Vivekachudamani - 4 - Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada

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Here are a few more shlokas from the book Vivekachudamani

written by Sri Sri Adi Sankara Bhagavatpada.

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aDhikAriNamAshAsthe phalasidhDhirvisheShatha: |

upAyA dheshakAlADhyA: santhyasminsahakAriNa: || 14 ||

 

Success depends essentially on a qualified aspirant; time,

place and and other such means are but auxiliaries in this

regard.

[The qualifications will be enumerated in stanzas 16 and 17.]

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atho vichAra: karthavyo jignyAsorAthmavasthuna: |

samAsADhya dhayAsinDhum gurum brahmavidhuththamam || 15 ||

 

Hence the seeker after the Reality of the Atman should take

to reasoning, after duly approaching the Guru, who should

be the best of the knowers of Brahman, and an ocean of mercy.

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meDhAvI puruSho vidhvAnUhApohavichakshaNa: |

aDhikAryAthmaviDhyAyAmukthalakshaNalakshitha: || 16 ||

 

An intelligent and learned man skilled in arguing in favor

of the scriptures and in refuting counter-arguments against

them -- one who has got the above characteristics is the fit

recipient of the knowledge of the Atman.

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vivekino virakthasya shamAdhiguNashAlina: |

mumukshoreva hi brahmajignyAsAyogyathA mathA || 17 ||

 

The man who discriminates between the Real and the unreal,

whose mind is turned away from the unreal, who possesses

calmness and the allied virtues, and who is longing for

liberation, is alone considered qualified to inquire

after Brahman.

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Vivekachudamani of Sri Sankaracharya, Text with English

Translation, Notes and Index by Swami Madhavananda,

© Advaita Ashrama, 5 Dehi Entally Road, Calcutta - 700 014.