The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Advaitānubhūtiḥ

Verse 80

अध्यस्तचोरजः स्थाणोर्विकारः स्यान्न हि क्वचित् ।नात्मनो निर्विकारस्य विकारो विश्वजस्तथा ॥ ७८ ॥

In plain words

A thief seen where a tree stump stands works no change in the stump — not once, not anywhere. And so it is with ātman, which is nirvikāra, without change: no alteration born of this whole world touches it.

Close to the Sanskrit

A modification born of the superimposed thief would never, in any case, belong to the stump; likewise, no modification born of the universe belongs to the Self, which is without modification.