उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

174-180] ‘ THOU ART THAT 271 agreement and contrariety which words should be placed first ¹ and which next. For the order of words in Vedic sentences follows ² the meaning of the sentences. No rule about (the order of) remembering the meanings of words in sentences holds good in the Vedas. यदा नित्येषु वाक्येषु पदार्थस्तु विविच्यते । वाक्यार्थज्ञानसंक्रान्त्यै तदा प्रश्नो न युज्यते ॥ १७९ ॥ 179. The question ³ is out of place when the mean- ings of words in sentences ⁴ having fixed meanings are made clear ⁵ in order that the meanings of sentences may be comprehended. अन्वयव्यतिरेकोक्तिः पदार्थस्मरणाय तु । स्मृत्यभावे न वाक्यार्थो ज्ञातुं शक्यो हि केनचित् ॥ १८० ॥ 180. The method of agreement ⁶ and contrariety is spoken of in order that one may be acquainted with the (implied) meanings of words. For no one can know the meaning of a sentence without knowing (the mean- ings of the words in it). ¹ In construing sentences we place the words having known meanings, 'I', 'thou', etc. first and 'That,' 'Brahman', etc. next, which have unknown meanings. ² In the Vedic statement, 'oblations should be offered to fire', 'barley gruel should be cooked', though offering of oblations precedes it is done next; for the offerings must be made with the cooked gruel. Such is the case with the words 'That' and 'thou' in the sentence 'That thou art' (तत्त्वमसि). ³ How one is Brahman. ⁴ 'Thou art That' etc. ⁵ By the method of agreement and contrariety. See verse 96 above. ⁶ See verse 96 above.