to be pertaining to It. रज्जुसर्पो यथा रज्ज्वा सात्मकः प्राग्विवेकतः । अवस्तु सन्नपि ह्येष कूटस्थेनात्मना तथा ॥ ४६ ॥ 46. Just as a rope-snake (a rope mistaken for a snake), though unreal, has an existence due to that of the rope before the discrimination between the rope and the snake takes place; so, the transmigratory condition, though unreal, is possessed of an existence¹ due to that² of the changeless Self. आत्माभासाश्रयश्चात्मा प्रत्ययैः स्वैर्विकारवान् । सुखी दुःखी च संसारी नित्य एवेति केचन ॥ ४७ ॥ 47. Some say that the Self, to which the reflection belongs, though changeful on account of the modifica- tions of the mind pertaining to Itself such as, ‘I am happy’, ‘I am miserable’ and, though an experiencer of the transmigratory condition, is eternal. ¹ Empirical or phenomenal existence. ² Real existence.