Viveka Chudamani Slokas  340-342 

Understanding  the Universal Self (सर्वात्मभावं)and being that Universal Self is the topic of these three Slokas. By Universal Self , we understand that as the ability of one to see the Self in him is same as the Self in every other being and that it is the Brahman. Being able to see the Universal self results in release from all bondage. How does that happen? That is by being focussed on Self. Guru concludes by saying that this is also the import of Srutis.

Sloka 340

सर्वात्मना बन्धविमुक्ति हेतुः 
सर्वात्मभावान् न परोऽस्ति कश्चित् ।
दृश्याग्रहे सत् उपपद्यतेऽसौ
सर्वात्म भावोऽस्य सदात्म निष्ठया॥

1 सर्वात्मना बन्धविमुक्ति हेतुः-
recognizing entire universe as Self is the means for freedom from bondage;


Recognizing entire universe as Self , one sees Brahman in everything. When one is able to see through the manifested world and recognize Brahman in everything, there is no bondage left.

2 सर्वात्मभावान् न परोऽस्ति कश्चित् -
there is nothing higher than realizing Universe as Self;


Realizing Universal self is the end of all bondage. So there is nothing higher than that.

How does one attain that state?

3 दृश्याग्रहे सति उपपद्यतेऽसौ
when the manifested world seen is negated then you attain this state;


When the manifested world seen is negated, and the same Self is seen in all, you attain the state on Universal Self. When the manifested world disappears what is left is Universal Self. The negation of manifested world can be step by step. In the practical world, when you stop watching TV , your bondage with TV disappears. Step by step when you reject the dependencies or bandages what is left is pure Self or Universal Self. 

How do you attain that state of being able to reject manifested world?

4 सर्वात्म भावोऽस्य सदात्म निष्ठया
by steadfast meditation on Self, the identification with universe arises;

By steadfast meditation on Self, manifested world is rejected and the identification with universe arises; That also results in freedom from all bondages.

Sloka summary 340 :

Recognizing entire universe as Self is the means for freedom from bondage; There is nothing higher than realizing Universe as Self.  When the manifested world seen is negated then you attain this state of identification with universe; the identification with universe arises, by steadfast meditation on Self.

So Steadfast identification with Self results in Universal Self. That is also the teaching of Srutis.


Sloka 341

दृश्यस्याग्रहणं कथं नु घटते देहात्मना तिष्ठतः
बाह्यार्थानुभवप्रसक्त मनसः तत्तत्क्रियां कुर्वतः।
संन्यस्थाखिलधर्मकर्मविषयैः नित्यात्म निष्ठापरैः
तत्वज्ञैः करणीयमात्मनि सदानन्देच्छुभिः यत्नतः॥


1 दृश्यस्याग्रहणं कथं नु घटते देहात्मना तिष्ठतः;

  देहात्मना तिष्ठतः -
  for the one who identifies his  Atman  with his body;
  दृश्यस्याग्रहणं कथं नु घटते -
  how is nonapprehension of preceptual world possible?

In the earlier Sloka we understood from Guru that freedom from the manifested world or seeing Brahman in the entire manifested world results if freedom from bondage.

Guru reiterates the same with a rhetorical question. For one locked in the present with false identification of Body as atman, how can he see the Self in all the manifested world? For one locked in the importance of Body as the Self such non apprehension of perceptual world is impossible.

2 बाह्यार्थानुभवप्रसक्त मनसः तत्तत्क्रियां कुर्वतः।

   बाह्यार्थानुभवप्रसक्त मनसः -
   for the one whose mind is given to enjoyment of external world;
   तत्तत्क्रियां कुर्वतः -
   and acts accordingly;

For the one whose mind is given to enjoyment of external world and acts accordingly, also teh same question is applicable. he will be unable to universal Self and will be unable to free himself from the bondages of the perceptual world.

So who gets the benefit? Only the one established in the Self.

3 संन्यस्थाखिलधर्मकर्मविषयैः नित्यात्म निष्ठापरैः-

संन्यस्थाखिलधर्मकर्मविषयैः - अखिल धर्म कर्म विषयैः संन्यस्थ -
for those who renounce all kinds of duties, actions and objects;

नित्यात्म निष्ठापरैः - by those steadfastly devoted to Self.

for those who renounce all kinds of duties, actions and objects  and  by those steadfastly devoted to Self , the freedom from bondage is possible by stead fast action .

There is more.

4 तत्वज्ञैः करणीयमात्मनि सदानन्देच्छुभिः यत्नतः -

आत्मनि सदानन्देच्छुभिः तत्वज्ञैः यत्नतः -
by the knowers of truth desirous of eternal bliss;

यत्नतः करणीयं - should be practiced;


Sloka summary 341 :

For the one who identifies his  Atman with his body, for the one whose mind is given to enjoyment of external world and acts accordingly - how is non-apprehension of perceptual world possible?

It is effected by being steadfastly devoted to Self, by the knowers of desirous of eternal bliss, who renounce all kinds of duties, actions and objects.


Sloka 342

सार्वात्म्यसिद्धये बिक्षोः
कृतश्रवणकर्मणः ।
समाधिं विधदात्येषा
 शान्तो दान्त इति श्रुतः॥

1 कृतश्रवणकर्मणः कर्मणः -
who has heard the discourses of Srutis;

2 सार्वात्म्यसिद्धये बिक्षोः - 
for the Sanysin wants to realize universal Self;
 
 
For the Sanysin wants to realize universal Self, who has heard the discourses of Srutis, how does he gets the liberation. Answer is clear from the earlier Slokas. By steadfast focus on Self one realizes the Universal Self. That was already stated. Here Guru wants to add the support of Srutis. Guru says Srutis too say the same thing.
 
3 शान्तो दान्त इति श्रुतः -
"शान्तो दान्त" अनबडु श्रुति;
by the Sruti about one who is peaceful and self controlled;

4 समाधिं विधदात्येषा -
 एषा समाधिं विदधाति  -
Nirvikalpa Samadhi is prescribed;


The Sruti about one who is peaceful and self controlled, prescribes Nirvikalpa Samadhi as the process.
 
Sloka summary 342 :

For the Sanysin wants to realize universal Self, who has heard the discourses of Srutis, Nirvikalpa Samadhi is prescribed; by the Sruti which talks about about one who is peaceful and self controlled etc,.

The Sruti Guru is referring to is from Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad.
and goes as follows.

"तस्मादेवम् वित्  शान्तो दान्त उपरतः तितिक्षुः, समाहितः, श्रद्धावित्तो भूत्वा आत्मन्येव आत्मानं पश्येत्" ( बृहदारण्यक उपनिषत् );  शम ( Tranquility of mind)  दम ( control of senses) उपरति (renunciation or withdrawal)  तितिक्षु ( forbearance or endurance) श्रद्ध  (faith) समाधान (one pointed concentration)  , these six enable to see self in oneself ; it follows that he sees the same Self in all.

   
॥ओं तत् सत्॥
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