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22
 
VIVEKACŪDĀMANI
 
[Prior to realization, mere book-learning without discrimination and
renunciation is useless, since it cannot give us freedom; and to the man
of realization it is all the more so, inasmuch as he has already achieved
his life's end.]
 
शब्दजालं महारण्यं चित्त भ्रमणकारणम् ।
 
अतः प्रयत्नाज्ज्ञातव्यं तत्त्वज्ञैस्तत्त्वमात्मनः ॥ ६० ॥
 
60. The scriptures consisting of many words are a
dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble.
Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing
the true nature of the Self.
 
अज्ञानसर्पदण्टस्य ब्रह्मज्ञानौषधं विना ।
 
किमु वेदश्च शास्त्रैश्च किमु मन्त्रैः किमौषधैः ॥ ६१ ॥
 
61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of
ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman.
Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) scriptures, mantras
(sacred formulac) and medicines to such a one ?
 
न गच्छति विना पानं व्याधिरौषधशव्दत: ।
विनाऽपरोक्षानुभवं ब्रह्मशब्दैर्न मुच्यते ॥ ६२ ॥
 
62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters
the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly)
without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the
mere utterance of the word Brahman.
 
अकृत्वा दृश्यविलयमज्ञात्वा तत्त्वमात्मनः ।
ब्रह्मशब्दः कुतो मुक्तिरुक्तिमात्रफलैर्नृणाम् ॥ ६३ ॥