Indeed the totality is existence, consciousness and wonder-joy, manifoldness is not here whatever;
Whoever sees manifoldness here, he goes from death to death.
Commentary
The totality is not manifold but non-dual, being the Absolute which is a composition of existence, consciousness and wonder-joy. The sage in verse 11 of the Advaita Dipikam also declares this. The totality is the Absolute, firstly experienced as existence, secondly as comprising consciousness, and thirdly, both together, experienced as wonder-joy. The Aparadhakshamapanastotram (verse 4) says, "Kamesvari (Sakti), the Absolute World Mother, takes hold of existence, consciousness and wonder-joy", and then the Bhavana Upanishad (verse 27) declares, "The supreme divinity Lalita (Sakti) is one's own joyful Self."
The second line of the sage's verse is what we also find in the Katha Upanishad (IV. 11), "He goes from death to death", which can also mean, "He goes from life to life," when life is lived only in the phenomenal world. When duality is foremost in the mind, then relative life, including death, becomes all important. As Narayana Guru declares in Chapter One verse seven, "When Self-knowledge is shut out then there is non-knowledge, fearful."
It is only when manifoldness is transcended and the Absolute is attained that the phenomenal world of becoming (life and death) no longer dominates the mind. The Kshurika Upanishad states this in no uncertain terms, "Entering into that (Absolute) re-birth is abandoned." The sage concludes this Chapter very meaningfully by advising us against seeing only duality in all its illusive manifestations instead of the Absolute.
Narayana Guru has named his First two chapters Vision of Superimposition and Vision of Refutation. The Paingala Upanishad (II) has this interesting passage about these two principles: "Therefore always inquire. Make a capable investigation into the self-nature of superimposition and the refutation (of this principle). Then always inquire about the world, the living entity (and) the Supreme Self, (and) when there is awareness of the becoming of the living entity and the becoming of the world, then the inwardly whole Absolute remains."
The Vedantasara (verse 31) has also this illuminating statement: "He the spiritual teacher with supreme compassion will instruct those on the subject of superimposition and the refutation of this."