Prose-section 58
In plain words
‘An actor is the same man whether he puts on his costume or takes it off. In the same way the knower of Brahman, his work done, is Brahman in form and always free even while living with body and the rest; and when these conditions end, he remains Brahman and goes to Brahman alone. Wherever a ripe leaf falls from a tree, in a river, a channel, a street, a Śiva temple or anywhere else, it makes no difference to the tree, for good or ill. In the same way, wherever the knower’s body falls, already burnt by the fire of knowledge, no harm comes to him. Body, senses, breath, mind and the other conditions perish like the leaves, flowers and fruit; the Self, being, awareness and bliss, like the tree, never perishes. Scripture too says that destruction belongs only to what has conditions and changes, and that the Self, solid awareness, is real and cannot perish. ‘For the sage who is complete, non-dual bliss, Brahman, and abides in Brahman that is being, leaving this body, a lump of skin, flesh and filth, needs no particular place or time. Why? Release from the body is not liberation, and neither is laying down the staff and water-pot. Release from the knot of ignorance in the Heart is the only liberation renunciants accept.’
Word for word
‘As an actor remains the same person when wearing or removing a costume, the knower of Brahman, fulfilled while still living with body and other adjuncts, is Brahman in nature and always free. At the destruction of the adjuncts too, he remains Brahman and attains Brahman alone. Wherever a tree’s ripe leaf falls—river, channel, street, Śiva temple or elsewhere—no auspiciousness or inauspiciousness accrues to the tree. Likewise, wherever the knower’s body, already burnt by the fire of knowledge, falls, no harm reaches him. Body, senses, vital breath, intellect and other adjuncts perish like leaves, flowers and fruits; the existence-consciousness-bliss Self, like the tree in this comparison, never perishes. ‘Revelation says that destruction belongs only to what has adjunct and modification, and that the Self, dense consciousness, is real and indestructible. For the sage who is complete non-dual bliss-Brahman, established in existence-Brahman, no requirement of place or time governs leaving the body, a mass of skin, flesh and waste. Why? Release from the body, or giving up staff and water-pot, is not liberation. Release of the Heart’s knot of ignorance alone is the liberation acknowledged by renunciants.’