उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

240 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS [CHAP. XVIII presence and absence must be accepted, it is not necessary to assume a reflection of the Self). (Reply).¹ This persistent Knower also is no better than the modifications themselves as the said Knower, different from the modifications, will be equally non- Conscious.² अध्यक्षस्य समीपे तु सिद्धिः स्यादिति चेन्मतम् । नाध्यक्षेऽनुपकारित्वादन्यत्रापि प्रसङ्गतः ॥ ७५ ॥ 75. If you³ are of opinion that the presence and absence of the modifications will be known owing to the proximity of the permanent Knower we say "No." For the (changeless) Knower will be of no utility. (Even admitting that It will reveal them by Its proximity only) everything⁴ will have mental modifications. अर्थी दुःखी च यः श्रोता स त्वध्यक्षोऽथवेतरः । अध्यक्षस्य च दुःखित्वमर्थित्वं च न ते मतम् ॥ ७६ ॥ कर्ताध्यक्षः सदस्मीति नैव सद्ग्रहमर्हति । सदेवासीति मिथ्योक्तिः श्रुतेरपि न युज्यते ॥ ७७ ॥ अविविच्योभयं वक्ति श्रुतिश्चेत्स्याद्ग्रहस्तथा । अस्मद्वस्तु विविच्यैव त्वमेवेति वदेद्यदि । प्रत्ययान्वयिनिष्ठत्वमुक्तदोषः प्रसज्यते ॥ ७८ ॥ ¹ To the Vedântins who do not accept the reflection of the Self. ² For being a knower (an agent of knowing) it will fall into the category of the non-Self and so will be non-conscious. ³ Those Vedântins who do not accept the reflection of the Self. ⁴ Including non-conscious objects, inasmuch as the knower is all- pervading.