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Atmabodha
18. Demerit is on account of inauspicious activities. From this demerit man becomes subject of suffering. Religious merit is due to auspicious activi ies From this (religious merit) one attains some sort of happiness. This pair of duality is on account of taking shelter in mundane life. Again, attainment of the highest eternal blissful state is on account of pure auspicious activities. O Arhan, (the difference between you and me is that), you are in the state of eternal bliss and I am here in this mundane life (which is full of pain and pleasure).
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19. I am nothing else but that highest self-luminous Consciousness (Lit - light) which dwells neither inside nor outside; nor in any direction; (which is) neither gross nor subtle; neither male, nor female, nor neuter; neither heavy nor light; free from Karma, touch, body, smell counting, word and colour and embodiment of pure knowledge and darsana.15
20. O Lord! the gulf between us is created by this enemy in the form of mischievous karma, which, without any reason destroys the advancement of Spirit.18 This, I am and that karma both are here in the presence of you. Amongst us (between us), (please) throw out that malignant (karma), because, it is the duty of a king to protect virtuous and punish the wicked ones.
21. The mental agony, disease, old age and death, etc., are related to the body. (Thus) what (harm) these inanimate things can do to my supreme Soul, which is quite different from these things ?17 (They cannot do anything just as) these clouds taking various forms and shapes in the sky, cannot change the essential nature of the sky.
15 This verse is very similar to the Upanisadic statement that 'Atman is neither male, nor female nor neuter.'-Svetasvatara Upanisad -V-10 16 The word 'cidunnatikṣayakrta' is used in U and J edition, instead of 'cidunnatim'. The reading 'cidunnatim' is more appropriate here.
17. In these lines, the author indirectly attacks the materialists (who claim that Atman is not different from the body) by saying that Atman is quite different from the material body.
