उपदेशसाहस्री (आदि शङ्कराचार्य - गद्य व पद्य भाग)

74 A THOUSAND TEACHINGS cannot, for the very fact of my being not attached, be made an object and touched by sound in general or by its special forms such as, the notes of the gamut, praise, etc. which are pleasant and desirable, and also false, terrible, insulting and abusive words which are undesirable. So there is no loss or gain due to sound. Therefore what can sound, pleasant or un- pleasant, consisting of praise or blame do to me? Pleasant or unpleasant sound regarded as belonging to the Self glorifies or injures an ignorant man on account of indiscrimination. But it cannot do even the slightest good or evil to me who am a man of knowledge. (These ideas should thus be repeated.) “Similarly, no change consisting of gain or loss can be produced in me by touch in general or by its special forms such as fever, colic pain, etc., coldness, hotness, softness or roughness which are unpleasant. Again, pleasant touches connected with the body or brought into existence by external and adventitious causes can likewise produce no change in me inasmuch as I am beyond touch like the ether which, when struck with one's fist, does not meet with any change whatever. “Likewise, as I am entirely unconnected with sight no good or harm is done to me by it either in its general form or in its special forms pleasant or unpleasant, such as, ugly sights. “Similarly, Independent of taste I am not harmed or benefited by it either in its general form or in its special forms ‘such as, sweetness, sourness, saltiness,