Mandukya Upanishad (Gaudapa Karika and Shankara Bhashya)

by Swami Nikhilananda | 1949 | 115,575 words | ISBN-13: 9788175050228

This is verse 4.43 of the Mandukya Karika English translation, including commentaries by Gaudapada (Karika), Shankara (Bhashya) and a glossary by Anandagiri (Tika). Alternate transliteration: Māṇḍūkya-upaniṣad 4.43, Gauḍapāda Kārikā, Śaṅkara Bhāṣya, Ānandagiri Ṭīkā.

Go directly to: Concepts.

Sanskrit text, IAST transliteration and English translation

अजातेस्त्रसतां तेषामुपलम्भाद्वियन्ति ये ।
जातिदोषा न सेत्स्यन्ति दोषोऽप्यल्पो भविष्यति ॥ ४३ ॥

ajātestrasatāṃ teṣāmupalambhādviyanti ye |
jātidoṣā na setsyanti doṣo'pyalpo bhaviṣyati || 43 ||

43. Those who, being afraid of the truth of absolute non-manifestation, and also on account of their perception (of phenomenal objects), do not admit Ajāti (absolute non-creation), are not much affected by the evil consequent on the belief in causality. The evil effect, if any, is rather insignificant.

Shankara Bhashya (commentary)

Those who on account of their perception (of the phenomenal objects) and attachment1 to the various duties of caste and other stages of life, shrink from the non-dual and unborn Ātman, and believing in the existence of dual objects, go away from the Self, that is to say, pin their faith to duality,—these people who are thus afraid of the truth of absolute non-manifestation, but who are endowed with faith and who stick to the path2 of righteousness, are not3 much affected by the evil results consequent on such belief in causality. For, they also try to follow the path of discrimination. Even if a little blemish attaches to such persons, it is insignificant, being due to their not having realised the Supreme Truth.

Anandagiri Tika (glossary)

This shows the catholicity of Advaita Vedànta which is a sharp contrast to the narrowness of theologians. Advaita Philosophy recognises the value of different religious practices suited to diverse temperaments. The Kārikā further admonishes us not to find fault with others.

1 Attachment, etc.—See the previous Kārikā.

2 Path, etc.—That is to say, those who strictly observe the formal injunctions of religion. These people also, at last, acquire the virtue1 of discrimination which alone enables one to realise Truth.

3 Not much, etc.—The Gīta also says that a sincere soul which is anxious to realise Truth, surmounts all difficulties. The adherents of religions, if they are sincere and earnest, ultimately acquire those: virtues which enable them to realise Truth.

Other Vedanta Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Mandukya Karika, verse 4.43’. Further sources in the context of Vedanta might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Advaita-vedanta, Supreme truth, Path of righteousness, Evil effect.

Concepts being referred within the main category of Hinduism context and sources.

Evil result, Religious practice, Various duties, Phenomenal object.

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