Conversation between Caṇḍāla and Ādi Śaṅkarācārya - Part 2 - A Thread (1/

— Manīṣa Pañcakam —
(Five verses of Firm Conviction)

Śaṅkara replied to the questions in five verses and touched the feet of Caṇḍāla, as a way to show respect towards him.
जाग्रत्स्वप्नसुषुप्तिषु स्फुटतरा या संविदुज्जृम्भते
या ब्रह्मादिपिपीलिकान्ततनुषु प्रोता जगत्साक्षिणी
सैवाहं न च दृश्यवस्त्विति दृढप्रज्ञापि यस्यास्ति
च्चण्डालोऽस्तु स तु द्विजोऽस्तु गुरुरित्येषा मनीषा मम॥ १ ॥
In the waking, dreaming and deep sleep states, That which is their Illuminator, by which one comes to know and understand things; From the Creator down to the ant, that which is the very spark of life in them; the witness of the entire universe That alone am I,
and not the objects that are “seen”, firmly established in this Consciousness – if there is such a person, be he a Caṇḍāla or be he a Brāhmaṇa, such a one indeed is worthy of being a Guru. This is my firm conviction. - 1
ब्रह्मैवाहमिदं जगच्च सकलं चिन्मात्रविस्तारितं
सर्वं चैतदविद्यया त्रिगुणयाऽशेषं मया कल्पितम् ।
इत्थं यस्य दृढा मतिस्सुखतरे नित्ये परे निर्मले
चण्डालोऽस्तु स तु द्विजोऽस्तु गुरुरित्येषा मनीषा मम ॥ २ ॥
I am pure Consciousness, and this entire universe, is only an expansion of pure Consciousness. Out of this Māyā all this that we see, made of the three gunas, has been conjured by imagination,
He whose intellect is firmly established in the all blissful, eternal, Supreme Reality, be he a Caṇḍāla or be he a Brāhmaṇa, such a one is indeed worthy of being a Guru. This is my firm conviction. - Verse 2
शश्वन्नश्वरमेव विश्वमखिलं निश्चित्य वाचा गुरो-
र्नित्यं ब्रह्म निरन्तरं विमृशता निर्व्याजशान्तात्मना
भूतं भावि च दुष्कृतं प्रदहता संविन्मये पावके
प्रारब्धाय समर्पितं स्ववपुरित्येषा मनीषा मम ॥ ३ ॥
Permanently in a state of flux is this entire world of change, reflect thus on the words of his Guru
"Brahman is Eternal" dwelling on this only, casting aside all dissimilar thoughts, his mind is quietened and poised.
And all past and future residual Vasanas (desires) of evil deeds are burnt in the fire of Pure consciousness, He thereafter offers his body to Prārabdha. Such a one is worthy to be a Guru, be he a Caṇḍāla or a Brāhmaṇa, this is my firm conviction. - Verse 3
या तिर्यङ्नरदेवताभिरहमित्यन्तः स्फुटा गृह्यते
यद्भासा हृदयाक्षदेहविषया भान्ति स्वतोऽचेतनाः
तां भास्यैः पिहितार्कमण्डलनिभां स्फूर्तिं सदा भावय-
न्योगी निर्वृतमानसो हि गुरुरित्येषा मनीषा मम ॥ ४ ॥
Upon That which in animals, man and the Deities is, as the inner “I” or Ego clearly perceived to be present
Upon That Light by which the mind, senses and body instruments are enlivened, though in themselves inert
Upon that Radiance covered by dark clouds, yet shining forth from behind them he who always meditates a Yogi, with mind freed of all thoughts,
is indeed worthy of being a Guru, this is my firm conviction. - Verse 4
यत्सौख्याम्बुधिलेशलेशत इमे शक्रादयो निर्वृता
यच्चित्ते नितरां प्रशान्तकलने लब्ध्वा मुनिर्निर्वृतः ।
यस्मिन्नित्यसुखाम्बुधौ गलितधीर्ब्रह्मैव न ब्रह्मविद्
यः कश्चित्स सुरेन्द्रवन्दितपदो नूनं मनीषा मम ॥ ५॥
The Self, which is Brahman, is the eternal ocean of supreme bliss. A minute fraction of that bliss is enough to satisfy Indra and other gods. By meditating on the Self with a perfectly calm mind the sage experiences fulfillment.
The person whose mind has become identified with this Self is not a mere knower of Brahman, but Brahman itself. Such a person, whoever he may be, is one whose feet are fit to be worshipped by Indra himself. This is my definite conviction. - Verse 5
When he had finished speaking, the outcaste disappeared from sight, and his place appeared Lord Śiva with the crescent moon in his matted kicks and the four Vedas accompanying him (who were the dogs of the outcaste).
Moved by joy, awe and devotion Śaṅkara glorified that Aṣṭamūrti Śiva in a hymn:
दासस्तेऽहं देहदृष्ट्याऽस्मि शंभो जातस्तेंऽशो जीवदृष्ट्या त्रिदृष्टे ।
सर्वस्याऽऽत्मन्नात्मदृष्ट्या त्वमेवे-
त्येवं मे धीर्निश्चिता सर्वशास्त्रैः ॥
Oh Lord ! In the form of body I am your servant. In the form of life, O three-eyed one, I am a part of you. In the form of the Self, you are within me and in every other Self. I have arrived at this conclusion through my intellect and on the authority of the various scriptures.
Ādi Śaṅkara sang further prayers, in devotion and fell at the Lord’s feet. Lord Śiva spoke to him as: ‘You have realised My true being. I have tested the depth of your spiritual understanding. My blessings rest on you.
‘Vyāsa edited the Vedas; he composed the Brahma-Sūtras and therein he refuted the doctrines of the Sankhyas etc. Taking only a few stray passages from the Vedas, they produced commentaries out of evil intention. Intelligent people find no worth in their writings.’
Therefore, you who have now got a real understanding of the purport of the Vedas, should write a new commentary on the Brahma-Sūtras, wherein the false theories have to be refuted both through reason and scripture.
The commentary you are going to produce will receive praise even from exalted beings like Indra, and it will be specially honoured in the assembly of Brahma. Defeating Bhāskara, Abhinavagupta, Nīlakaṇṭha, Maṇḍana etc, spread the knowledge of the Truth in the world.
Then, appoint competent disciples, resembling the sun in driving away the darkness of ignorance, as guardians of the Vedic path in diflcrent parts of the country. Having accomplished all this, you return to My state with the satisfaction of having fulfilled your mission.
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