उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

A METHOD OF ENLIGHTENING THE DISCIPLE 19 29. "The Sruti text commencing with 'Whatever¹ these creatures are here, whether a tiger or' and similar other texts, after asserting that 'One² becomes one's own master (i.e. Brahman)' by the knowledge of (the reality of) non-difference, show that one continues to remain in the transmigratory condition in the opposite case as the result of the acceptance of (the reality of) difference, saying, 'Knowing³ differently from this they get other beings for their masters and reside in perish- able regions'. Such statements are found in every branch of the Veda. It was, therefore, certainly wrong on your part to say that you were the son of a Brâh- mana, that you belonged to such and such a lineage, that you were subject to transmigration and that you were different from the supreme Self. तस्मात् प्रतिषिद्धत्वाद्भेददर्शनस्य, भेदविषयत्वाच्च कर्मोपा- दानस्य, कर्मसाधनत्वाच्च यज्ञोपवीतादेः कर्मसाधनोपादानस्य परमात्माभेदप्रतिपत्त्या प्रतिषेधः कृतो वेदितव्यः । कर्मणां तत्साधनानां च यज्ञोपवीतादीनां परमात्माभेदप्रतिपत्तिविरुद्ध- त्वात् । संसारिणो हि कर्माणि विधीयन्ते तत्साधनानि च यज्ञोपवीतादीनि, न परमात्मनोऽभेददर्शिनः । भेददर्शनमात्रेण च ततोऽन्यत्वम् ॥ ३० ॥ 30. "As the acceptance of (the reality of) difference s forbidden, it should be understood that, on the know- ledge of one's identity with the supreme Self, the under- taking of religious rites which have difference for their ¹ Chh. U., 6. 9. 3. ² Chh. U., 6. 25. 2. ³ Chh. U., 7. 25. 2.