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VIVEKACŪĻAMANI
objects, where is the judging thereof as good and where arises desire for them?
312
Hence, by thought of sense-objects forgetfulness of one's true nature arises. When the true nature is forgotten, one thinks that the ahaṁkāra is the ātman; for without the sense of the ahaṁkāra, desire will not arise in respect of objects appearing merely by reason of bodily connection. Then through the ahaṁkāra, one thinks of the mind, the breath and gross body etc., as the atman and, as before, desiring sense-objects gets one involved in samsara. This has been already said in the aphoristic śloka 268: jñāte vastunyapi balavatī vāsanānādireṣā kartā bhoktapyahamiti drḍha ya sya samsāra-hetuḥ pratygdṛṣṭyatmani nivasatā sāpaneyā prayatnāt muktim prahustadiha munayo vāsanātānavam yat 11
The succeeding śloka is only explanatory of it, and confirms the puruşa being permanently established in Brahman.
312
The meaning of 'ya atra samsarahetuḥ': that which is the cause of samsara is explained.
Ègıcam eifera ga ant fameru: anafuen ze zaną i अतोऽर्थसन्धानपरत्वमेव भेदप्रसक्त्या भवबन्धहेतुः ।। ३१२ ।।
dehātmanā samsthiat eva kāmī
vilakṣaṇaḥ kamayitā katham syat |
ato'rthasandhanaparatvameva
bhedaprasakṭya bhavabandhahetuḥ ||
One who is subject to dehātmabuddhi (identifying the atman with the body) alone is subjected to desire. How can one who is different be afflicted by desire? Hence, being concerned with sense-objects is the cause of the bondage of samsara caused by a sense of difference.
One who identifies his ātman with the body, he alone is a kāmī, one who is subject to desires. For, how will one who is always firm in the condition of uninterrupted bliss have desire for things which can produce only a momentary pleasure? By this has been conveyed fall from one's nature. Hence the question: How can one who is different (i.e., who does not identify the atman with the body) be afflicted by desire? vide the śruti: ātmānam ced vijānīyat ayamasmīti pūruṣaḥ | kimicchan kasya kāmāya sariramanusamjva(Mund): "If one knows himself as 'I am Brahman', de
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