Before we proceed, let us see the reason for these verses. One day, Sri Shankaracharya ( aka Shankara) was on his way to the temple of Lord Viswanatha along with his disciples, after finishing his ritual bath. It so happened that a Chandaala (a low caste person or untouchable caste working as a street sweeper) was walking along the same street and was obstructing the path along which Sri Sankara was walking. Sri Sankara asked the Chandaala to move away from his path (In ancient times, it was considered inauspicious for a higher caste person to encounter a Chandaala especially on the way to or after performing religious rituals). The Chandaala then asked Sri Sankara some questions which are the basis of the first two verses in this text. These questions are the prelude to the Five verses quoted by Sri Sankara. The Five verses are collectively called "Maneeshaapanchakam". Maneeshaa means "conviction" and "panchakam" means a collection of five verses or shlokas. All the five verses end with the word "maneesha mamah" meaning "This is my conviction".
While, one could spend a lot of time arguing over how an Enlightened soul like Sri Shankara could practice untouchability, it would unnecessarily deviate one's attention from the deep message contained in these verses. The story may also point to the strong association of beingness with the body and mind, showing how even an Enlightened one like Sri Shankara could temporarily fall off the razors edge.
Chandala to Shankara:
1. अन्नामयादान्नमयम्थ्वा चैतन्यमेव चैतान्यात ।
द्विजवर दूरीकर्तु वाञछ्सी किं ब्रूहि गच्छ गच्छेति ॥
1. O'great among the twice-born! What is it that you want to move away by saying "Go, go"? Do you want the body made up of food to move away from another body made up of food? Or, do you want the consciousness to move away from consciousness?
2. किं गंगाम्बुनी बिम्बितेओम्ब्र्मनौ चंदाल्वातिपयः
पूरे चंत्रमस्ती कच्च्न्घतिम्रित्कुम्भ्योवोर्म्ब्रे।
प्रत्याग्वस्तुनी निस्तारान्ग्सह्जान्न्दाव्बोधाम्बुधौ
विप्रोअयम्श्व्प्चोअय्मित्य्पिमहन्कोअयम्विभेद्भ्रमः ॥
2. Is there any difference in the reflection of the Sun in the waters of the Ganges river and its reflection in the water in a ditch in the quarters of an outcaste? Is there any difference in the space as such, be it the space contained in a gold pot or a clay pot? What is this illusion of difference in the form of "this is a Brahmin(higher caste) and this is an Outcaste", in the inner Self which is none other than the thought-less Ocean of Bliss and self existing consciousness?
Note: The inner Self or consciousness is the same in all creatures.
