उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

105-112] ' THOU ART THAT ' 251 cause the result is capable of being attributed to the Self though immutable, like victory to a King. आदर्शस्तु यदाभासो मुखाकारः स एव सः । यथैवं प्रत्ययादर्शो यदाभासस्तदा ह्यहम् ॥ १०९ ॥ 109. Just as the reflection of a face which makes a mirror appear like it, is the face itself,¹ so, the reflection of the Self in the mirror of the ego making it appear like the Self (is the Self).² So (the meaning of the sentence,) ‘I am Brahman’ (is reasonable). इत्येवं प्रतिपत्तिः स्यात्सदस्मीति च नान्यथा । तत्त्वमित्युपदेशोऽपि द्वाराभावादनर्थकः ॥ ११० ॥ 110. It is only in this way³ and in no other that one knows that one is Brahman (and that Brahman is oneself). Otherwise the teaching, ‘Thou art That’ also becomes useless in the absence of a medium.⁴ श्रोतुः स्यादुपदेशश्चेदर्थवत्त्वं तथा भवेत् अध्यक्षस्य न चेदिष्टं श्रोतृत्वं कस्य तद्भवेत् ॥ १११ ॥ 111. Teaching becomes useful if it is meant for a hearer (i.e. the aspirant). Who will be the hearer if the Witness is not ? अध्यक्षस्य समीपे स्याद्बुद्धेरेवेति चेन्मतम् । न तत्कृतोपकारोऽस्ति काष्ठाद्यद्वन्न कल्प्यते ॥ ११२ ॥ ¹ Not different from the face. ² Not different from the Self. ³ I.e., when the reflection of the Self is accepted. See verse 78 above. ⁴ The reflection of the Self.