Lord Krishna makes it clear that only a realised soul in whose perception the truth is unambiguously clear can transmit it effectively to the deserving disciple and that only a rare disciple becomes a jnani. The greatness of Adi Sankara in whom this truth is an actual experience and not a theoretical concept is brought to light by Lord Siva who comes in the guise of a chandala and puts forth a question of deep import to the acharya, pointed out Sri R. Krishnamurthy Sastrigal in a lecture.
On his way to the Ganga for a bath in Kasi, seeing a chandala in his path, the acharya asks him to go away. The chandala asks, “O learned one, please let me know whom or what you are asking to get away. What should get away from what? Is it the body or the inner self that you are addressing?”
Adi Sankara immediately recognises the highest wisdom embedded in the question and is embarrassed at his own attitude. With reverence he pays obeisance to the teacher who has come as a chandala and addresses him thus: “You are a wise person. Whoever speaks this wisdom is my Guru. It does not matter if he is a brahmin or a chandala.” He further responds with the hymn Manisha Panchaka which echoes the essence of Brahma Jnana which is the ability to see the one Existence everywhere. Such a person does not perceive differences in the world comprising living and insentient beings of infinite variety. To him the entire creation is Brahma Swaroopa which is the essence of ‘Sat-chit-ananda.’ He transcended the limits of ignorance that sees only differences and attained the state of ‘samadhrishti’ or equanimity of perception.
