Vivek Chudamani

Author(s): Shankaracharya, Madhavanand Swami
Publisher: Advaita Ashram

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VIVEKACHUDAMANI
अमृतत्वस्य नाशास्ति वित्तेनेत्येव हि श्रुतिः ।
ब्रवीति कर्मणो मुतेरहेतुत्वं स्फुटं यतः ॥ ७ ॥
7. There is no hope of Immortality by means of riches-such indeed is the declaration of the Vedas. Hence it is clear that works cannot be the cause of Liberation.
[The reference is to Yâjnavalkya's words to his wife Maitreyi, Brihadâranyaka II. iv. 2. Cf. the Vedic dictum, न कर्मणा न प्रजया धनेन त्यागेनैके अमृतत्वमानशु : - 'Neither by rituals, nor by progeny, nor by riches, but by renunciation alone some attained Immortality.']
भतो विमुक्तय प्रयतेत विद्वान्
संन्यस्त बाह्यार्थसुखस्पृहः सन् । com
सन्तं महान्तं समुपेत्य देशिकं तेनोपदिष्टार्थसमाहितात्मा ॥ ८ ॥
8. Therefore the man of learning should strive his best for Liberation, having renounced his desire for pleasures from external objects, duly approaching a good and generous preceptor, and fixing his mind on the truth inculcated by him.
[Duly—i.e., according to the prescribed mode. (Vide Mundaka I. ii. 12.) The characteristics of a qualified Guru are given later on in sloka 33.]
उर्द्धरेदात्मनात्मानं मग्न संसारबारिधौ । योगारूढत्वमासाद्य सम्यग्दर्शननिष्ठया ॥ ६ ॥
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