The works of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya

Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam

Avatarika

Avatarika

ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्यन्ताः संसारगतयो वक्तव्याः वैराग्यहेतो-र्मुमुक्षूणाम् इत्यत आख्यायिका आरभ्यते—

In plain words

To awaken deep dispassion in those who seek liberation, the various realms of wandering existence—stretching from Brahma all the way down to a blade of grass—must be fully explained. Therefore, this story is introduced—

Close to the Sanskrit

The states of transmigration, ending with a clump of grass and beginning with Brahma, are to be described for the sake of detachment of those desiring liberation; therefore this narrative is begun—