उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

51-58] ‘ THOU ART THAT ’ 235 55. The word ‘knowledge’, in the sense of the action of knowing, cannot, similarly, be applied to the Self. For the Self is not a change only (as is indicated by an action) inasmuch as it is taught (in the Srutis) that It is eternal. न बुद्धेर्बुद्धिवाच्यत्वं करणं न ह्यकर्तृकम् । नापि ज्ञायत इत्येवं कर्मशब्दैर्निरूप्यते ॥ ५६ ॥ 56. The word, ‘knowledge’, in the sense of the instrument of the action of knowing, is applied to the intellect and not to the Self as an instrument cannot exist without an agent.¹ Neither can the word, in the sense of that which is the object of the action of know- ing, be applied to the Self. न येषामेक एवात्मा निर्दुःखोऽविक्रियः सदा । तेषां स्याच्छब्दवाच्यत्वं ज्ञेयत्वं चात्मनः सदा ॥ ५७ ॥ 57. The Self is never knowable and is not directly denoted by any word according to those who hold² that It is eternally changeless, free from pain and one only. यदाहंकर्तृगात्मत्वं तदा शब्दार्थमुख्यता । नाशनायादिमत्त्वात्तु श्रुतौ तस्यात्मतेष्यते ॥ ५८ ॥ 58. If the ego were the Self a word might be applied to it in its primary sense.³ But it is not the Self according to the Sruti as it is possessed of hunger etc. ¹ If the Self becomes an instrument there will be no agent left. ² It is the doctrine of the author. ³ See verse 29 above.