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Istopadeśa - The Golden Discourse
अविद्याभिदुरं ज्योतिः परं ज्ञानमयं महत् । तत्प्रष्टव्यं तदेष्टव्यं तद्रष्टव्यं मुमुक्षुभिः ॥
(49)
Self-knowledge is the excellent and supreme light that destroys the darkness of ignorance. It is pertinent, therefore, that the aspirant after liberation should query about it, long for it, and live through it.
EXPLANATORY NOTES
The Self is knowledge, absolute and without differentiation. When the karmic clouds disperse gradually, self-knowledge increases in its brilliance and ultimately reaches its unmatched luminance. When such knowledge is obtained, it is self-realization. Nescience gets destroyed and all that which pertains to the non-self disappears from reckoning. There is no more inflow of karmic matter, the previously bound karmas are destroyed and the soul regains its pristine nature.
Ācārya Kundakunda explains the virtue of self-knowledge with matchless lucidity in Samayasāra:
णाणगुणेहि विहीणा एदं तु पदं बहू वि ण लहंते। तं गिण्ह णियदमेदं जदि इच्छसि कम्मपरिमोक्खं॥ (7-13-205) Bereft of the virtue of knowledge, many people, even though they make several efforts, are not able to attain this knowledge. As such (O bhavya - potential aspirant to liberation!) if you wish to be free from karmic bondage, embrace this eternal knowledge.
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