उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

201-207] 'THOU ART THAT' 279 204. Pain is a property belonging to the intellect.¹ How can it, therefore, belong to the Innermost Self which is of the nature of Pure Consciousness and not connected with pain ? दृशिरेवानुभूयेत स्वेनैवानुभवात्मना । तदाभासतया जन्म धियोऽस्यानुभवः स्मृतः ॥ २०५ ॥ 205. The Witness is known by Itself² which is of the nature of knowledge only. It is the birth of the modification of the intellect pervaded by the reflec- tion of Consciousness that is what is known to be the knowledge³ of the Self. अशनायादिनिर्मुक्तः सिद्धो मोक्षस्त्वमेव सः । श्रोतव्यादि तवेत्येतद्विरुद्धं कथमुच्यते ॥ २०६ ॥ 206. How can you speak of the hearing⁴ etc. (of the Self) on your part which is a contradiction⁵ when you are (taught to be) the eternally existing Liberation⁶ free from hunger etc. ? सेत्स्यतीत्येव चेत्तत्स्याच्छ्रवणादि तदा भवेत् । मोक्षस्यानित्यतैव स्याद्विरोधे नान्यथा वचः ॥ २०७ ॥ 207. Hearing etc. would be necessary if Liberation were to be brought about. But It would be transitory ¹ I.e., the ego. ² It requires, in order to be known, no other knowledge. ³ I.e., 'I am Brahman.' ⁴ Br, U., 2. 4. 5. ⁵ For a man cannot be the actionless Brahman and at the same time the agent of hearing etc. ⁶ I.e., Brahman.