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VIVEKACŪDAMANI
14
The effects of karmas will accrue only to one who is proficient in (who is qualified for) the performance of those specific karmas. They will not accrue to a person who is not thus proficient (qualified). Therefore the external features of deśa and kāla in respect of karma are only auxiliaries to it. To convey that internal (mental) qualification alone will be fruitful in this regard, Śrī Bhagavatpada says:
अधिकारिणमाशास्ते फलसिद्धिविशेषतः ।
उपाया देशकालाद्याः सन्त्यस्यां सहकारिणः ॥१४॥ adhikārinamāśāste phalasiddhirvićeşataḥ upāyā deśakālādyāḥ santyasyām sahakariņaḥ 11
The fruitfulness (of such vicāra) specially depends on a qualified person; the means of place and time are only auxiliaries.
Those who maintain that place and time are the chief determinants of the fruitfulness of a karma argue as follows: The effects of karma are invisible. The Vedas say: 'yadāhavaniye juhoti', 'aśvasya pade juhoti', 'prācīnapravame vaiśvadevena yajeta', 'sāyan juhoti', 'prātarjuhoti', 'vasante vasante jyotişā yajeta', 'vasante brāhmaṇo'gnīnādadhita': 'One makes an offering in āhavanīya fire', 'one makes homa at the foot of a horse', 'one shall make a vaiśvadeva sacrifice at the inclination of east to west', 'one makes an offering in the evening', 'one makes an offering in the morning', 'one makes a jyotiştoma sacrifice in every spring season', 'the Brāhmaṇa takes up the sacrificial fire in the spring'. In conformity with these śāstraic texts, it must be accepted that place and time are indispensable instruments of a (vaidika) karma.
The following texts appear to be significant in respect of jñāna also.
‘yathādarse tathātmani yathā svapne tathā pityloke | yathāpsu pariva dadsse tathā gandharvaloke chāyātapayoriva brahmaloke' 11 (Katha); "iha cedavedidatha satyamasti na cedihāvedīt mahati vinașțiḥ' (Kena).
Speaking of the clarity with which ātmajñāna can be obtained, the śruti says that ātmajñāna acquired in this world will be as clear as a reflection in a mirror, that acquired in the pitploka will be as elusive as a dream experience, that acquired in gandharvaloka will