31. The expressed sense of the word ‘Tvam’ shines forth as the content of the idea and expression ‘I’; it is awareness blended with the mind (the inner organ of perception).
32. Only through the exclusion of Maya and avidya, the adjuncts of God and Jiva is the supreme Spirit, the impartite Being, Consciousness and Bliss, indicated.
33. ‘To listen’, thus is to pursue by means of sentences their import. On the other hand, ‘thinking’ consists in perceiving its consistency with reason.
34. ‘Meditation’ is indeed the exclusive attention of the mind fixed on (the import) rendered indubitable through listening and thinking.
35. ‘Concentration’ is said to be the mind which, outgrowing the dualism between the meditator and meditation, gradually dwells exclusively on the object (of meditation) and is like a flame in a windless spot.
36. Mind’s modifications in regard to the Self are uncognized in that state; they are (only) inferred as past, after quitting the state of Samadhi.
37. Crores of karmans, accumulated in this beginningless transmigratory life, are dissolved by means of concentration: (then) pure virtue begins to flourish.
38. The best knowers of Yoga call this concentration the cloud of virtues, since it rains the flood-waters of virtue in a thousand streams.
39-40. When the load of innate impulses is dissolved without residue by means of this (cloud of virtues) and heaps of karmans, good and evil, are totally eradicated, the major text, which at first shone forth immediately, now unobstructed, yields immediate awareness as (clear) as the myrobalan in the palm (of one’s hand).
41. The non-occurrence of the impulse (to enjoy, etc.,) in regard to the objects of enjoyment marks the acme of detachment. The highest pitch of awareness is (marked by) the non-occurrence of the egoistic sense.
42(a). The acme of withdrawal is (marked by) the non-occurrence of (even) the latent impulse (to enjoy).
42(b). He is the ascetic of steadfast wisdom who enjoys bliss for ever;
43-44(a). Whose self is merged in Brahman alone; who is immutable and quiescent. Wisdom (prajna) is defined as the unwavering spiritual mode whose content is the unity of Brahman and Atman purged (of all adjuncts).
44(b). Whosoever possesses it (wisdom) without a break is liberated in life;
45. Who has no conceit of ‘I’ in regard to body and senses; nor the conceit of objects in regard to things other than them – who is free from these two conceits in regard to anything whatsoever is liberated-in-life;
46. Who, in his wisdom, perceives no difference between the subject and Brahman; who neither refers to the creator nor creation is liberated in life.
47. Whose attitude is the same both when he is honoured by the virtuous and when he is persecuted by the wicked is liberated in life.
48. He who has realized the truth of Brahman no longer transmigrates, as hitherto; if he does, this truth has not been realized by him; he is but an extrovert.
49. As long as the experience of pleasure, etc., lasts, so long operative karmans from the past are held to persist. (Causal) actions precede the occurrence of effects; never is this unpreceded by actions.
50. Consequent on the experience ‘I am Brahman’, karmans accumulated in the course of aeons are dissolved, even as the actions in dreams are, upon waking up.
51. Just as nothing clings to space, so to the sage, who knows the Self to be unattached and indifferent, future actions cling not in the least degree.
52. Just as space is unaffected by the smell of liquor though it touches the pot (containing the liquor), so is Self unaffected by the attributes of Its adjuncts.
53. Karmans done before the dawn of knowledge perish not as a result of that knowledge; they must produce their proper effect even as an arrow shot to hit a target (stops not before hitting it).
54. The arrow discharged (to hit) what was taken for a tiger stops not, though, alter, (the target) is known to be a cow; the target is hit with full force.
55. ‘I am un-ageing’; ‘I am immortal’ – how can one who knows his Self to be such and lives that knowledge fabricate operative past actions ?
56. Then only is operative past action real when one mistakes one’s Self to be the body. The treatment of the body as Self is improper; therefore reject (the notion) of operative past action.
57. The fabrication of operative past actions is also, indeed, a delusion due to this body.
58. How can the superimposed be real ? How can the unreal be born ? How can the unborn perish ? How can the unreal own operative past actions ?
59-60. To answer the dull-witted (who) doubtfully ask how this body persists if the entire effects of nescience with their cause are destroyed by knowledge, Shruti, with an outward eye, propounds the theory of operative past actions; not to suggest to the wise that the body, etc., are real.
61. A total plenum, without beginning and end, measure and change.
Massed being and intelligence, massed eternal bliss, undiminishing,
62. With the sole savour of the subject, full, endless, behold all,
Neither to be shunned nor seized, neither to be held nor propped;
63. Beyond inert forces and actions, subtle, certain, unblemished;
Whose essence is beyond thought, beyond mid and words;
64. Existent, a plenitude, self-proven, pure, awake and matchless. One only is non-dual Brahman; here is no plurality at all.
To Apantaratamas was this science imparted. He imparted it to Brahma, who passed it on to Ghorangiras. The latter gave it to Raikva and Raikva to Rama. Rama imparted it to all beings.
This is the injunction in regard to Nirvana; this is the injunction of the Vedas, of the Vedas. This is the secret teaching.
Om ! That (Brahman) is infinite, and this (universe) is infinite.
The infinite proceeds from the infinite.
(Then) taking the infinitude of the infinite (universe),
It remains as the infinite (Brahman) alone.
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Adhyatmopanishad belonging to the Sukla-Yajur-Veda.