Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Discrimination)

Vivekachudamani (Crest Jewel of Discrimination)

By Adi Sankaracharya, 788-820 CE,
Translated by Swami Madhavananda
Published by Advaita Ashram, Kolkatta

The Vivekachudamani is a famous Sanskrit poem ascribed to Adi Shankara in the eighth century. It expounds the Advaita Vedanta philosophy and is in the form of 580 verses in the Shardula Vikridita metre. The Vivekachudamani describes developing Viveka — the human faculty of discrimination — as the central task in the spiritual life and calls it the crown jewel among the essentials for Moksha. The title Vivekachudamani translates to Crest Jewel of Discrimination. Through the centuries, the Vivekachudamani has been translated into several languages and has been the topic of many commentaries and expositions.

The Vivekachudamani has the form of dialogue between the master and the disciple, where the master explains to the disciple the nature of the Atman and the ways to research and know the Atman. The book takes the disciple on a step by step instructions to reach Brahman.

The text begins with salutations to Govinda, which can be interpreted either as referring to God or to his guru Sri Govinda Bhagavatpada. It then expounds the significance of Self Realisation, ways to reach it, and the characteristics of a Guru. It criticizes attachment to the body and goes to explain the various Sareeras, Kosas, Gunas, Senses and Pranas which constitute the Anatman. It teaches the disciple the ways to attain Self-realisation, methods of meditation (dhyana) and introspection of the Atman. The Vivekachudamani describes the characteristics of an enlightened human being (Jivanmukta) and a person of steady wisdom (Sthitaprajna) on the lines of Bhagavad Gita.

Excerpt

254. That which is beyond caste and creed, family and lineage; devoid of name
and form, merit and demerit; transcending space, time and sense-object – that
Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

255. That Supreme Brahman which is beyond the range of all speech, but
accessible to the eye of pure illumination; which is pure, the Embodiment of
Knowledge, the beginningless entity – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in
thy mind.

256. That which is untouched by the sixfold wave; meditated upon by the Yogi’s
heart, but not grasped by the sense-organs; which the Buddhi cannot know; and
which is unimpeachable – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

257. That which is the substratum of the universe with its various subdivisions,
which are all creations of delusion; which Itself has no other support; which is
distinct from the gross and subtle; which has no parts, and has verily no
exemplar – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

258. That which is free from birth, growth, development, waste, disease and
death; which is indestructible; which is the cause of the projection, maintenance
and dissolution of the universe – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy
mind.

259. That which is free from differentiation; whose essence is never non-existent;
which is unmoved like the ocean without waves; the ever-free; of indivisible Form
– that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

260. That which, though One only, is the cause of the many; which refutes all
other causes, but is Itself without cause; distinct from Maya and its effect, the
universe; and independent – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

261. That which is free from duality; which is infinite and indestructible; distinct
from the universe and Maya, supreme, eternal; which is undying Bliss; taintless –
that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

262. That Reality which (though One) appears variously owing to delusion, taking
on names and forms, attributes and changes, Itself always unchanged, like gold
in its modifications – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.

263. That beyond which there is nothing; which shines even above Maya, which
again is superior to its effect, the universe; the inmost Self of all, free from
differentiation; the Real Self, the Existence-Knowledge-Bliss Absolute; infinite and
immutable – that Brahman art thou, meditate on this in thy mind.