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314
VIVEKACŪDAMAŅI
objects arises, it will never be without ahamkāra which is the first of the modifications. By the growth of the thought of the senseobjects, it should be understood that ahamkāra, which is its seed, also grows. Thus, even though destroyed by discriminative knowledge, when sprinkled by vāsanās which have arisen from time without beginning, ahamkāra will grow in the mind and lead to samsāra in the absence of concentration on the ātman by the mind turned inwards. So, one will not be affected by "vāsanās as there will be no occasion for thinking etc., on sense-objects if one is continuously established in Brahman without negligence. Therefore, one should subdue the effect, i.e., one should not engage in thinking about sense-objects.
314 How it brings about involvements in samsāra is further explain
ed.
वासनावृद्धितः कार्य कार्यवृद्ध्या च वासना । वर्धते सर्वथा पुंसः संसारो न निवर्तते ॥३१४ ॥ vāsanāvsddhitaḥ kāryam kāryavrddhyā ca vāsanā vardhate sarvathā pumsaḥ samsāro na nivartate !
The effect grows by the growth of vāsanā and by the growth of the effect, the vāsanā also grows. For such a person, samsāra increases; there is no cessation.
Even as a spark of fire, however small it may be, growing by contact with dry grass becomes a big blaze and burns out a whole forest. Even so ahamkāra, though in the form of vāsanā, by reason of thinking constantly on objects makes the ātman slip down from its true state. By the strength of its own reflection, the ātman gets modified in many forms, destroys the discrimination that has arisen, produces the succession as before the dawn of discrimination, of desire and action, grows itself and restarts the course of samsāra that has ceased. Therefore, one is cautioned by this sloka to exercise great care.
kāryam: thought of sense-objects.
By forgetfulness of the native ānanda, there is effort for acquiring the sense-objects. If they are not attained, grief arises. If they are secured, there ensues joy Joy produces pride. When pride arises, there is transgression of dharma. By it comes about the fouling of the intellect. That produces the inability to realise the
