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VIVEKACŪDAMAŅI
253
ataḥ přthan nästi jagat parātmanah
pệthakpratītistu mīņā guņāhivat | āropitasyāsti kim arthavattā
adhișthānamābhāti tathā bhrameņa 11
Therefore, the world does not exist separate from Brahman. The appearance of separateness is false, like a serpent appearing on a rope. What is the reality of the super-imposed? It is that the substratum appears like it due to delusion.
As, like the dream, the world too is not perceived always, it is not real, separate from Brahman. Like the rope-serpent, it appears in the state of worldly experience as separate like the pot etc. Even as the serpent superimposed on the rope is false, so the world too (super-imposed on Brahman) is false. That what is superimposed is false is proved also by its inability to produce its appropriate effect, arthavattā. Does the super-imposed have the quality of producing its appropriate effect? No. (That is, the rope-serpent is false also for the reason that it will not sting). Then how does it appear? It is the substratum (rope or Brahman) that appears due to delusion (as serpent or the world). In the case of a delusion, seeking for its appropriate effect is a futile attempt.
238 That the world is not different from Brahman is further confirmed by another example.
भान्तस्य यद्यद् भ्रमतः प्रतोतं
ब्रह्मैव तत्तद्रजतं हि शुक्तिः । इदंतया ब्रह्म सदेव रूप्यते · care for at for THATCH 1173611 bhrāntasya yadyad bhramataḥ pratītam
brahmaiva tattad rajatam hi śuktiņi idamtayā brahma sadeva rūpyate
tvāripitam brahmani nāmamātram 11
Whatever appears to a deluded man under the influence of delusion is Brahman only. For, the silver is really the mother-of-pearl. Whatever is referred to as "this”, is the reality (substratum) that is Brahman. Whatever is superimposed on Brahman is only a matter of name. Whatever appears to a deluded man in his delusion is only the
