Viveka Chudamani Slokas  357-360:

Earlier in Sloka 342, Guru has stated that for attaining Universal Self ( thatv which sees same self all beings), Shrutis prescribe Nirvikalpa Samadhi, deep meditation being calm and self controlled etc.,. He elaborated on the Nirvikalpa Samadhi, deep meditation in Sloka 356. That deep meditative state (Nirvikalpa Samadhi) is the key for attaining liberation, is the essential point of Slokas 357 to 360. To be rid of all bondages and attain liberation, Guru states unequivocally that deep meditation being calm and self controlled etc.,(357) is necessary. That the liberation come by one's own efforts and not by the knowledge of mere hearing from others (358). Just like a worm transforming itself into a bee, the one in that Nirvikalpa Samadhi attains 'Brahmatva' (359/360).

Sloka 357:

समाहिता ये प्रविलाप्य बाह्यम्
श्रोत्रादि चेतः स्वमहं चिदात्मनि।
त एव मुक्ता भवपाश बंधैः
नाऽन्येतु पारोक्षकथाभिधायिनः॥357॥

Elaboration of Slokas:

(1&2)
समाहिता ये प्रविलाप्य बाह्यम्
श्रोत्रादि चेतः स्वमहं चिदात्मनि;

बाह्यम् श्रोत्रादि चेतः स्वमहं -
the objective world, the sense-organs, the mind and the ego;
बाह्यप्रपंचमुनु, श्रोत्रादि इंद्रियमुलनु, मनस्सुनि;

ये चिदात्मनि प्रविलाप्य -
who merges in the Self ;

समाहिता -
attains Samadhi ;

Guru is stating a  prerequisite - one who merges the objective world, the sense-organs, the mind and the ego, in the Self and attains Samadhi;  The one  who thus  attains Nirvikalpa Samadhi, reaches a state of absolute stillness ( निश्चलत्व Niscalatva). Shankaracharya has stated (निश्चल तत्त्वे जीवन्मुक्तिः) in his Bhaja-Govindam - that such निश्चलत्व Niscalatva - leads to Jivanmukti - liberation in this life itself. Here Guru comes to the same conclusion having stated the pre requisite. 

The conclusion is heard in the third line . 

(3) त एव मुक्ता भवपाश बंधैः-
he alone is free from all bondages of this world ( Samsara);

That is without any doubt.

The act of Samadhi is an effort by the seeker following the process of being self controlled, calm, composed etc. That Nirvikalpa Samadhi leads to freedom from all bondages. To put an emphasis on that effort, Guru says that this freedom from Bondages come by one's own effort, and not by any knowledge gained by mere hearing from others.

(4) नाऽन्येतु पारोक्षकथाभिधायिनः -
     अन्ये परोक्ष कथाभिदायिनः न तु-
     not others who dabble in mere talk learning from others;


Sloka Summary 357:

He alone is free from all bondages of this world, who merges the objective world, the sense-organs, the mind and the ego, in the Self and attains Nirvikalpa Samadhi; not others who dabble in mere talk learning from others.

Merging the objective world, the sense-organs, the mind and the ego, in the Self, means effectively the destruction of the awareness of the world inside and out side. Liberation does not arise mere knowledge from external sounds . It is only possible for those who destroyed the awareness of the world inside and out side and sees Brahman in everything.

This state of seeing Brahman in everything , nirvikalpa Samadhi, must continue without intermission. The moment one sees a difference the seeker gets trapped in Maya. This point of living in that state is emphasized in the next Sloka


Sloka 358:

उपाधि भेधात् स्वयमेव भिद्यते
चोपाध्यपोहे स्वयमेव केवलः।
तस्मादुपाधेः विलयाय विद्वन्
वसेत् सदाकल्पसमाधि निष्ठया॥358॥

1 उपाधि भेधात् स्वयमेव भिद्यते-
By association with Super impositions one considers himself different ( from the Supreme);

The Paramatman is described as the one without second, with no multiplicity or differences. It is only Maya or super imposition that make one see many (in the form of the world)

2 उपाध्यपोहे स्वयमेव केवलः च-
when the superimpositions are removed he becomes one without differences;

By saying he becomes one without differences, one sees Brahman alone in everything.

3 तस्मादुपाधेः विलयाय विद्वन्-
विद्वन् तस्माद् उपादेः विलयाय-
Hence, a learned one, dissolving super impositions

4 वसेत् सदाकल्पसमाधि निष्ठया-
अकल्पसमाधि निष्ठया सदावसेत् -
must live in Nirvikalpa Samadhi

Sloka Summary 358 :

By association with Super impositions one considers himself different (from the Supreme); when the superimpositions are removed he becomes one without differences; Hence, a learned one, dissolving super impositions, must live in Nirvikalpa Samadhi.

The import is that nirvikalpa Samadhi must continue.

Sloka  359

सति सक्तो नरो याति
सद्भावं ह्येकनिष्ठया।
कीटको भ्रमरं ध्यायन्
भमरत्वाय कल्पते॥ 259॥

1 सति सक्तो नरो -
one who concentrates on Real ;

2 याति सद्भावं ह्येकनिष्ठया -
attains the Real with undivided concentration

Guru says that one who concentrates on Brahman with undivided concentration attains that Brahmatva. As is common with all such firm statements and example is needed and Guru come up with one.

3 कीटको भ्रमरं ध्यायन्-
worm always  thinking of being a Bee

4 भ्रमर त्वाय कल्पते -
attains that form of a Bee;

Sloka Summary 359:

One who concentrates on Brahman with undivided concentration attains that Brahmatva, just like the worm always  thinking of being a Bee , becomes a Bee.

When a worm which is different form teh Bee become a Bee , what to say of a Jiva who is in reality Brahman himself, but imgines himself as different because of ignorance. Thinking of Brahan alawys, he becomes conscious of his being Brahman ! That is the Guru's message.

Sloka 360

क्रियांतरासक्ति मपास्य कीचको
ध्यायन्यथालिम् ह्यलीभावमृच्छति।
तथैव योगी परमात्व तत्त्वं
ध्यात्वा समायाति तदेक निष्ठया॥260॥

1 क्रियांतरासक्ति मपास्य -
 renouncing attachment to all other activities;

2a ध्यायन्यथालिम् कीचको  - यथा  कीचको आलिं ध्यायन् -
like the worm thinking of that Bee;

2b ह्यलीभावमृच्छति - हि अलीभावं ऋच्छति -
attains the nature of a Bee ;

Guru is bringing the proposition again - like the worm thinking of that Bee and renouncing attachment to all other activities, attains the nature of a Bee - this was the example of the previous Sloka - so the corollary is clear. The Seeker of Brahman too like the worm, renouncing attachment to all other activities, and thinking of Brahman attains the Brahmatva:

3 तथैव योगी परमात्व तत्त्वं -
Similarly Seeker of the truth of Brahman;

4 ध्यात्वा समायाति तदेक निष्ठया -
meditating with single minded focus attains the Brahman

Sloka Summary 360: 

Like the worm thinking of that Bee and renouncing attachment to all other activities, attains the nature of a Bee, similarly Seeker of the truth of Brahman too meditating with single minded focus attains the Brahman
 
॥ओं तत् सत्॥

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