Saturday, July 13, 2013

TRIPURA RAHASYA OR THE MYSTERY BEYOND THE TRINITY -7









TRIPURA RAHASYA
OR
THE MYSTERY BEYOND THE TRINITY
Translated by
SWAMI SRI RAMANANANDA SARASWATHI
(Munagala S. Venkataramaiah)
Sri Ramanasramam
Tiruvannamalai






CHAPTER XXII

The Conclusion

1-4. After Sri Dattatreya had finished, Parasurama
again asked respectfully: Lord, what further did that
Brahmin ask Hemangada and how did the latter enlighten
him? The account is very interesting and I desire to hear
it in full. Then Sri Datta, the Lord of Mercy, continued
the story: Vasuman asked Hemangada as follows:
5-8. Prince! I shall ask you a question. Please answer
me. I learnt about the Supreme Truth from Ashtaka and
later from you. You are a Sage; but still, how is it that you
go out hunting? How can a Sage be engaged in work?
Work implies duality; wisdom is non-duality; the two are
thus opposed to each other. Please clear this doubt of mine.
Thus requested, Hemangada spoke to the Brahmin
as follows:
9-14. O Brahmin! Your confusion owing to ignorance
has not yet been cleared up. Wisdom is eternal and natural.
How can it be contradicted by work? Should work make
wisdom ineffective, how can wisdom be useful any more
than a dream? No eternal good is possible in that case. All
this work is dependent on Self-awareness (i.e., wisdom).
Being so, can work destroy wisdom and yet remain in its
absence? Wisdom is that consciousness in which this world
with all its phenomena and activities is known to be as an
image or series of images; the duality essential for work is
also a phenomenon in that non-dual awareness.

There is no doubt that a man realises the Self only
after purging himself of all thoughts, and that he is then
released from bondage, once for all. Your question has
thus no basis and cannot be expected of the wise.
Then the Brahmin continued further:
15-16. True, O Prince! I have also concluded that the
Self is pure, unblemished Intelligence. But how can it
remain unblemished when will arises in it? Will is
modification of the Self, giving rise to confusion, similar
to that of a snake in a coil of rope.
17-26. Listen, O Brahmin! You do not yet clearly
distinguish confusion from clarity. The sky appears blue to
all alike whether they know that space is colourless or not.
Even the one who knows speaks of the ‘blue sky’ but is not
himself confused. The ignorant man is confused whereas
the man who knows is not. The latter’s seeming confusion
is harmless, like a snake that is dead. His work is like images
in a mirror. There lies the difference between a Sage and an
ignorant man. The former has accurate knowledge and
unerring judgement, whereas the latter has a blurred conception
and his judgement is warped. Knowledge of Truth
never forsakes a Sage although he is immersed in work. All
his activities are like reflections in a mirror for, being Selfrealised,
ignorance can no longer touch him.
Wrong knowledge, due to sheer ignorance, can be
corrected by true knowledge; but wrong knowledge, due
to a fault, cannot be so easily corrected. So long as there
is diplopia the eyesight will be blurred and many images
of a single object will be seen. Similarly, so long as there
Chapter XXII 229
is prarabdha (residual past karma) unaccounted for, the
manifestation of the world will continue for the Jnani,
though only as a phenomenon. This will also vanish as
soon as the prarabdha has played itself out and then pure,
unblemished Intelligence alone will remain. Therefore I
tell you, there is no blemish attached to a Jnani, though
he appears active and engaged in worldly duties.
Having heard this, the Brahmin continued to ask:
27. O Prince! How can there be any residue of past
karma in a Jnani? Does not jnana burn away all karma as
fire does a heap of camphor?
28-29. Then Hemangada replied: Listen, Brahmin!
The three kinds of karma, (1) mature (prarabdha), (2)
pending (agami), and (3) in store (sanchita) are common
to all — not excluding the Jnani. The first of these alone
remains for the Jnani and the other two are burnt away.
30. Karma matures by the agency of time; such is
divine law. When mature, it is bound to yield its fruits.
31. The karma of the one who is active after Selfrealisation,
is rendered ineffective by his wisdom.
32. Karma already mature and now yielding results is
called prarabdha: it is like an arrow already shot from a bow
which must run its course until its momentum is lost.
[Note: Prarabdha must bear fruits and cannot be
checked by realisation of the Self. But there is no enjoyment
of its fruits by the realised Sage.]
33-35. Environments are only a result of prarabdha:
though they seem the same for all, Jnanis react to them
differently according to their own stages of realisation.

Pleasure and pain are apparent to the least among
the Sages, but do not leave any mark on them as they do
on the ignorant; pleasure and pain operate on the middle
class of Sages in the same way; however, they react only
indistinctly to their surroundings, as a man in sleep does
to a gentle breeze or to an insect creeping over him;
pleasure and pain are again apparent to the highest among
the Sages, who, however, look upon them as unreal, like
a hare growing horns.
36. The ignorant anticipate pleasure and pain before the
enjoyment, recapitulate them after enjoyment, and reflect on
them, so that they leave a strong impression on their minds.
37. Jnanis of the lowest order also enjoy pleasure and
pain like the ignorant, but their remembrance of such experiences
is frequently broken up by intervals of realisation. Thus
worldly experiences do not leave an impression on their
minds.
38. Jnanis of the middle class, accustomed to control
their minds by long-continued austerities, keep their minds
in check even while experiencing pleasure and pain, and thus
their response to the world is as indistinct as that of a man in
sleep, to a gentle breeze playing on him or an ant creeping
over his body.
39-41. Jnanis of the highest order are left untouched,
for they always remain as the burnt skeleton of a cloth
(retaining its old shape but useless) after their realisation.
Just as an actor is not really affected by the passions which
he displays on the stage, so also this Jnani, always aware of
Chapter XXII  
his perfection, is not affected by the seeming pleasures
and pains which he regards as a mere illusion, like the
horns of a hare.
42. The ignorant are not aware of the pure Self; they
see it as always blemished and hence they believe in the
reality of objective knowledge. They are therefore affected
by the pleasures and pains of life.
43-49. As for the lowest order of Jnanis, these realise
the Self off and on, and spells of ignorance overtake them
whenever they are overcome by their predispositions. Then
they look upon the body as the self and the world as real.
They are often able to override the old tendencies, and
thus there is an ongoing struggle between wisdom and
ignorance — each of them prevailing alternately. The Jnani
ranges himself on the side of wisdom and fights against
ignorance until falsity is thoroughly blown out, and truth
prevails. Therefore jnana is indivisible.
50-57. Forgetfulness of the Self never overtakes a
middle class Jnani and wrong knowledge never possesses
him. However, of his own accord, he brings out some
predispositions from his own depths in order to maintain
his body according to prarabdha. This is the conduct of
an accomplished Jnani.
As for the aspirant, there is no forgetfulness of the
Self so long as he is engaged in practising samadhi. But
the accomplished Jnani is always unforgetful of the Self
and picks out his own predispositions according to his
own choice.

The highest Jnani makes no difference between
samadhi and worldly transactions. He never finds anything
apart from the Self and so there is no lapse for him.
The middle order Jnani is fond of samadhi and voluntarily
abides in it. There is accordingly a lapse, however slight,
when he is engaged in worldly affairs, or even in the maintenance
of his body.
On the other hand, the Jnani of the highest order involuntarily
and naturally abides in samadhi, and any lapse is
impossible for him under any circumstances.
The Jnani of the middle order or of the highest order
has no tinge of karma left in him, because he is in perfection
and does not perceive anything apart from the Self.
How can there be anything of karma left when the wild
fire of jnana is raging, consuming all in its way?
[Commentary: Karma is inferred by the onlooker
according to his own ideas of pleasure or pain-giving experiences
for the Jnani, hence the previous statement that
prarabdha remains over without being destroyed by jnana.
That holds true for the lowest order of Jnanis, but not for the
rest. The fruit is that which is enjoyed; Jnanis of the highest
order do not partake of pleasure or pain. For they are in
samadhi and that does not admit of such experiences; when
arisen from samadhi the objects (i.e., non-self) are known to
be like images in a mirror, and the conscious principle of the
seer and sight is equally known to be the Self. Just as the
images are not apart from the mirror, so there is no non-self
apart from the Self; therefore pleasure and pain are not alien
Chapter XXII  
to the Self. That which is not alien need not be traced to
another cause, namely karma (prarabdha). The ideas of
pleasure and pain in others need not be foisted on Jnanis and
explanations sought — with the result of positing prarabdha
in them. The Jnani never says ‘I am happy’; ‘I am miserable’;
then why should prarabdha be imagined in his case? The
least among Jnanis is apt to relax from the realisation of the
Self and then gets mixed up with the world at those intervals
when he appropriates pleasure or pain. The conjecture of
prarabdha is significant in his case but not in the case of
other orders of Jnanis.
The lowest state of jnana is open to the doubt whether
such jnana as is obstructed off and on, betokens emancipation.
Some agree that it does not. But realisation of the Self occurs
simultaneously with the raising of the veil of ignorance. This
veil is destroyed, whereas the outgoing tendency (viksepa) drags
on a little longer. Prarabdha runs out after yielding its results.
No residue is left for reincarnation, nor are there other stocks
of karma to draw upon for perpetuating bewilderment. His
mind perishes with the body, just as fire dies out for want of
fuel. In the absence of a body, the Realisation of the Self must
assert itself and emancipate the being.
There is still another class of men whose jnana is
contradicted by worldly pursuits. That is not jnana in the
true sense; it is only a semblance of it.
Differences among the different orders of Jnanis
(simple) and Jnanis (Jivanmuktas) are perceptible to onlookers
in this life. The Jnanis do not reincarnate.
Since they are found to be active sometimes or at all
times, the onlooker requires an explanation and conjectures

a residue of prarabdha, as is the case with ordinary men.
Otherwise their apparent pleasures and pains would be as if
accidental, which is not acceptable to the philosopher.
Hence, all this discussion about prarabdha for Jnanis.
Srimad Bhagavad Gita no doubt says, “One is reborn
in environments consistent with the thought uppermost in
one’s mind while dying.” This statement applies to others
and not to Jnanis. As for Jnanis, the following is said in other
scriptures.
1. A Jnani has the root of misery cut off at the instant of
realising the Self. It is immaterial for him if he dies in a holy
spot, or in foul surroundings, remaining aware, or overtaken
by coma, just before death. He is emancipated all the same.
2. Unmistakably realising Siva even once by a Master’s
advice, by scriptural statements or by inference, there could
no longer remain any tinge of obligatory duty on his part
because he is emancipated.]
58. Such karma is only a trick believed to be true by the
onlooker. I shall explain this point further.
59-62. The state of the Jnani is said to be identical with
that of Siva. There is not the least difference between
them. Therefore karma cannot besmear a Jnani.
Vasuman had all his doubts cleared by this discourse of
Hemangada. He had a clear understanding of true Realisation.
Vasuman and the prince saluted each other and returned
to their respective places.
Having heard all this, Parasurama asked further of
Sri Datta:
Chapter XXII 235
63-65. Master! I have heard your holy words regarding
Realisation and Wisdom. My doubts are now cleared. I
now understand the non-dual state of abstract consciousness
pervading all and abiding in the Self. Nevertheless,
kindly tell me the essence of the whole discourse in a few
words so that I may always remember it.
66-68. Thus requested, Sri Datta again resumed:
That which abides as the Self is Pure Intelligence, Transcendental
Being, comprised of the aggregate of all the egos
in perfection. She is Self-contained, and fills the role of Maya
by virtue of Her own prowess. Being one without a second,
She makes even the impossible happen and thus displays the
universe as a series of images in a mirror. I shall now tell you how.
[Commentary: Perfect ego: Ego in Perfection: ‘I-I’ consciousness.
— Some distinctive characteristics have to be
admitted in order to distinguish consciousness from inertia.
Consciousness amounts to a flash of pure intelligence. It is
of two kinds: (1) The subject and (2) the object. The latter
of these is dependent on the former for its very existence;
therefore the manifestation as ‘I’ is alone admissible. ‘I’ is
imperfect when it is limited to the body or other similar
entities. Because time and space have their being in pure
intelligence, or awareness as ‘I-I’, which is thus perfect,
nothing can possibly surpass it and yet it is all these; therefore
it is the aggregate of all the egos. Nevertheless, consciousness
is distinguished from inertia for the sake of preliminary
instruction, so that the disciple may become conversant
with the real nature of the Self. She is transcendental and
also non-dual.

The Self is the subject, and non-self is the object. She is
also the individual egos falsely identified with bodies. She is
Ego in perfection, while abiding as pure Consciousness. This
is the nature of Abstract Intelligence.
This unbroken ‘I-I’ consciousness remains before
creation as will, self-sufficient and independent in nature
and is also called Svatantra. She turns into action (kriya)
during creation and is called Maya.
Creation is not vibration or metamorphosis; it is a mere
projection of images like those in a mirror. Because Sakti
cannot be reached by time and much less broken up by it,
she is eternal; so it follows that the universe has no origin.]
69-71. She who is transcendence, awareness perfection
and total summation of all egos, of Her own Will
divides Herself into two. Imperfection is concomitant with
such scission; there is bound to be an insentient phase
which represents the aforesaid exterior or unmanifested void.
The sentient phase is Sadasiva Tattva.
[Note: This is called Ishwara in the Upanisads.]
72. Now Sadasiva, also not being perfect, sees the
unmanifest void (i.e., the sentient phase becomes aware
of the insentient phase) but yet knows it to be of Himself
— feeling ‘I am this also’.
[Note: The sentient phase is called Ishwara; and the
insentient phase is called Maya or Avidya, in the Upanisads.]
73-90. Later Sadasiva identifies the insentient phase
with His body at the time of starting creation. Then he
goes by the name Ishwara. Now this contaminated Higher
Chapter XXII 237
Ego, namely Ishwara, divides Himself into the three aspects
Rudra, Vishnu and Brahma (representing the modes of
Ego associated with the three qualities of darkness,
brightness and activity) who in their turn manifest the
cosmos consisting of many worlds. Brahmas are innumerable,
all of whom are engaged in creating worlds; Vishnus
are equally taken up in protecting the worlds; and the
Rudras in destroying them. This is the way of creation.
But all of them are only images in the grand mirror of
Abstract Consciousness.
These are only manifest, but are not concrete, since
they have never been created.
The Supreme Being is always the sum total of all the
egos. Just as you fill the body and identify yourself with
different senses and organs without deviating from the
Ego, so does the transcendental Pure Intelligence similarly
identify itself with all, beginning with Sadasiva and ending
with the minutest protoplasm, and yet remains single.
Again, just as you cannot taste anything without the
aid of the tongue, nor apprehend other things without
the aid of other senses or organs, so also the supreme
Being (Sadasiva) acts and knows through the agency of
Brahma, etc., and even of worms. Just as your conscious
Self remains pure and unqualified, although it forms the
basis of all the activities of limbs, organs and senses, so
also the Supreme Intelligence is unaffected though holding
all the Egos within Herself. She is not aware of any
distinctions in the vastness of the cosmos, nor does She
make difference among the Egos.
238 Tripura Rahasya
In this manner, the Cosmos shines in Her like images
in a mirror. The shining of the Cosmos is due to Her
reflection. In the same way, the individuals in the world,
namely you, I, and other seers are all flashes of Her
consciousness. Since all are only phases of Supreme
Intelligence, that alone will shine in purity which is bereft
of taints or impediments in the shape of objects.
Just as the shining mirror is clear when images no longer
appear in it, and the same mirror remains untainted even
when the images are reflected in it, so also Pure Intelligence
subsists pure and untainted whether the world is seen or not.
91-92. This untainted Supreme Intelligence is one
without a second and filled with Bliss, because it is totally
free from the least trace of unhappiness. The sum total of
all happiness of all the living beings has taken shape as the
Supreme One because She is obviously desired by all; and
She is no other than the Self, which consists of pure Bliss,
because the Self is the most beloved of every being.
93. For the sake of the Self people discipline their
bodies and subdue their desires; all sensual pleasures are
mere sparks of Bliss inherent in the Self.
[Note: Spiritual men are known to lead abstemious
lives, to deny ordinary comforts to their bodies and even
to torture them, in order that they may secure a happy
existence after death. Their actions clearly prove their
love of the Self surviving the body, this life, etc. Their
hope of future bliss further establishes the unique beatific
nature of the Self, surpassing sensual pleasures which might
be indulged in here and now.]
Chapter XXII 239
94. For sensual pleasures are similar to a sense of
relief felt on unburdening oneself of a crushing load, or to
the peace of sleep. Pure Intelligence is indeed Bliss because
it is the only one sought for.
[Commentary: Bliss is Self. Objects are thoughts taking
concrete forms; thoughts arise from the thinker; the thinker
connotes intelligence. If the thinker be purged of even
the least trace of thought, individuality is lost and Abstract
Intelligence alone is left. Nothing else is admissible in the
circumstances.
Since it is ultimate reality, synonymous with emancipation
or immortality, there must be beatitude in it in
order that it may be sought. It, in fact, is compact with
Bliss, yea, dense Bliss alone.
How? Because the contrary, (i.e. unhappiness) is associated
with the exterior; it appears and disappears. Such cannot
be the case if unhappiness formed part of the Self. Pleasure
might similarly be said to be associated with the body, the
senses, possessions, etc. However a little thought will convince
one that these so-called enjoyments are meant for the Self.
So the Self is that which matters, and nothing else. But every
little being always seeks pleasure. Thus pleasure is the Self.
But sensual pleasure is quite obvious, whereas the Bliss
of Self is purely imaginary, because it is not similarly experienced.
The scriptures must be cited against this contention.
The scriptures say that all the sensual pleasures do not
together amount to a particle of the inherent bliss of the
Self. Just as unlimited space, or just as consciousness is
unknown when pure, but becomes manifest in its associated
240 Tripura Rahasya
state as objects around — e.g., a pot for fetching water —
so also Bliss in purity is not enjoyable, but the same becomes
enjoyable when broken up as sensual pleasures. This is the
truth of the scriptural statement.
One may contend that the Self is not Bliss but it
seeks Bliss. If it were true, why should there be happiness
in relieving oneself of a crushing load? This is perceptible
at the instant of relief and similar happiness prevails in
dreamless slumber. In these two instances, there are no
positive sources of pleasure and yet there it is. This pleasure
is however real since it is within one’s experience and
cannot also be avoided. Therefore it must be of the nature
of the Self. Still, this pleasure may be said to be relief from
pain and not true pleasure. If so, why does a person
awakened from sleep say ‘I slept happily’? The person has
felt happiness in sleep. There are no happenings associated
with that happiness; it is pure and must be of the nature
of Self. Otherwise, even the worst savage or an animalcule
would not relish sleep nor indeed long for it.
The question arises, if Bliss be of the Self, why is it not
always felt? The answer is that the inherent bliss is obstructed
by desire, obligations and predispositions of the mind, just
as the perennial sound arising from within is not heard
owing to the interference of external sounds, but is perceived
when the ears are plugged. The pain of the load
predominates for the time being, over the other natural
painful dispositions of the mind, and disappears at the
instant of unburdening. During the interval before the other
dispositions lying latent rise up to the surface, there is peace
Chapter XXII 241
for an infinitesimal moment and that is the true Self
coincident with pleasure. Other sensual pleasures are also
to be explained in the same way. There is an infinite variety
of predispositions laying dormant in the heart, ready to
spring up at the right moment. They are always like thorns
in the pillow. When one of them sticks out, it predominates
over the others and grips the mind. Its manifestation takes
the shape of an intense desire. Its prevalence is painful in
proportion to its intensity. When that subsides on
fulfilment, the pain disappears, and calm prevails for an
infinitesimal period, until the next predisposition appears.
This interval represents the pleasure associated with the
fulfilment of desire. Thus everyone’s rush for enjoyment
betrays the search for Self — of course, unawares and confused.
If asked why no one seems to know the real genesis
of bliss, the answer is overwhelming ignorance born of
associating the pleasure with such incidents. The opinion
prevails that pleasure is caused by such and such, and is
destroyed on their disappearance. The fact is that pleasure
is simply the Self, and eternal.]
95. People do not recognise the Bliss inhering as
their Self, because of their ignorance. They always associate
pleasure with incidents.
96-98. Furthermore, just as images in a mirror are
associated with objects, ignoring the presence of the
reflecting surface, but after consideration are found to
be dependent on the mirror and not apart from it, and
the mirror is found to be untainted by the reflected
images, so also the Sages know the Self alone to be unique,

real and untainted by its own projections, namely, the
world, etc.
99. The relation of the cosmos to Pure Intelligence,
i.e., abstract Self, is like that of a pot to earth, or of an
ornament to gold, or of sculpture to the granite rock.
100. O Parasurama! Denial of the existence of the
world does not amount to perfection. Denial is absurd.
For, it implies intelligence, and intelligence displays itself
as the universe.
101. The intelligence denying or admitting the world
is there shining over all! Can the world be erased out of existence
by mere denial of it?
[Note: Here the point is that the Absolute is alone real
and remains ever absolute, notwithstanding the concrete
modifications which are no better than images in a mirror,
not tainting it, nor existing apart from it. All are real, but
real in their abstraction.]
102. Just as the images appear in a mirror and partake
of its nature, so also the cosmos is of and in the Self, and
real inasmuch as it is the Self.
[Note: The world is not real as an object and apart
from the Self.]
103-105. This wisdom in perfection is the realisation
of all as the Self. Intelligence appears as objects by its own
virtue, as a mirror appears as the images on it. This is the
whole essence of the sastras. There is no bondage, no liberation,
no aspirant, no process of attainment. The transcendental
Conscious Principle alone subsists in the three

states of being. She remains as the one uniform, absolute
being. She is ignorance; She is wisdom; She is bondage;
She is liberation and She is the process therefore.
106. This is all that need be known, understood and
realised. There is nothing more. I have told you all in order.
The Sage Haritayana concluded:
107-111. The man who knows it rightly will never be
overtaken by misery. O Narada! Such is the section on
Wisdom, recondite with reason, subtlety, and experience.
Should anyone not gain wisdom after hearing or reading it
but continue to wallow in ignorance, he should be put
down as nothing more than a stock or a stone of a man.
What hope is there for him?
Hearing it even once must make a man truly wise;
he is sure to become wise. Sin or obstruction to wisdom
is destroyed by reading it; wisdom dawns on hearing it.
Writing, appreciating and discussing its contents respectively
destroys the sense of duality, purifies the mind and
reveals the abiding Truth.
112. She goes by the name of Emancipation when
clearly and directly realised by investigation as the one
undivided Self of all; otherwise, She goes by the name of
Bondage. She is the one Consciousness threading the three
states of being, but untainted and unbroken by them.
She is the sound, word and the significance of Hrim.
Thus ends the concluding Chapter in the most Sacred
Itihasa Tripura Rahasya.


APPENDIX I
Chapter IV: Disgust for Worldly
Enjoyment is Inculcated so that Dispassion
Might be Developed
COMMENTARY ON CHAPTERS
O people, turn away from sensual enjoyments and
betake yourselves to contemplating your own selves (rather
the Self ), because sensual enjoyments end only in misery.
What is meant by the Self? By Self is meant Consciousness as
shown by the Maha Vakya, ‘Prajnanam Brahma’. This Prajnanam
(Consciousness) must be worshipped. Here worship
does not mean external or ritual worship. What is it then? To
be unshakingly fixed in the intuition ‘I am Brahman’ in accordance
with the sutra, ‘The state intuited as I’.
Objection: It is in other words to annihilate the body
and its associates.
Answer: Rather it is, ‘Contemplate Consciousness to the
exclusion of objects illumined by it’.
Q.: How?
A.: It means all objects being illumined by Consciousness
do not exist on their own merit. They are only fancied to be,
like the horns of a hare.
Question: If nonexistent like the hare’s horns, how do
they appear to view at all?
Answer: Only Consciousness shines forth and no other.
Appendix I 245
Q.: If there is only Chit and nothing besides, how
does it shine forth as body, etc.?
A.: It is like images in a mirror. The real significance
of the agamas (the tantric texts) is this: Consciousness is
truly the Self (Subjective Reality) because it cannot be
referred to by the word ‘this’. The non-self alone can thus
be referred to. Only that can be Self (Subjective Reality)
which itself being one, runs continuously through the
realms of old recollections and ever-new thoughts. Being
Pure Consciousness by nature it cannot admit of
differentiation and is the same whether in gods, asuras or
men, etc. There cannot be the least doubt that time and
space are not different from it since they remain immersed
in it (that is, they cannot be conceived in the absence of
Consciousness) and out of it they are nonexistent like a
hare’s horn (that is, not existent).
Parama Siva spoken of in the sastras is just this unbroken,
uniform Consciousness, the Self. His own power known as
Maya, which can make the impossible possible, hiding Her
real identity and manifesting her impurity as avidya (ignorance),
produces duality. Of this duality the perceptible
(drisyam) has not its origin in Siva, like a sprout in its seed;
nor is it a modification (parinama) because the material forming
it is not continuous in its source, like clay in utensils of
clay; nor is it a superimposition (vivarta) like a snake on a
piece of rope because the duality of the perceiver and the
perceived (is not acceptable). What is it then? Just as a mirror
remaining unaffected presents within itself pictures owing
to its clarity, so also Chit presents by its own power the objects
246 Tripura Rahasya
illumined by itself within itself. Nor should the doubt
arise that just as a mirror requires corresponding external
objects for reflection in itself, there must be an external
world to correspond to the reflection in Chit. For, the
external object does not form the material for its reflection
but only effects it, like the wheel and the stick being the
effective causes for producing a pot. These accessories are
variable because the wheel is rotated by hand. Similarly it
is not improper to consider Maya, Chit’s own power, to
be the effective cause for producing the perceptible (jagat)
in Chit. No other explanation but that of reflection fits in
with the appearance of the perceptible in Chit. There
cannot be an object external to Consciousness for it cannot
be illumined (in order to be reflected). Nor does the world
appear owing to its relation to Chit because this will lead
to regressus ad infinitum. Also even in the absence of Chit
the world must always be evident or not evident. All wellknown
objections have thus been refuted. For details
consult Pratyabhijna, etc. Therefore this doctrine of
reflection alone is valid.
Chapter V: On Bondage and Release
The Story will be clear if recast as follows, according
to the commentator’s footnotes:
Before creation, my mother — namely, Pure Intelligence
— gave me (the individual soul) a companion — named
Intellect (whose origin cannot be investigated but who yet
remains as the subtle body enabling the individual to partake
of pleasures and pains). Intellect is lost at death but reappears
Appendix I 247
as if from nowhere at the time of rebirth. Intellect is bright
and shining by nature and remains untainted. She is later
associated with a wicked friend, viz. Ignorance, who made
my friend wander away from me and be outward bent.
The subtle intruder remained unnoticed by my mother
(because intellect becoming outward turned, had forsaken
Pure Intelligence). Intellect was enticed by ignorance and
got entangled in objective phenomena. Discriminative
faculty was at an ebb and the ego identified itself with
mental activities. (Individuality disappears with the
disappearance of Intellect. Hence they cannot remain
without each other.) She by virtue of her innate purity
held me in her grip. Therefore I could never forsake her.
Intellect constantly associating with Ignorance (avidya)
came more and more under her sway until her friend of
wonderful powers persuaded her to seek pleasures, celestial
or otherwise (although foreign to oneself ), so that she
(Intellect) came under the influence of her (Ignorance’s)
son — Delusion, with whom she trysted in secret. She
could not however elude my presence at any time (for
Intellect shines only by individual consciousness). I too
became deluded on account of my friendship with her.
My friend in course of time bore a son who took after his
father in every respect. His wicked nature developed in
full as he grew up and he was marked by unsteadiness
(that was Mind). He had extraordinary ability and was
unchecked in his flights of passage. But his activities were
only according to the qualities inherited from his father
or paternal grandmother (i.e., always ignorant and silly).
248 Tripura Rahasya
Intellect was thus dragged by dark forces until she became
clouded in darkness. She was gradually losing interest in
me (Pure Consciousness), who however loved her
altruistically and continued to do so. (That is to say
consciousness is necessary for intellectual perceptions —
be they ignorant or wise.) Because of my ceaseless company
with Intellect, Delusion tried to overpower me, but I
remained pure. Still, the phantasmagoria pertaining to
Intellect were attributed to me — individual Consciousness.
Such is the ignorance of common people. The mind
became more and more associated with me as intellect
almost totally ignored me and identified herself with
delusion. As the mind grew up in company with
Consciousness, his powers manifested more and more.
He, with his grandmother’s permission (i.e., guided by
ignorance), took Changeful for his wife. Mind enjoyed
himself with her because she could satisfy him in every
way. The five Senses were born of this couple. These Senses
too flourished on account of me (individual Consciousness)
until they were able to stand on their own legs.
The Senses functioned in the sensory organs and their
father — Mind — was able to project himself through
them and enjoy himself thoroughly.
His enjoyments gave him pleasure just at the moment,
and left their impressions on him, which he took with him in
order to manifest them in the dream state and enjoy them
secretly with his wife, unknown to the gross senses.
Desire possessed the mind and fed him to his entire satisfaction.
His desire grew more and more until neither he nor
Appendix I 249
all his associates could satisfy Desire. Constant association
of Mind with Desire gave rise to Passion and Greed (the
two sons of the second wife). Desire was exceedingly fond
of her two sons. Mind was however tortured by these two
sons.
Mind’s misery was reflected in the Intellect. I (the
individual Consciousness) was completely hidden behind
the dark and active forces dragging the intellect along
and appeared moribund. Suffering thus for untold ages,
the Mind lost all initiative and was in the clutches of
Desire. Then he gained, at the time of creation, a city of
ten gates — namely the body with ten outlets (two eyes,
two ears, two nasal passages, mouth, urinary and faecal
passages and brahmarandhra, an opening in the skull).
The same old story of misery was repeated in the new
incarnation and was often worse. Intellect having in the
meantime lost the sattvic quality of brightness, did not
shine well, and was torpid.
Mind continued to flourish in the company of Ignorance,
Delusion and Desire, etc. Intellect could not eschew
Mind on the one hand nor function in my absence. We all
lived there together. Had I not been there, no one else could
have lived in the city. I was protecting them all. On account
of my intimacy with Intellect, I became nescient at times,
foolish at others, unsteady, vacillating, angry, contemptible,
etc. Therefore ignorant people put me down in the same
category as Intellect. But the Sages know that I have never
been tainted. My genesis proves it. My mother is most virtuous,
pure, not the least blemished, more extensive than space and
250 Tripura Rahasya
subtler than even the subtlest, because she is immanent in
all and sundry. Being omniscient, she is of unlimited
knowledge also; that is to say, she is transcendental and
individualised self; being omnipotent, she is fragile too;
being the prop of all, she has no prop; being of all shapes,
she has no shape (like a mirror reflecting forms); being all
inclusive, she owns nothing; being the conscious Principle
here and now, she is uncognisable; she has no lineage
extending beyond Herself. Her daughters like me are too
numerous to reckon.
My sisters are infinite in number, like the waves of
the sea. All of them are involved like myself in their
companion’s affairs. Though so enmeshed in Intellect, I
am still equal to my mother in every respect because I
possess the unique talisman to save me from being tainted.
To return to my life in the city, whenever Mind was
fatigued, he used to sleep on his mother Intellect’s lap.
When he slept, none of his sons or others could be awake.
The city was then guarded by his intimate friend, Breath.
Then Intellect with all her family used to be clouded by
Ignorance — her mother-in-law and then I (individual
Consciousness) being free from all trammels used to
repair to my mother (i.e., Fullness) and remain in bliss.
But I was obliged to come away as soon as the inhabitants
of the city awoke.
Mind’s friend — Breath — pervaded the whole city
and protected all the citizens in every way. They would be
scattered away if he were not there. He was the link between
them and me. He derived his strength and powers from me.
Appendix I 251
When that city fell to ruin, he would collect them all and
pass with them to another city. Mind thus reigned in
several places, with the aid of his friend (this refers to
reincarnation).
Though befriended by Breath, though born of
virtuous Intellect and though brought up by me, Mind
was always wallowing in misery because he was wedded
to his two incorrigible and insatiate wives, associated with
the two wicked sons — Greed and Anger — and was
swinging to and fro on account of the other five sons —
the Senses. He could find no rest and was manipulated by
them, so that he found himself in forests, in wildernesses,
in torrid heat or frigid cold, in cesspools, in dark caverns,
etc. — in short, in different kinds of hell.
His miseries reflected on Intellect; and I too being
associated with her, was involved in their woes. Who can
indeed avoid the evils of bad company?
On one occasion, Intellect sought my advice in secret
(i.e., when accidentally free from thoughts). I advised
dispassionate conduct to her, by which she gained a good
husband — Discrimination. She grew stronger, gathered
courage to subdue the Mind and kill Greed, Lust and Anger.
The other five sons of his — namely, the Senses — were
imprisoned. Soon after, she became loyal to me and finally
united with me (i.e., gained nirvikalpa samadhi). Thus she
reached my mother’s home — Peace and Bliss.
This story illustrates that bondage and liberation are
for Intellect only and not for the individual Consciousness,
i.e., the Self.
Chapter VII: That the Goal is Gained Only
After Ascertaining God by Faith, Effort,
Approved Logic and Devotion to Him
Illusion can be overcome only by a sincere, earnest
and constant devotion to God. But the atheists deny God
and His creation of the universe.
Atheist: How does it follow that Ishwara is the creator
of jagat (world)?
Answer: Because the jagat is seen to be a karya (effect),
that is, an artefact.
Q.: True, a pot etc., are seen to be the products of
work but not the mountains, oceans, etc.
A.: Because they consist of parts they must also have
been made (created) by an unseen power. (Yat Savayavam
tat karyam iti tarkena). This is according to the axiom: What
is with parts must be karya. Therefore the world, etc., are
creations only.
Q.: Paramanu (the fundamental subtle primary particle)
and akasa (ether) have no parts. So the jagat exclusive of
these two must be taken to be karya.
A.: No to both. They — that is, Paramanu and akasa
are karya because they are perceptible (knowable). Their
being karya cannot be denied for the simple fact of their
being inseparable. They are known by inference. Many scriptural
texts attest our position. They are (1) One God created
the sky and the earth. (2) From the Self, akasa came forth,
etc. Here akasa implies other elements also. Owing to its
knowability, the jagat must be a karya; being a karya there
Appendix I 253
must be its karta (creator), and he must be now ascertained
to be the creator of the universe.
Q.: This applies to a pot and the potter because both
are seen. Not so in the other case.
A.: He is totally different from all other agents. For,
the scripture says: “There was then (that is, before creation)
neither Sat nor asat (anything nor nothing). There is no
material with which to create this jagat; yet He did it; therefore
He differs from all others. The Creator has now been
established.
Q.: Should the reasoning based on the agamic texts
that the jagat is a karya be upheld as impregnable, this
should hold good for the reasoning based on Barhaspatya
Agama also, which declares that the loka has no creator
but appears solely according to nature.
A.: It is only a semblance of an agama. Here are some
extracts from it:
Earth, air, fire and water are the four elements perceived
(by the senses) and no fifth element is so perceived. The loka
is composed of varying combinations of these four elements
and is also changing every moment, so that each successive
modification of this assemblage is similar to the previous one.
The loka is only of the nature of these combinations and it
rests in itself. Just as a solution of sugar acquires intoxicating
power so also the mixture of ova and semen in the womb
acquires intellectual power capable of action and cognition.
Just as the intoxicating liquor is called wine, so also the
intellect-united body is called a purusha (man). Pleasure is
the goal of man and it forms heaven whereas pain is called
254 Tripura Rahasya
hell; they are both natural. Mixtures of these two form
the routine of life (samsara). Just as the intoxication
disappears after a time so also does the intellect; its total
extinction is called moksha (liberation) by the wise. There
is no heaven or hell to go to after death.
Such is the Charvaka doctrine which has already
been refuted by all other schools of thought. It has been
said to be a semblance of agama because it is opposed to
all other agamas. Now it will be shown to be opposed to
everyone’s experience also.
Samsara being an uninterrupted series of births,
deaths, etc., is full of pain. Its root cause must be found
and scotched. Samsara thus ending, Supreme Bliss ensues
and this is the supreme goal of man. Such is the belief of
the seekers of liberation; this is supported by holy texts
and logic. Such being the case, to admit direct perception
as the only valid proof and to assert on its basis that death
is the only goal, show the sastra to be a so-called sastra
only. Therefore that agama has not been admitted by wise
men of discrimination to be helpful for gaining the
supreme goal of man.
The Charvaka doctrine asserting only svatmanasa (loss
of one’s self ) to be the goal of man should be asked, “What is
meant by svatmanasa which you say is the goal? Is it the
momentary loss or the loss of the series or the ordinary loss as
understood by all?” It cannot be the first since according to
you the intellect that is the self is momentary; the goal is
attained every moment and no effort is needed to attain it.
The other two are impossible (consistently with your views).
Appendix I 255
For, at the time of the dissolution of one’s own self
(svatmanasa) there would remain nothing to say one’s own
(svasya); therefore the loss of one’s own self is unattainable
and this ends in no purushartha (human effort). If you say
this very unattainability is itself the purushartha, then it
may even result in the loss of another self (because there
is no svasya)!
Again, about the purushartha of the loss of one’s self
(svatmanasa) is it established on any pramana (authority) or
is it not? If you say ‘not’, it is nonexistent like a hare’s horn. If
you say it is — on what pramana? You admit only direct
perception as proof. For this the object must be present here
now. The past or the future cannot be proved according
to you. You who admit only direct perception as proof, to
say that the intellect is an effect similar to the intoxicating
power of a solution of sugar is like saying ‘I have no tongue’.
Your sastra was not given out by any all-knowing saint; it
is dry and devoid of any reasoning. Having thus dealt
with atheism, the Sankhya school of thought is next
examined.
They are parinama vadis, i.e., they assert that the jagat
was originally contained in its source in a subtle manner;
therefore it was before, it is now and it will be hereafter (this
is sad vada). They say that the jagat was not created by an
intelligent being; its source is the unintelligent principle,
prakrti, in which its three constituent qualities — sattva, rajas
and tamas were in equipoise. It is itself devoid of intelligence,
and cannot therefore do anything intelligently; it is inert
(jada). However, it does not require an extraneous agent to
256 Tripura Rahasya
modify itself into the jagat, unlike clay requiring a potter
to change it into a pot. By itself it is modified into jagat
and thus it forms the source of the jagat. This is in brief
the godless Sankhya doctrine.
Further on, in prakrti’s sattva (bright aspect) it is clear
like a mirror; so it can take in reflections of purusha, the
intelligent principle and the reflection of the universe,
the inert nature of its tamasic aspect. Owing to this union
of the reflected seer and the seen, the purusha becomes
associated with aviveka (the undiscriminating quality) of
prakrti; so he feels ‘I know the pot’ (i.e., any object); this
forms his wrong identity and this is just his samsara. If
however, by vichara (investigation) he knows himself to
be different from prakrti, prakrti abandons him at once
like a thief who has been discovered. This is the end of his
wrong identification and constitutes mukti. This is their
belief.
According to their view, the universe gets illumined by
its relation to the Chit (purusha) reflected in prakrti. Regarding
this reflected Chit, is it void of intelligence like its
base prakrti, or is it intelligent by its own nature? In the former
case, illumining the universe is impossible. If it is contended
that even though inert it can still illumine, then the sattva
aspect of prakrti can serve the purpose and the reflected Chit
is redundant. In the latter case there is no need for the
reflected Chit, since direct relation with Chit itself will do.
Nor can it be said that just as a mirror is unable by itself to
illumine an object, yet when sunlight is reflected on it, it
illumines the object, so also the reflected Chit is needed; for,
Appendix I 257
the sunlight does not require any medium as the mirror
does for illumining objects. Nor can it be said that the
reflected Chit partakes of the qualities of both prakrti and
Chit, or is altogether different from either or from both of
them. In the former case, it is impossible (like darkness
and light being together) and in the latter case it is
inconsistent with your doctrine (apasiddhanta).
Furthermore, prakrti naturally active in the presence of
purusha cannot cease to be so after the accession of
discrimination (viveka jnanottaram) for one’s own nature
cannot change. Therefore bondage cannot be overcome
(by adopting your system).
We see that a pot, etc., are formed by a potter etc., endowed
with intelligence, for it is done according to a plan
— ‘I will make such a pot in this manner’. Since intelligence
is required to make a pot, the jagat cannot be the
production of an unintelligent principle — prakrti. The
word ‘unintelligent’ is used deliberately to indicate that
an image of a potter, for instance, cannot make a pot.
The srutis declare, “He (God) thought: ‘I shall create the
world’; ‘I shall manifest names and forms, etc’.” The
Original Being thought and manifested the worlds with
no constituent material at all, like a magician conjuring
illusory objects. Hence the anumana (inference) is perfectly
valid, Jagat buddhimat kartrukam karyatvat ghatadivat iti
— meaning the jagat has an intelligent maker because it
is karya, as a pot is, etc. This means that only an intelligent
being can be the creator of the jagat and not the
unintelligent principle prakrti.
258 Tripura Rahasya
Still more, in order to establish the inert prakrti as
the creator of the jagat, the Sankhya cannot show any
illustration as a valid proof.
Q.: Well, I admit the jagat has an intelligent being for
its creator. Sure, a potter is necessary to make a pot; similarly
the jagat must have a creator but he need not be Paramesvara,
the Lord of All.
A.: He must be Paramesvara because of the surpassing
wonder that the earth stands amidst the water and these
repose in empty space, etc. To accomplish such wonders
the creator must have surpassingly wonderful powers. These
powers must also be immeasurable and his capacity infinite.
Therefore He must be different from any common artisan.
We find each special work requires a specialist to do it. For
the same reason the infinite universe should have one of
infinite powers for its maker. Thus far, the existence of
Ishwara is established.
That He is the sole Refuge of all, will now be
established. Surrender to Him wholeheartedly (without
any other object but that of entrusting yourself to His
care). If on the other hand there be any other desire, only
half of your heart is with God and the other half with your
desire. So it will be only half or part surrender, which is
not effective. Only the surrender to Him, of body, heart
and soul will lead to eternal Bliss. Ishwara grants everything
to His devotee.
Q.: It is correct that persons in ‘positions’ being pleased
with the service of others, satisfy their wants to a limited extent.
But Ishwara being self-contained has no wants and so He
Appendix I 259
cannot be pleased with service. How then do you say that
He is pleased and fulfils all the wants of devotees?
A.: Because of His love for His devotees, that is to
say, their devotion results in the reaction of God’s love for
them, and the automatic fulfilment of all their desires.
Moreover there is no certainty with worldly men in power
whereas it is certain with God. Therefore the devotee is
sure of his goal.
Q.: How is this assumption of certainty warranted?
A.: Otherwise God will be open to censure.
Uncertainty in God’s reaction or response means
uncertainty in the results of everyday transactions of ours
and an untimely end of the samsara projected by Him.
You who desire the Supreme Goal need not engage in it
nor seek it. But surrender yourself completely to God and
He will establish you in the Supreme State.
Differences of opinion regarding the means of liberation
and consequent doubts as to the means are thus resolved.
Q.: Which is God? Some say Siva, others Vishnu, or
Indra or Ganesa, etc. Who is supreme among them?
A.: No name and form attach to Him. He is none of
them singly or He is all of them. He is not personal. He is
pure Chit only.
Q.: But creation, preservation and dissolution are
functions requiring the use of limbs and material?
A.: It is so with workers of limited powers and objectives.
This holds good for gross bodies; but in dreams the gross
bodies do not act and there are no means nor objectives, yet
worlds are created, transactions go on, battles are fought,
260 Tripura Rahasya
and empires won and lost; it is Chit that causes it all. If
there had been material before creation with which to
create the jagat, such material should be eternal and exempt
from being created. Then Ishwara must be accepted to be
the creator of a part of the jagat; this contradicts His
being the all-creator. Also being only the effective cause
and not the material cause of the jagat, He can no more
be Ishwara (than a magnified artisan).
Kshemarajacharya says: “Those who admit Ishwara
to be the effective cause only, place Him on a par with a
profligate enmeshed in the lures of a wanton woman other
than his wife.” Those who imagine a starting-point for
the creation (the arambha vadis) assert that Ishwara is
only the effective cause and the effect (jagat) cannot come
into being afresh. Before creation, paramanus
(fundamental, indivisible, subtle particles) were present.
By Iswara’s will they united with each other and creation
took place.
But this cannot be. It is seen that only a sentient being
responds to the wishes of another, but not an inert object.
The paramanus being insentient cannot react to Iswara’s will.
Objection: Such is the wonderful power of Ishwara as
to make even the inert paramanus obedient to His will.
A.: True, that Iswara’s powers are immeasurable and
infinite. It is because of His extraordinary powers that He
creates the jagat even in the total absence of material for it. If
in spite of this, paramanus be said to be the material cause, it
is thanks to duality-minded obstinacy! Hereby is refuted the
theistic (Sankhya) school, i.e., Patanjala or Yoga School.
Appendix I 261
There is not the least incongruity in our system based
solely on the agamas declaring the all-powerful Supreme
Being fully capable of conducting the totality of actions,
transactions, etc.
Objection: In order to explain the different grades of
beings, etc., and also obviate the charges of partiality and
cruelty to Ishwara, every school of thought admits karma to
be the cause of differences. This admission by you vitiates
your position, for, there is karma needed for creation in
addition to Ishwara. So He is not all-powerful.
A.: True, that this contention remains insuperable to
the dualists. As for the non-dualists, the jagat is contained in
Chit like images in a mirror; so also karma; it is not external
to the infinite Supreme Intelligence (Parameswara) and there
is not the slightest discrepancy in our contention.
Objection: Even then, it is seen that a pot is made by a
potter; he is the maker of the pot; and therefore Ishwara is
not the all-creator.
A.: The potter is not external to Ishwara. Again just as
the king remains the sole administrator, even though his
servants act on the spot, so also Ishwara acts through His
agents.
Conclusion: The Supreme Being is only One Solid Intelligence,
nameless, formless, bodiless, infinite, non-dual, and
Blissful. This being incomprehensible to impure minds is
apprehended in various forms according to the capacities of
individuals. Nevertheless, devotion to any form or name of
God purifies the mind so that the individual is ultimately
resolved into the Supreme Being.
Chapter IX: Nature of Pure Knowledge
Even after much effort the Self remains unrealised
because the sadhaka is not acquainted with it and so does
not recognise it even in Its presence. Now listen, the
mind when checked remains inert for some time. At the
end of it darkness is perceived. Before darkness supervenes
there is an interval of pure knowledge which is quite
unaware of the body or environment; only this pure
Knowledge shines along with objects when the mind is
active, when the mind is checked it shines of Itself. This
state of pure Knowledge is called the residual state (sesha
bhava). This can by no means be eliminated because being
self-resplendent, it shines of Itself, as is experienced by
one just risen from sleep who says, “For long I remained
unaware of anything.” This residual state is the one of
pure Knowledge void of objects. Always contemplate ‘I
am’. That is the state of Bliss beyond the ken of great
pandits, yogis or even sadhakas of a sort.
Though the jagat is variegated the whole of it can be
classified under the two heads, Knowledge and the
knowable. Of these the knowable is established by direct
perception, inference, etc., and it is always the non-self.
Being non-self, it is not worth investigating; therefore
knowledge alone will be examined here. Being self-evident,
it requires no external evidence. In its absence nothing
else can exist. Being the background of all, like a mirror
and the images reflected in it, nothing can shine without
it; so it cannot in any way be obviated.
Objection: It is unreasonable to say that nothing else
can exist without it, because the proven is proved by proofs.
Appendix I 263
A.: If the proof be valid the proven is established by it.
The validity of the proof is known by the proven. To say so
is absurd, being interdependent. But without the knower
the proof does not gain authority, i.e., the knowable cannot
be said to be. A proof only proves a fact but is not the fact.
If you object saying that the knower also can be known
only by a proof, I reply there must be equally a knower to
know or deny the knower. Therefore, we say that the
knower is self-proven and does not require extraneous
proof to establish its Being. Being conscious, being always
self-shining it requires no proof, like the self-shining sun
requiring no candlelight to illumine it. Were one to deny
pure Knowledge itself — the knowable is dependent on
knowledge and it cannot be in the absence of knowledge;
therefore he cannot raise the question nor expect an answer,
i.e., to say, he is out of consideration.
Pure knowledge means the state of awareness free
from objective knowledge; it is knowledge remaining
unmoded. This state forms the interval between deep sleep
and the waking state; it must be distinguished from the
other two. Deep sleep means the dormant state of mind;
waking consists of a series of broken knowledge; in it,
objects are perceived by the senses as being external to
the mind, whereas in dream the mind is one with the
senses and its latencies are objectified and perceived within
itself like particles of dust in water. In deep sleep
supervening after dream, the mind together with the senses
merges into its source — prakrti; then the tamasic or dull
aspect of prakrti remains predominant, overwhelming the
sattvic and rajasic aspects. In this state, the Self shines
264 Tripura Rahasya
indistinctly, like the sun behind very heavy clouds. In the
interval between deep sleep and waking, the mind
continues to be inward turned and cannot reflect objects
external to it; at the same time the tamas of prakrti has
lost its solidity and does not hide the Self. In this manner,
the Self that is Chit shines unobjectified, i.e., as unbroken
knowledge.
In the same manner, with the intervals of broken
knowledge: The background, namely Pure Knowledge,
remains unbroken in the interval of knowledge of a pot,
followed by knowledge of a piece of cloth, etc. The
knowledge of a pot does not itself continue to subsist as
that of a piece of cloth; the difference between the two is
obvious. In the interval between the two kinds of
knowledge, Pure Knowledge persists devoid of the two
forms; this cannot be denied. This is samvit (Knowledge)
shining in its own merit.
Samvit is the seer or the ego. Just as the water in a tank
passes through an outlet into a channel to irrigate a field and
mixes with the water already in the field, so also at the instant
of perception, the samvit of the seer passes through the senses
to unite with the samvit of the object. In this case Chit remains
as the body, mind, etc. of the seer; in the sky it remains as
the sun; in the intervening space covered by it, samvit is
formless and this is its real state. All this indicates these
intervals to be the seats of realisation of the Self. The Self
is no more than this. Pure Chit devoid of objective
knowledge is the true Self. If this is realised as the Self, the
universe will appear to be just an image reflected in the
Appendix I 265
mirror of Chit and so results the state of fearlessness, for to
see a tiger reflected in a mirror does not cause fear.
Chapter XII: That the Cosmos is not Other
than Intelligence
Some say that the jagat is the product of invisible
fundamental particles. Though remaining different from
its source, it vanishes altogether in the end. That the
unitary, primary particles give rise to the binary particles
is inferred from the partibility of the latter. According to
this school the process of creation is as follows: The mature
adrshta (results of previous karma persisting in a subtle
form) of the individuals together with the will of Ishwara
causes the inert primary particles to be active; then binary,
tertiary, etc., particles are successively formed resulting in
the objects of the universe. The products are totally
different from the original cause. At the time of dissolution
the universe vanishes like the horns of a hare (i.e., ceases
to be).
Its refutation: It is not proper to say that a pot is nonexistent
before creation; it is existent sometime; later it
becomes nonexistent at dissolution because of the contrary
existence and nonexistence of the same thing.
The Opponent: Not so. Though there is a contradiction
in terms of being and non-being of the same thing, there is
no contradiction in terms of relationship (samyoga) (e.g., a
monkey is on the tree or a monkey is not on the tree).
A.: No. “Being” pervades the object in entirety
whereas in relationship there is no such pervasiveness.
266 Tripura Rahasya
This is certainly opposed to non-being. The same object
cannot be yellow and not yellow at the same time.
Opponent: The nature of an object must be determined
only from experience. Pervasiveness is found applicable to
the inseparable union of the material cause of the object in
space, but it is not applicable to the existence or the nonexistence
of the object in time; e.g., a pot is or is not.
A.: The same object cannot be both shining and
non-shining at the same time. On the other hand, (if you
are thinking) of the contrary experiences at the same time
such as a blue tamas is moving, it is so because the same
object by its sattvic nature reflects light and by its tamasic
nature remains dark, thus making it appear that light and
darkness coexist. This is not on all fours with my statement
that the same object cannot both be yellow and not yellow
at the same time. Therefore it is obvious that being and
non-being certainly contradict each other both in time
and space.
Opponent: How can this rule apply to ascertain darkness
to be, by seeing it with the light of the eye? It cannot.
A.: You are not right. To explain the facts of experience,
different methods are adopted because the same rule may
not apply in all cases.
In the doctrine of aggregation of particles before
creation, other anomalies are also pointed out besides the
one above. They are concerned with the imagined aggregation,
e.g., existence and nonexistence of the same thing.
Again the primary particles cannot be impartite or indivisible;
also their separateness from one another cannot
Appendix I 267
be proved because they mix together to form binary
particles, etc.
Opponent: Defects in our doctrine are shared by us along
with all others in their own doctrines.
A.: Quite so. It is common to all kinds of dualism but to
Advaita they become ornaments, like the arrows aimed by
Bhagadatta at Vasudeva, which clung to Him like ornaments.
Chapter XIV: Process of Creation
Creation being an empty fancy and Chit always unchanging,
how can creation be said to originate from Chit?
A.: The answer to this question is based on srutis.
Avidya (i.e., ignorance) being the root-cause of creation,
its origin is first elucidated and it will be followed up by
the thirty-six fundamentals. Chit is certainly changeless.
A mirror is seen to reflect the sky in it; similarly, Chit
presents within itself something which (to us) signifies
‘exterior’. But the external sky being merely an effective
cause, its reflection is seen in the mirror, whereas the
‘exterior’ in Chit is solely due to its inherent power. The
difference lies in the intelligent nature of Chit and the
inert nature of the mirror. Since the whole creation develops
from this ‘exterior’ it is said to be the first creation. This
phenomenon is called avidya or tamas (ignorance or
darkness).
Q.: Chit being impartite, how can this phenomenon
arise as a part thereof?
A.: Quite so. Hence it is called a phenomenon. And
it is not a part but it looks like it. When the unbroken
268 Tripura Rahasya
WHOLE appears to be divided into parts, it is called a
phenomenon (and not a fact). Parameswara is Pure Solid
Intelligence, altogether free from its counterpart; hence
He is ‘independent’. An inert thing is dependent on
external aid to make itself or another object known;
whereas the Supreme Intelligence is independent of
external aid to make ITSELF or other things known.
This factor, ‘independence’, is also called its sakti, kriya
(action), vimarsa (deliberation), etc., which manifesting
as jagat at the time of creation and after, yet remains as
pure Being only, because awareness of pure Being
continues unbroken till the time of dissolution. Therefore
such ‘independence’ is the ever-inseparable characteristic
of Siva. At the end of dissolution the same pure Being,
uniting with the adrshta now mature, presents the Self
(svarupa) as fragmented, i.e., limited; this is otherwise
said to be the manifestation of the ‘exterior’. The
manifestation of limitation is obviously the manifestation
of space (akasa) distinct from the Self. When one’s arm is
broken in two, the broken piece is no longer identified as
‘I’; similarly the ‘exterior’ is no longer identified as ‘I’; it
is distinct from ‘I’; it is no longer meant by ‘I’. Such
unfolding of the non-self is said to be that of space, of the
seed, i.e., jagat in dormancy, or jadasakti (inert power).
In this manner the perfect Chit by its own power,
presenting within Itself the phenomenon of avidya as
distinct from Itself, is called the first ‘step’ to creation.
The Vedantists call this the root avidya-mula-avidya. What
is here designated as ‘independence’ is nothing but the
Appendix I 269
power of Chit (as free-will). This assumes three states. In
dissolution, it remains purely as power (that is latent)
because it is nirvikalpa (i.e., the state of no modification
or manifestation); just before creation, i.e., before the
objects take shape, this power is said to be maya; when
shapes are manifest the same power is called jadasakti. All
these names signify the same sakti. Sri Krishna has said,
“Earth, air, fire, water, ether, mind, intellect and ego
constitute my lower prakrti; distinct from it is my para
prakrti, which is of the form of jivas and preserves the
jagat”. The former eightfold prakrti constitutes the jada
aspect as karya whereas the latter para prakrti is Chit Sakti
forming the background for the jagat like a mirror to the
images reflected in it. Hence the statement: “By whom
the eightfold prakrti is supported.” Nevertheless we have
to admit that even before the appearance of the inert
power, the eightfold prakrti, the Chit Sakti (‘free will’)
already coexists with the adrshta of the individuals and
that time matures the adrshta. Otherwise the charge of
partiality and cruelty and other stigma will attach (to
Ishwara). But the admission of adrshta lands us in duality
and time is yet another (thorn). Is time the nature of
Ishwara or is it distinct? In any case, since in dissolution
there is no upadhi to distinguish one from another and
the same principle remains uniform from the beginning
of dissolution to the end of it, the adrshta of the individuals,
remaining merged in avidya, may perhaps mature at the
very next instant of dissolution, and creation may have
an untimely start. In answer to this the sadkarya vadis say:
270 Tripura Rahasya
Before creation all karyas remain merged in maya in a
subtle form; now that time and adrshta are together in a
subtle form in maya, the subtle adrshta matures in subtle
time; maya being the sakti of the Self, i.e. Chit, it is not
distinct and therefore the Advaita doctrine becomes
tenable. Others declare that creation resembles dream,
daydreaming or magic, requiring no explanation, like the
mirage-water unfit for discussion. For the same reason
the accounts of creation are bound to differ from one
another in different srutis. They are meant to impress on
the mind that the Self alone Is and creation is not distinct
from it. Hence the declaration in the Parameswara Agama:
“No creation; no cycle of births; no preservation; or any
krama (regulation). Only solid Intelligence-Bliss is. This
is the Self.”





Om Tat Sat
                                                        
(Continued...) 




(My humble salutations H H   Bhagawan Sri Ramana Maharshi and Humble salutations H H to  Swami Sri Ramananda Saraswathi ji   for the collection)

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