Adi Shankaracharya Vakya Vritti Book
Vakya Vritti
Vākyavṛtti, meaning “Explanation of the [Mahā]vākya,” is a concise but profound Advaita Vedānta text attributed to Adi Shankaracharya. The term vākya refers to a “sentence” or a “declaration,” and in this context, it refers specifically to the Mahāvākyas—the great statements from the Upaniṣads that express the non-dual nature of reality. Vṛtti means “exposition” or “commentary.” Thus, Vākyavṛtti is a detailed explanation of a specific Mahāvākya: “Tat Tvam Asi”—“That Thou Art.”
This short work explores the meaning and implication of the statement “Tat Tvam Asi,” which comes from the Chāndogya Upaniṣad. It is one of the key sentences in the Vedāntic tradition, encapsulating the essential teaching of non-duality (Advaita)—that the individual self (tvam) is not different from the absolute reality (tat), or Brahman. The goal of the text is to guide the seeker to the direct realization of this identity and thus attain mokṣa, or liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The format of the Vākyavṛtti is typically a dialogue between a student and a teacher. The student begins with genuine curiosity, asking the teacher to explain the meaning of “Tat Tvam Asi” in a way that leads to understanding, not just of the words, but of the truth they reveal. The teacher responds by systematically breaking down each component of the statement: “Tat” (That), “Tvam” (You), and “Asi” (Are).
- “Tat” refers to Brahman, the unchanging, infinite, impersonal reality described in the scriptures. It is beyond all names, forms, and concepts.
- “Tvam” refers to the individual self—the conscious principle within the body-mind complex that says “I am.”
- “Asi”, the verb “are,” asserts the identity between the two.
At first glance, these appear contradictory. Brahman is infinite and all-pervading, while the individual self appears limited and embodied. How can “you” be “That”? To resolve this apparent contradiction, the teacher introduces the method of adhyāropa-apavāda—superimposition and negation. This is a traditional Vedāntic technique where the teacher first uses language and metaphor to point the student toward truth, and then negates limiting concepts to reveal the pure awareness behind all appearances.
The text explains that the essential nature of both the individual (jīva) and Brahman is consciousness. The body, senses, and ego are not the true self—they are changing and perishable. But the witness consciousness behind all experience is identical to the limitless consciousness that is Brahman. When this is known—not just intellectually, but intuitively and directly—the illusion of separation disappears, and the seeker attains liberation.
In summary, Vākyavṛtti is a brief but powerful Advaita Vedānta text that focuses on the essence of the Upaniṣadic teaching. Through clear dialogue and precise explanation, it reveals the profound truth that you are not a separate being, but one with the infinite consciousness. This realization is the key to true freedom and the end of all suffering.
