उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

48 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS प्रत्ययालम्बनवस्तुभेदानां संहतत्वात् अचैतन्योपपत्तेः स्वार्थ- त्वासंभवात् स्वरूपव्यतिरिक्तग्राहकग्राह्यत्वेन सिद्धिः ; शब्दादि- वदेव । असंहतत्वे सति चैतन्यात्मकत्वात् स्वार्थोऽपि अहंप्रत्य- यानां नीलपीताद्याकाराणामुपलब्धेति विक्रियावानेव, कूटस्थः इति संशयः ॥ ७४ ॥ 74. To this the disciple replied, “The delusion,¹ Sir, is gone by your grace; but I have doubts about the changeless nature which, you say, pertains to me.” Teacher.—“What doubts ?” Disciple.—“Sound etc.,² do not exist independently as they are non-conscious. But they come into existence when there arise in the mind modifications resembling sound and so on. It is impossible³ that these modifi- cations⁴ should have an independent existence⁵ as they are exclusive of one another as regards their special characteristics (of resembling sound etc.,) and appear to be blue, yellow, etc. (So sound etc., are not the same as mental modifications.) It is therefore inferred that these modifications are caused by external objects. So it is proved that modifications resemble sound etc., objects existing externally.³ Similarly,⁶ these different modifications of the mind also are combinations and therefore non-conscious. So, not existing for their own ¹ i.e., “I am liable to transmigration and misery and other than the Lord who is ever free.” ² Sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. ³ Refutation of the Idealists. ⁴ i.e., sound consciousness, touch consciousness, colour consci- ousness, etc. ⁵ It is only pure Consciousness that has an independent existence. ⁶ like sound etc.