ViVekAchudAmani.
Sloka #1
- सर्ववेदान्तसिद्धान्तगोचरं तमगोचरम् ।
- गोविन्दं परमानन्दं सद्गुरुं प्रणतोऽस्म्यहम् ॥१॥
Translation (of Sloka)
I bow to Govinda, whose nature is Bliss Supreme, who is the Sadguru, who can be known only from the import of all Vedanta, and who is beyond the reach of speech and mind.
Meaning (of Title)
'Viveka' means discrimination, 'Chuda' is crest, and 'Mani,' jewel. Hence the title means 'Crest-jewel of discrimination.' Just as the jewel on the crest of a diadem is the most conspicuous ornament on a person's body, so the present treatise is a masterpiece among works treating of discrimination between the Real and the Unreal.
Meaning of Sloka
In this opening stanza salutation is made to God (Govinda), or to the Guru, in his absolute aspect. It may be interesting to note that the name of Sankara's Guru was Govindapada, and the Sloka is ingeniously composed so as to admit of both interpretations.
Glossary
Sadguru — lit. the highly qualified preceptor, and may refer either to Sankara's own Guru or to God Himself, who is the Guru of Gurus.
