Vivekachoodamani - Main Sloka

This is the important sloka in Viveka choodamani. If not interpret properly, the whole of shastras will become useless.

"Vakvaikhari shabdajhari shastravyakhyana kaushalam ... bhuktaye na tu muktaye" is a beautiful sloka in VivekaChoodamani by Acharya. People often mistake this meaning. It is generally interpret as, the proficiency , word games (using flowery words) and knowledge in interpreting the Shastras may be useful in experiencing the things in the world but will not be useful for Moksha. This is not just interpret in this way, but, the Vidwans who interpret it this way also use this as a Pramana to ridicule the study of shastra. They also for their support, bring the Sruthi, “vak viglapanam hi tat” – it is just waste of energy.

But, then did not Acharya say this? Yes he did. But then what is your problem, why are you condemning it? To condemn it, means is a Blasphemy for me. The reason I say is it is not interpret properly, as always is done by the ignorant (of the shastra).

How should it be interpret than?

First, if the before said meaning is what Acharya means, than, the rest of the text will be redundant, like the other shastras and interpretation of Acharya. And, after this (believe it is 50 or some sloka) He writes around 400 more slokas.

Second, there are three beautiful, romantic, poetic masterly Sanskrit  words which are used in the first part of the Sloka.

Vakvaikhari – expanse of the usage of words

Shabdajhari – the nuances of the words

Shastravyakhana-Kaushalam – ability to interpret the words.

But, the really mean, from the introduction invocation sloka of Taiteriya Bhashya, “yairime gurubhi purvam padavakyapramanata” - the earlier Guru’s who through Pada, Vakya and Pramana.

Pada means Grammar, Vakya means Poorva Mimamsa and Pramana means Nyaya.

In the same way here too, Acharya uses these three words respectively.

Vakvaikhari means Pada means Grammar. Trough Grammar one understands the right meaning and usage of the words, and therefore has a very thorough grasp over the vak, speech.

Shabdajhari  means Vakya means Poorva Mimamsa. Through mimamsa one understands the way to interpret the words and staments of the Shastra using the different meters (pointers – linga) said in it.

And, Shastravyakhana-Kaushalam  means Pramana means Nyaya.  With logic one is able to prove or disprove the desired and non-desired.

By this understanding, we can synchronize the sruti statement “Anyaan vaacho vimunvhatha amrtasya esha setu: “ – give up the other useless talk, (involve only in shastra discussion), this is the means of eternality.

In essence, Acharya says, don’t waste your time and energy in only the futile pursuit of the other shastras, learn it to use it in Vedanta. Meaning, Study the Vedanta Properly.