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178
VIVEKACŪDAMANI
kośairannamayādyaiḥ pañcabhirātmā na samvịto bhāti nijaśaktisamutpannaiḥ saivalapatalairivāmbu vāpistham 11
The ātman does not shine clearly being covered by the material and other sheaths which have arisen by its own power, like the water in a well covered by a sheet of moss.
The śrutis like salila eko draştā (Brh.) speak of the atman as being clear, bright and pure like undefiled water. But, it may be
l: if the ātman is so pure, clear etc., why does it not shine forth? Taking the illustration of that water itself, the guru explains why it does not shine clearly.
nijaśaktisamutpannaiḥ etc: nija: of its own; imagined in itself, by the material (annamaya) and other sheaths and ending with the ānandamaya (sheath of joy) to be enumerated, and super-imposed on itself (on the ātman); which functions as obstruction to its (the ātman's) clear perception. That is, the ātman does not shine separately as it is covered over by the sheaths super-imposed on it, like a sheath concealing the sword.
Illustrations for the above: moss arises by the quality of a sheet of water itself in a well. It arises on the surface of the water and prevents the water from being seen clearly.
saivala patalaiņ: by layers of moss.
Even as water in a well cannot be seen on account of its sur face being covered with moss arising from itself, so too the ātman cannot be clearly perceived due to the sheaths which get super-imposed on the ātman itself.
152 The reason for the clear shining of the water in the example is given.
तच्छवालापनये सम्यक्सलिलं प्रतोयते शुद्धम् ।
तृष्णासन्तापहरं सद्यस्सौख्यप्रदं परं पुंसः ॥ १५२ ॥ tacchaivālāpanaye samyak salilam pratīyate śuddham | trsņāsantāpaharam sadyassaukhyapradam param puṁsaḥ 11
When the moss is removed, the water becomes visible in all its clearness. It removes the pain of thirst and immediately fills men with happiness.
When the moss is removed, the water underneath is seen in all its clearness without any obstruction. The effect of that is declared.
