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86
VIVEKACŪDĀMAŅI
is said: “The śāstras are unending (numerous); what is to be learnt is enormous, the time at one's disposal is brief; the hindrances are many. Hence, what is most essential must be acquired within the shortest possible time even as a swan separates the milk from the mixture of water". anantaśāstram bahu veditavyam alpaśca kālo bahavasca vighnāḥi yat sārabhūtam tadupāsitavyam hamso yathi ksiramivāmbumiśram 11 With the idea that understanding quickly the means to moksa, adopting it, let the śişya, released from bondage, experience eternal bliss, the guru says in this sloka: mokşasya hetuh etc. It is in keeping with this that the guru took upon himself to answer the fourth question first. Moreover, without knowledge of the distinction between the atman and the anātman; the nature of bondage which is to be explained cannot be understood. Intending to explain all that later, the guru first answers the question: How shall I be liberated?
मोक्षस्य हेतुः प्रथमो निगद्यते वैराग्यमत्यन्तमनित्यवस्तुषु ।
ततश्शमश्चापि दमस्तितिक्षा न्यासः प्रसक्ताखिलकर्मणां भृशम् ॥ ७१ ॥ mokşasya hetuḥ prathamo nigadyate
vairāgyamatyantamanityavastuşu tatassamascāpi damastitiksā nyāsaḥ prasaktākhilakarmaņām bhụsam 11
The means to mokṣa is taught first as total absence of desires for all impermanent things. Then come sama, dama and titikṣā and the giving up of all kinds of karmas. The meaning is clear.
72 ततः श्रुतिस्तन्मननं सतत्त्वध्यानं चिरं नित्यनिरन्तरं मुनेः ।
ततोऽविकल्पं परमेत्य विद्वान् इहैव निर्वाणसुखं सुमृच्छति ॥ ७२ ॥ tataśśrutistanmananam satattva
dhyānam ciram nityanirantaram muneh tato'vikalpam parametya vidvān
ihaiva nirvanasukham samșcchatill
Then comes (listening to) śruti; after that, daily uninterrupted long meditation on that truth by one given to such meditation (muniḥ). Then the wise one attaining the nirvikalpa state, experiences the bliss of liberation here itself.