The works of Ramaṇa Maharṣi

Upadeśa Sāram

Verse 19

अहमयं कुतो भवति चिन्वतः ।अयि पतत्यहं निजविचारणम् ॥

अहम् अयं कुतो भवति चिन्वतः अयि पतति अहं निजविचारणम्

In plain words

Turn around and look for it. This 'I' — where is it coming up from? Follow it back, and something unexpected happens: there is nothing there to find. The 'I' does not fight you. It simply falls, the way a shadow goes when the light comes on. That looking is the whole practice. There is no second step.

Word for word

This 'I' — whence does it come to be? For one who searches, ah, the 'I' falls. This is inquiry into one's own self.