उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CHANGELESS 65 विषयत्वाद्यनुपपत्तेः । न हि आत्मनः अन्यत् अचेतनं वस्तु स्वप्र- माणकं दृष्टम् । शब्दादिसर्वमेव अवगतिफलावसानप्रत्ययप्रमितं सिद्धं स्यात् । अवगतिश्चेदात्मनोऽन्यस्य स्यात्, सोऽपि आत्मैव असंहतः स्वार्थः स्यात्, न परार्थः । न च देहेन्द्रिय- विषयाणां स्वार्थतां अवगन्तुं शक्नुमः, अवगत्यवसानप्रत्ययापेक्ष- सिद्धिदर्शनात् ॥ १०५ ॥ 105. Teacher.—(Reply) "Agency is not possible without the use of instruments. Instruments, therefore, have to be assumed. The assumption of instruments is, of course, an action. In order to be the agent of this action, other instruments have to be assumed. In assuming these instruments still others have to be assumed. A regressus ad infinitum is, therefore, inevit- able if the Self which is not joined with anything were to be the agent.¹ "Nor can it be said that it is an action ² that makes the Self act. For an action, not performed, has no existence. It is also not possible that something (previously existing) makes the Self act as nothing (except the Self) can have an independent existence and be a non-object. For things other than the Self must be non-conscious and, therefore, are not seen to be Self-existent. All things including sound ³ etc. come to exist when they are proved by mental functions resulting in the reflection of the Self. ¹ Br. Sû., 2. 3. 33, 40. The Self is not really an agent but only apparently so. ² As the Mîmâmsakas hold. ³ Sound, touch, sight, taste and smell. 5