Viveka Chudamani Slokas  357-360:

Earlier in Sloka 342, Guru has stated that for attaining Universal Self ( that which sees same self in 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).The one in that Nirvikalpa Samadhi attains 'Brahmatva' (359/360), just like a worm transforming itself into a bee.

Sloka 357:

సమాహితా యే ప్రవిలాప్య బాహ్యమ్
శ్రోత్రాది చేతః స్వమహం చిదాత్మని।
త ఏవ ముక్తా భవపాశ బంధైః
నాఽన్యేతు పారోక్షకథాభిధాయినః॥357॥

Elaboration of Slokas:

(1&2)
సమాహితా యే ప్రవిలాప్య బాహ్యమ్
శ్రోత్రాది చేతః స్వమహం చిదాత్మని;

బాహ్యమ్ శ్రోత్రాది చేతః స్వమహం -
the objective world, the sense-organs, the mind and the ego;
బాహ్యప్రపంచమును, శ్రోత్రాది ఇంద్రియములను, మనస్సుని;

యే చిదాత్మని ప్రవిలాప్య -
who merges in the Self ;

సమాహితా -
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 ( నిశ్చలత్వ Niscalatva). Shankaracharya has stated in his Bhaja-Govindam, "నిశ్చల తత్త్వే జీవన్ముక్తిః"; That such నిశ్చలత్వ Niscalatva - leads to Jivanmukti - or 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) త ఏవ ముక్తా భవపాశ బంధైః-
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 own 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) నాఽన్యేతు పారోక్షకథాభిధాయినః -
     అన్యే పరోక్ష కథాభిదాయినః న తు-
     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 continuously is emphasized in the next Sloka


Sloka 358:

ఉపాధి భేధాత్ స్వయమేవ భిద్యతే
చోపాధ్యపోహే స్వయమేవ కేవలః।
తస్మాదుపాధేః విలయాయ విద్వన్
వసేత్ సదాకల్పసమాధి నిష్ఠయా॥358॥

1 ఉపాధి భేధాత్ స్వయమేవ భిద్యతే-
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 ఉపాధ్యపోహే స్వయమేవ కేవలః చ-
when the super-impositions are removed he becomes one without differences;

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

3 తస్మాదుపాధేః విలయాయ విద్వన్-
విద్వన్ తస్మాద్ ఉపాదేః విలయాయ-
Hence, a learned one, dissolving super impositions;

4 వసేత్ సదాకల్పసమాధి నిష్ఠయా-
అకల్పసమాధి నిష్ఠయా సదావసేత్ -
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

సతి సక్తో నరో యాతి
సద్భావం హ్యేకనిష్ఠయా।
కీటకో భ్రమరం ధ్యాయన్
భమరత్వాయ కల్పతే॥ 259॥

1 సతి సక్తో నరో -
one who concentrates on Real ;

2 యాతి సద్భావం హ్యేకనిష్ఠయా -
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 కీటకో భ్రమరం ధ్యాయన్-
worm always  thinking of being a Bee

4 భ్రమర త్వాయ కల్పతే -
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 the 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 always, he becomes conscious of his being Brahman ! That is the Guru's message.

Sloka 360

క్రియాంతరాసక్తి మపాస్య కీచకో
ధ్యాయన్యథాలిమ్ హ్యలీభావమృచ్ఛతి।
తథైవ యోగీ పరమాత్వ తత్త్వం
ధ్యాత్వా సమాయాతి తదేక నిష్ఠయా॥260॥

1 క్రియాంతరాసక్తి మపాస్య -
 renouncing attachment to all other activities;

2a ధ్యాయన్యథాలిమ్ కీచకో  - యథా  కీచకో ఆలిం ధ్యాయన్ -
like the worm thinking of that Bee;

2b హ్యలీభావమృచ్ఛతి - హి అలీభావం ఋచ్ఛతి -
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 తథైవ యోగీ పరమాత్వ తత్త్వం -
Similarly Seeker of the truth of Brahman;

4 ధ్యాత్వా సమాయాతి తదేక నిష్ఠయా -
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.
 
॥ఓం తత్ సత్॥

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