Viveka Chudamani Slokas 361-363 :

Elaborating on realizing Supreme Self in Nirvikalpa samadhi, Guru says that Supreme Self is very subtle ( అతి సూక్ష్మం). It requires subtle mind to grasp the Supreme Self. It is not possible for the one with focus on gross body (స్థూల శరీరం) and other non-self ( అనాత్మ) entities like Ahamkara (అహంకార), to be able to grasp the subtle Supreme Self. To achieve that transformation of mind from gross thinking, to a subtle mind which is able to grasp Supreme self, the mind must be purified. The Purification is by a process of  removing the impurities of the mind, namely Rajo, Tamo and Satva Gunas.  How does one accomplish that. Guru immediately comes up with an apt example of Gold. Impurities of the Gold are removed by putting it through a fire. Just like Gold is being purified by going through the process of fire, the Mind too gets purified by a process of continuous meditation. This is what we hear in the next three Slokas.

Sloka 361

అతీవ సూక్ష్మం పరమాత్వ తత్త్వం
న స్థూల దృష్ట్యా ప్రతిపత్తు మర్హతి।
సమాధినాత్యన్త సుసూక్ష్మవృత్యా
జ్ఞాతవ్యమార్యైః అతి శుద్ధ బుద్ధిః॥

1 అతీవ సూక్ష్మం పరం ఆత్మ తత్త్వమ్ -
Extremely subtle is the nature of Supreme Self;


2 న స్థూల దృష్ట్యా ప్రతిపత్తు మర్హతి-
Not by the tendency of the gross body is it possible to be known;

Supreme self is attribute-less, formless and is subtle. It is beyond the five sheaths. With the tendency of non-Self, highlighted by the outgoing nature of the mind, it is not possible to grasp the subtle Supreme Self.  The core of Guru's teaching in Viveka chudamani is that to realize Self the non Self has to be destroyed.

If it is not possible for the gross body's tendencies to know the Supreme self , who can realize the Supreme self ? That question is answered by Guru.

4 జ్ఞాతవ్యం ఆర్యైః అతి శుద్ధ బుద్ధిః-
   అతి శుద్ధ బుద్ధిః ఆర్యైః జ్ఞాతవ్యం -
   It is knowable by the noble ones with pure intellect;

How will they know?

3 సమాధినా అత్యన్త సుసూక్ష్మవృత్యా -
  అత్యంత సుసూక్ష్మవృత్యా సమాధినా-
 through Samadhi with extremely pure intellect;

The noble ones with pure intellect know (realize) the Supreme self, with extremely pure intellect  through Samadhi. Here Noble ones refers to the Seeker.

So the Samadhi to know the Supreme Self is attained by extremely pure intellect.
 

Sloka summary 361:

Extremely subtle is the nature of Supreme self; Not by the tendency of the gross body is it possible to be known;It is knowable by the noble ones with pure intellect through Samadhi with extremely pure intellect

The Supreme Self is very subtle. Subtle can be approached through Subtle only, and not by the gross is the first point. It can be approached only through pure mind. How do we attain purity of mind ? Guru says, much like Gold attaining purity by  getting rid of impurities , the mind also can attain purity by getting rid of minds impurities. We hear that in the next Sloka.

Sloka 362

యథా సువర్ణం పుటపాక శోధితమ్
త్యక్త్వామలమ్ స్వాత్మ గుణం సమృచ్ఛతి।
తదా మనః సత్త్వరజః  తమోమలమ్
ధ్యానేన సంత్యజ్య సమేతి తత్త్వమ్॥

1 యథా సువర్ణం పుటపాక శోధితమ్ -
just as gold put through fire;

2 త్యక్త్వా అమలమ్ స్వాత్మ గుణం సమృచ్ఛతి।
gives up its impurities and regains its brilliance:

3 తదా మనః సత్త్వరజః  తమోమలమ్-
so also impurities of the mind namely Rajo, Tamo and Sttva
 
4 ధ్యానేన సంత్యజ్య సమేతి తత్త్వమ్-
(are) shed through meditation and reality is attained.

Just as gold sheds its impurities when put through fire, so also minds impurities Sattav, Rajo, Tamas are shed through the process of meditation, reality is attained much like gold attaining its brilliance.

Sloka summary 362 :

Just as gold sheds its impurities when put through fire, so also minds impurities Sattva, Rajo, Tamas are shed through the process of meditation, reality is attained much like gold attaining its brilliance.

In this Sloka Sloka also is seen as an impurity. In a Seekers search for Self, Sattav Guna plays a great role in destroying Rajo and Tamo gunas.  gita says - నిర్ద్వందో నిత్య సత్వస్థో భవ - be free of dualities and stay in Sattva ( destroy the Tamo and Rajo Gunas).  Then having been thus used to destroy all other impurities, to reach the final stage it is said - "యేన త్యజసి తత్ త్యజ"; That by which you have destroyed other impurities , destroy that also. So even Sattva is to be given up. Again in Gita Krishna tells Arjuna -  "నిస్త్రైగుణ్యో భవ" - be free of all the three Gunas.  That is also what Guru says here.

So meditation is the fire to destroy the three Gunas. Guru elaborates.

Sloka 363

నిరన్తరాభ్యాస వశాత్ తదిత్థమ్
పక్వం మనోబ్రహ్మణి లీయతే యదా।
తదా సమాధిః సవికల్పవర్జితః
స్వతో ఽద్వయానన్ద రసానుభావకః॥

1 నిరన్తరాభ్యాస వశాత్ తద్ ఇత్థమ్ -
తద్ ఇత్థమ్ నిరన్తరాభ్యాస వశాత్ -
as result of constant practice, 

2 పక్వం మనోబ్రహ్మణి లీయతే యదా-
when purified mind merges in Brahman;

3 తదా  సమాధిః సవికల్పవర్జితః
  then సకల్ప స్థితి become నిర్వికల్ప) Samadhi ది

4 స్వతో ఽద్వయానన్ద రసానుభావకః-
   స్వతః అద్వయానన్ద రసాను భావకః -
by itself the essence of Bliss without a second is experienced;

As a result of constant practice the purified mind merges in Brahman. Then Nirvikalpa samadhi is attained , in that state the essence of Bliss without a second is experienced by itself.

Sloka summary 363:

As result of constant practice, when purified mind merges in Brahman,  then సకల్ప samadhi becomes నిర్వికల్ప Samadhi, the essence of Bliss without a second is experienced by itself.

॥ఓం తత్ సత్॥

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