प्रसिद्धिर्मूढलोकस्य यदि ग्राह्या निरात्मता । लोकायतिकसिद्धान्तः स चानिष्टः प्रसज्यते ॥
prasiddhirmūḍhalokasya yadi grāhyā nirātmatā | lokāyatikasiddhāntaḥ sa cāniṣṭaḥ prasajyate ||
If the usage of deluded people is to be accepted, there would be no Self; the doctrine of the materialists would follow, and that is unwanted.
यदि मूढ़ लोगों की प्रसिद्धि माननी हो, तो आत्मा का अभाव हो जाएगा; लोकायतिकों (भौतिकवादियों) का सिद्धान्त आ पड़ेगा, जो अनिष्ट है।
Meaning today and contextआज के लिए अर्थ और संदर्भ
Everyday talk treats the body as 'me'. Going only by how people usually speak would leave no room for anything deeper than the body.
रोज़ की बोलचाल शरीर को ही 'मैं' मानती है। केवल लोगों के बोलने के ढंग पर चलें तो शरीर से गहरे किसी सत्य के लिए जगह नहीं बचती।
Shankaracharya replies: if the usage of ordinary, undiscerning people decides the meaning, then there would be no Self beyond the body, which is the doctrine of the materialists (Lokāyata), unacceptable to both sides.