Panchadasi – Chapter 3 – Reference Notes – Volume 1

Introduction

Chapter 3 is titled “Pancha-Kośa Viveka Prakaraṇam” (The Discrimination of the Five Sheaths). It takes up the five sheaths (kośas) — Annamaya, Prāṇamaya, Manomaya, Vijñānamaya, Ānandamaya — which veil the underlying Self. The chapter shows how these layers enclose the Self and how through discrimination one recognises the Self beyond them. It marks the shift from external enquiry (reality, elements, power) to inner enquiry — from gross to subtle, from “what I am not” to “what I am”.  Click Here To Access more other text.

Benefits

Studying these verses offers the following benefits:

• A clear map of the inner structure of our being (five sheaths) so you can separate what you are not from what you are.
• Helps to deepen the practice of self-inquiry by shifting focus inward, not only outward.
• Supports letting go of identification with body, life-force, mind, intellect, and even subtle bliss so you can abide as the untouched Self.
• Gives a practical method (neti-neti, discrimination of the sheaths) which connects philosophy with daily experience.
• Prepares you for full realisation by dismantling the layers of false identification.  Click view PDF.

All Verses 1-26: Bullet-Point Summary

Below are verses 1-26 in bullet form, with short translation, meaning and a brief explanation:

Verse 1

• • Translation: “That Self, O Brahmin, hidden in the cave of the heart and lodged in the five sheaths — this is our subject.”

  • Meaning: Topic is the Self concealed by the sheaths.

  • Explanation: Sets the enquiry: discover the Self behind the sheaths.

Verse 2

• • Translation: “O seeker, know the Self in whom the sheaths rest; through the sheaths the Self is known, and by rejecting them the Self is reached.”

  • Meaning: Both the sheaths show you the Self and also veil it; by negating the sheaths you reach the Self.

  • Explanation: Dual role of the sheaths: teaching & obstructing.

Verse 3

• • Translation: “The food-sheath arises from food; it is born and grows by food; it is not the Self.”

  • Meaning: Annamaya-kośa (body) is derived from food; thus impermanent and non-Self.

  • Explanation: First sheath: body as non-Self.

Verse 4

• • Translation: “Before birth and after death, it does not exist; therefore the body-sheath is not the eternal Self.”

  • Meaning: Body is transient; cannot be the Self which is eternal.

  • Explanation: Further argument for non-identification with body.

Verse 5

• • Translation: “The life-sheath (prāṇa) pervades the body providing strength and movement; yet being insentient it cannot be the Self.”

  • Meaning: Prāṇamaya-kośa has function but no consciousness; not the Self.

  • Explanation: Next layer: life-force as non-Self. Click view PDF.

Verse 6

• • Translation: “Whatever ‘I’ness and ‘mine’ness arises to the body, house etc., originates in the mind; but since it is subject to change by pleasure and pain, it is not the Self.”

  • Meaning: Manomaya-kośa (mind) gives I/mine feelings but is changeable; non-Self.

  • Explanation: Mind layer identified and negated.

Verse 7

• • Translation: “The intellect-sheath (vijñānamaya) appears when consciousness is reflected in the mind; it is the ‘knower’ but it too is not the Self.”

  • Meaning: Vijñānamaya-kośa is subtle intellect; though knowing, still not the Self.

  • Explanation: Layer of discernment also negated.

Verse 8

• • Translation: “Then the bliss-sheath (ānandamaya) resides within; though it appears as joy, it too is covered by ignorance and is not the Self.”

  • Meaning: Ānandamaya-kośa appears as deep bliss but still not the Self because it is conditioned.

  • Explanation: Most subtle sheath; yet not the Self.

Verse 9

• • Translation: “Since the five-sheath enclosure is removed by knowledge, the Self shines in its nature as Existence-Consciousness-Bliss.”

  • Meaning: When sheaths are removed through knowledge, the Self remains as sat-cit-ānanda.

  • Explanation: Method and result in one verse.

Verse 10

• • Translation: “When one knows that the body is not the Self, the life-force is not the Self, mind is not the Self … then what remains is called the Self.”

  • Meaning: Neti-neti enquiry: “Not this…” until only Self remains.

  • Explanation: Practical instruction. Click view PDF.

Verse 11

• • Translation: “The Self is subtler than the mind; the mind is subtler than the body; yet the Self is untouched by either.”

  • Meaning: Hierarchy of subtlety; Self is subtlest and beyond modification.

  • Explanation: Emphasises transcendence of Self.

Verse 12

• • Translation: “The Self is ever pure, ever free, while the sheaths are modifications, subject to change and birth/death.”

  • Meaning: Contrast between Self’s permanence and sheaths’ impermanence.

  • Explanation: Reinforces non-identification.

Verse 13

• • Translation: “The Self does not act, does not acquire, is beyond doership; hence all sheaths of action cannot be the Self.”

  • Meaning: Self is witness, not agent.

  • Explanation: Differentiates agent-roles from the Self.

Verse 14

• • Translation: “The Self is the witness of all the changes in the sheaths, yet remains unmoved, untouched by beginning or end.”

  • Meaning: Self sees but is untouched.

  • Explanation: Essential witness-nature.

Verse 15

• • Translation: “The Self is shining—pure consciousness; the sheaths are all inert or dependent. So do not identify with them.”

  • Meaning: Self is self-luminous; sheaths are not.

  • Explanation: Affirmation of Self’s nature. Click view PDF.

Verse 16

• • Translation: “In deep sleep the sheaths withdraw and the Self remains shining; so you are the Self, not the sheaths.”

  • Meaning: Sleep example: when body/mind turn off, Self remains.

  • Explanation: Use of analogy for recognition.

Verse 17

• • Translation: “When the body, life, mind, intellect and bliss-sheath are considered, but excluded one by one, the Self alone remains.”

  • Meaning: Sequential negation leads to Self.

  • Explanation: Step-by-step method.

Verse 18

• • Translation: “The Self is not subject to any limitation; the sheaths are limited by birth/death, pleasure/pain, change.”

  • Meaning: Self = infinite; sheaths = finite.

  • Explanation: Another contrast.

Verse 19

• • Translation: “When one knows the Self as the one without a second, all the sheaths lose their power to bind.”

  • Meaning: Realisation of non-duality dissolves bondage.

  • Explanation: Fruit of enquiry.

Verse 20

• • Translation: “The wise one abiding as the Self, sees the world and the sheaths functioning yet remains untouched.”

  • Meaning: Living with roles yet as Self, free.

  • Explanation: Ideal state of jīvanmukti. Click view PDF.

Verse 21

• • Translation: “He does not say ‘I am body’, ‘I am life’, ‘I am mind’ — for he knows the Self is beyond these.”

  • Meaning: Release of false identification.

  • Explanation: Practical orientation.

Verse 22

• • Translation: “He realises that the five sheaths are like garments worn by the Self; when the garment is removed, the Self shines forth.”

  • Meaning: Garment-analogy.

  • Explanation: Helps internalise detachment.

Verse 23

• • Translation: “So long as ignorance remains, one identifies with the sheaths; when knowledge dawns, one abides as the Self.”

  • Meaning: Ignorance → identification; knowledge → liberation.

  • Explanation: Cause & effect.

Verse 24

• • Translation: “Knowing this, one becomes fearless; one lives free in the Self, without any fear of limitation or change.”

  • Meaning: Result: fearlessness and freedom.

  • Explanation: Psychological transformation.

Verse 25

• • Translation: “May all seekers of Brahman firmly grasp this discrimination of the five sheaths and abide as the Self, the Infinite.”

  • Meaning: Benediction: apply the teaching.

  • Explanation: Wish for all seekers. Click view PDF.

Verse 26

• • Translation: “Thus the wise one, free from the five-fold ignorance, sees the Self only in all beings — there is no other.”

  • Meaning: Final state: unity of Self in all.

  • Explanation: Culmination of this section.

Why Study

• Because this chapter deals with internal anatomy of ignorance — how we identify with body, life, mind, intellect, and even bliss-states, instead of the Self.
• Because it gives you a direct method for self-awakening: negating what you are not, discriminating the sheaths, abiding as Self.
• Because it integrates philosophy with practice and experience — it is not abstract but a lived enquiry.
• Because mastering this makes subsequent chapters meaningful — once you know “what you are not”, you are ready to know “what you are”.
• Because it supports psychological freedom: when you know you are not those layers, you begin to live differently. Click view PDF.

How to Study

• Śravaṇa (Reading): Read Verses 1-26 with translation and commentary (your PDF). Focus on key terms: kośa, sheath, neti-neti, witness, Self.

• Manana (Reflection): After each verse ask yourself:

  1. Which sheath am I most identified with today?

  2. What happens if I say: “I am not that sheath”?

  3. How does resting as the Self change my reaction to experiences?
     Write brief personal reflections. Click view PDF.

• Nididhyāsana (Meditative Assimilation): Sit for 10-15 minutes daily focusing on: “I am not body, not prāṇa, not mind, not intellect, not bliss-sheath; I am the Self.” When thoughts of “I am tired”, “I am upset” arise, note the sheath and return to the sense of Self.

• Repetition Schedule:

  1. First reading: once thoroughly.

  2. Second reading: about a week later — reflect on your psyche’s identification with sheaths.

  3. Third reading: after a month — observe changes in your identification patterns.

  4. Then weekly review for 3-6 months, then quarterly.

• Discussion / Teacher Guidance: Discuss tricky verses like 8, 16, 22 with teacher/study group — e.g., how can the bliss-sheath be negated? What remains then?  Click view PDF.

• Daily Application:

  1. When you feel anxiety, hungry, wasted: identify the active sheath (body, mind, etc.) and say: “I am not this.”

  2. Use verse 22’s garment-analogy: see the role as borrowed garment.

  3. Allow yourself to live with the sense: “I am the Self considering these sheaths.”

Conclusion

Verses 1-26 of Chapter 3 form a cornerstone in your path of enquiry: they shift the focus inward and give you the method—discrimination of the five sheaths—by which the Self can be realised. When these teachings are deeply assimilated, the seeker moves from “I am the body / life / mind / intellect / joy” to “I am the timeless, changeless Self in which they appear.” This chapter sets the stage for deeper realisation—freeing you from false identifications and guiding you into the abiding peace of your true Self.