Part 2 — texts 9–15 (compact study cards)

Drg-Dṛsya Viveka (46 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: Short discrimination between the seer (dṛk) and seen (dṛśya), mapping three seers, their formation and function; includes nididhyāsana practice.
• Representative verse-essence: “Discern the witness from the witnessed.”
• Meaning: Stepwise clarification: personal seeing (reflected consciousness) vs original witness (sakshi) → rest in the witness.
• Why study: Excellent mini-manual for meditative discrimination.
• How to study: 1) Read the 46 verses in order; 2) do a short witness-meditation after each reading session; 3) keep a two-column note: “what I see / witness” and “what remains” to train discrimination.
• Conclusion: Compact method for witness-based meditation. Click Here to Drg-Drsya Viveka Stotram.

Sruti Sara Samuddharaṇam (179 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: A compendium of the essence of Śruti (Upanishadic teaching) arranged for study.
• Representative verse-essence: “Extract the core messages from scripture for immediate use.”
• Meaning: Condenses Upanishadic teachings into usable, teachable units.
• Why study: Good if you want an overview of the Upanishadic corpus without reading every Upanishad.
• How to study: 1) Use as reference while studying Upanishads; 2) mark cross-references to primary Upanishads; 3) reflect on Mahāvākyas contained within.
• Conclusion: A “map” of Śruti essentials. Click Here to Sruti Sara Samuddharanam Stotram.

Pratah Smaraṇam (3 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: A tiny morning remembrance liturgy — practical spiritual reminder.
• Representative verse-essence: “Remember the Self at the start of the day.”
• Meaning: Use short verses as daily anchors to orient mind to higher values.
• Why study: Immediately applicable — helps stabilize practice through day.
• How to study: Memorize and recite daily; reflect for 2 minutes each morning.
• Conclusion: Tiny but powerful daily anchor. Click Here to Pratch Smaranam Stotram.

Tattva Bodha (38 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: Elementary catechism of Vedānta — definitions and basic concepts; recommended early reading for beginners.
• Representative verse-essence: “Know the categories: Self, body, mind, causality — then proceed.”
• Meaning: Lays out vocabulary and basic distinctions needed for later study.
• Why study: Forms logical foundations — read first among primers.
• How to study: 1) Learn the basic terms; 2) test yourself: can you explain them in your own words? 3) Move to Atma Bodha next.
• Conclusion: The ideal first primer. Click Here to Tattva Bodha Stotram.

Sad Darshanam (43 verses) — Ramana Maharshi

• Intro / key teaching: A short exposition of Jñāna yoga; practical and pithy.
• Representative verse-essence: “Right vision removes bondage.”
• Meaning: Presents balanced reflection and practice pointers for direct path.
• Why study: Good for consolidating Self-inquiry with concise instruction.
• How to study: Read and apply Self-inquiry practices Ramana recommends; pair reading with sitting practice.
• Conclusion: Practical short manual for the seeker. Click Here to Sad Darshanam Stotram.

Ashtavakra Samhita (298 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: Radical, direct dialogue between Aṣṭāvakra and Janaka — emphasis on immediate liberation and the unreality of bondage.
• Representative verse-essence: “You are always free; only ignorance misleads.”
• Meaning: Repeatedly collapses apparent conflict: realize that the Self is already unbound; liberation is seeing what is already true.
• Why study: Deep and liberating — excellent for those ready to accept the immediacy of the teaching.
• How to study: 1) Read slowly (it can be strikingly direct); 2) spend sessions meditating on a single verse; 3) journal shifts in felt identity; 4) pair with guidance if strong emotional resistance arises.
• Conclusion: Potent, radical text — not an intellectual exercise alone. Click Here to Ashtavakra Samhita Stotram.

Vivekachudamani (581 verses)

• Intro / key teaching: A long, structured manual on viveka (discrimination) and classical sadhana—ethical, intellectual and contemplative stages; one of Śaṅkarācārya’s major primers.
• Representative verse-essence: “Discriminate the real from the unreal; purify the mind; abide as Self.”
• Meaning: Presents stepwise preparation (viveka, vairagya, śatsampat), instructions for sadhana, and the final realization.
• Why study: Comprehensive curriculum — excellent as a semester-long study and practice guide.
• How to study: 1) Break into sections (discrimination, detachment, six virtues, training); 2) work with a commentary; 3) do the practicals (services, self-discipline, meditation) recommended in the text; 4) revisit often.
• Conclusion: The most complete practical guide among the 15; ideal for committed students. Click Here to Vivekachudamani Stotram.

General, step-by-step method for studying any text in this PDF (actionable, full)

1. Setup (orientation)

   • Note the author, number of verses and where the text sits in the sravana→manana→nididhyāsana map (the PDF gives this orientation).

2. First pass (Sravanam — 1–2 readings)

   • Read the whole text with a good translation once to get the big picture. Mark unknown words/ideas.

3. Second pass (literal understanding + parse)

   • For each verse: read the Sanskrit (if possible), read translation, parse grammar/terms, note the central thesis of the verse.

4. Reflection (Mananam)

   • For one week spend 10–20 minutes daily reflecting on a single verse (or block of verses): ask “Is this logically coherent? What would falsify it?” Write down doubts and try to answer them. The PDF emphasizes this classical trio.  Click Here to Pdf.

5. Assimilation (Nididhyāsana / meditative practice)

   • Convert the conceptual insight into a short meditation or affirmation (e.g., Mahāvākya repeating, witness meditation). Practice daily; note felt changes.

6. Apply & test

   • Apply the verse-teaching to daily reactions (anger, desire, fear). See whether the teaching changes your responses. Keep a brief log.

7. Deepen with commentaries

   • For technical texts (Naishkarmya Siddhi, Vivekachudamani) read classical commentaries or modern annotated editions and discuss in groups or with a teacher.

8. Periodic review

   • Return to the text every month, and again after 6 months — learning deepens in cycles. Click Here to Pdf.

Conclusion

For a beginner, the recommended path is to start with Tattva Bodha, then proceed to Atma Bodha, followed by Dakshinamurthy Stotram and Bhaja Govindam. Once these foundations are well understood, the student can move on to Sri Rama Gita and Upadesa Sara. This sequence gradually builds clarity of concepts, devotion, and practical orientation, exactly as the Vedanta Students resource suggests. For those who seek rigorous theory, it is best to dedicate several months to the in-depth study of Naishkarmya Siddhi and Vivekachudamani, working with a detailed commentary to digest their arguments and structure. On the other hand, aspirants inclined toward direct practice can focus more on contemplative texts such as Upadesa Sara, Sad Darshanam, Aparoksha Anubuti, and the radical Ashtavakra Saṃhitā, using them in alternation with short daily meditations. In this way, each type of seeker—beginner, theorist, or contemplative—has a clear pathway suited to their readiness and temperament.

Click Here To Part 1 — texts 1–8

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