46. The ignorance characterised by the notions ‘I’ and
‘Mine’ is destroyed by the knowledge produced by the realisation of the true
nature of the Self, just as right information removes the wrong notion about
the directions.
47. The Yogi of perfect realisation and enlightenment sees
through his “eye of wisdom” (Gyana Chakshush) the entire universe in his own
Self and regards everything else as his own Self and nothing else.
48. Nothing whatever exists other than the Atman: the
tangible universe is verily Atman. As pots and jars are verily made of clay and
cannot be said to be anything but clay, so too, to the enlightened soul and
that is perceived is the Self.
49. A liberated one, endowed with Self-knowledge, gives up
the traits of his previously explained equipments (Upadhis) and because of his
nature of Sat-chit-ananda, he verily becomes Brahman like (the worm that grows
to be) a wasp.
50. After crossing the ocean of delusion and killing the
monsters of likes and dislikes, the Yogi who is united with peace dwells in the
glory of his own realised Self – as an Atmaram.
51. The self-abiding Jivan Mukta, relinquishing all his
attachments to the illusory external happiness and satisfied with the bliss
derived from the Atman, shines inwardly like a lamp placed inside a jar.
52. Though he lives in the conditionings (Upadhis), he, the
contemplative one, remains ever unconcerned with anything or he may move about
like the wind, perfectly unattached.
53. On the destruction of the Upadhis, the contemplative one
is totally absorbed in ‘Vishnu’, the All-pervading Spirit, like water into
water, space into space and light into light.
54. Realise That to be Brahman, the attainment of which
leaves nothing more to be attained, the blessedness of which leaves no other
blessing to be desired and the knowledge of which leaves nothing more to be
known.
55. Realise that to be Brahman which, when seen, leaves
nothing more to be seen, which having become one is not born again in this
world and which, when knowing leaves nothing else to be known.
56. Realise that to be Brahman which is
Existence-Knowledge-Bliss-Absolute, which is Non-dual, Infinite, Eternal and
One and which fills all the quarters – above and below and all that exists
between.
- By Adi Sankaracharya, 788-820 CE,
- Translated by Swami Chinmayananda
- Translated by Swami Chinmayananda