Contents
Shri Sankara's Gita Bhashya
(Sri Sankaracharya's Commentary on the Gita)
CHAPTER -18
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Objector:- Scriptural injunctions being the authority with respect to matters unseen, the purposes of the self arc (surely) effected by what arc figuratively (spoken of as) the self-the body, senses etc[1]. Reply:- No; their sclf'-hood is the creation of avidyā; the body, senses, etc. are not 'selves' in the figurative sense. What then? Their self-hood is brought about through false conception (illusion) alone, by being associated with the Self which is un attached; for, they are regarded as the Self when the illusion subsists, and are not so regarded when the illusion disappears. Indeed, it is only in thoughtless, childish persons, when they are under the sway of ignorance, that the notion of selfhood in the aggregate of the body etc. in such forms as, "I am tall", "I am yellowish" is noticed; but to the discerning, when they have the knowledge "I am different from the aggregate of the body etc.", the notion of self-hood in the aggregate of the body etc. cannot arise. There fore, being non-existent in the absence of illusion (false knowledge), this (notion of self-hood in the body etc.) is a product of illusion alone; and it is not a figurative notion. It is only with respect to two things whose difference and similarity can be separately perceived, as in the case of a lion and Devadatta, or fire and a student, that conception in a figurative sense or speaking figuratively is possible; not with respect to those whose similarity and difference cannot be perceived[2]. |
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References and Context
- ↑ Scriptural injunctions such as, "One who desires svarga (heaven) should sacrifice" are authoritative. The self is indeed known to be different from (he body etc., but it cannot engage in action by itself (alone); and so, the action to be performed by the self is accomplished by the 'figurative' self. (A)
- ↑ Consequently with respect to the subject on hand, since perception of difference, which is an invariable feature of figurativeness, is absent, the concep tion of selfhood with respect to the body etc. cannot be figurative. (A)
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