Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
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ESSENCE OF BRIHADARANYAKA UPANISHAD Translated and interpreted by V.D.N. Rao, Former General Manager, India Trade Promotion Organisation, Ministry of Commerce, Govt. of India, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi now at Chennai 1 Other Scriptures by same Author Essence of Puranas:- Maha Bhagavata, Vishnu Purana, Matsya Purana, Varaha Purana, Kurma Purana, Vamana Purana, Narada Purana, Padma Purana; Shiva Purana, Linga Purana, Skanda Purana, Markandeya Purana, Devi Bhagavata;Brahma Purana; Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Agni Purana, Bhavishya Purana, Nilamata Purana; Shri Kamakshi Vilasa Dwadasha Divya Sahasranama: a) Devi Chaturvidha Sahasra naama: Lakshmi, Lalitha, Saraswati, Gayatri; b) Chaturvidha Shiva Sahasra naama: Linga-Shiva-Brahma Puranas and Maha Bharata; c) Trividha Vishnu and Yugala Radha-Krishna Sahasra naama; Padma-Skanda-Maha Bharata and Narada Purana. Stotra Kavacha-A Shield of Prayers Purana Saaramsha Select Stories from Puranas Essence of Dharma Sindhu Essence of Shiva Sahasra Lingarchana Essence of Brahma Sutras (awaiting release) Essence of Amaranatha Yatra Essence of Paraashara Smriti Essence of Pradhana Tirthas Essence of Upanishads: Atreya, Chhandogya, Isha, Katha, Taittiriya Note: All the above Scriptures released on www. kamakoti. org/news as also on Google by the respective references] 2 PREFACE The Essence of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is an attempt in the series of the Essence of Pradhana Upanishads. Five of these have already been released vide the website of kamakoti.org/news viz. Atreya, Chhandogya, Isha, Kaha and Taittiriya so far. The intention is provide the Sanskrit base and simple translation of meaning in English, without resorting to esoteric explanations and descriptive annotations. However the slant in the translation is within the frame work of Adi Shankara Bhashya, while various Schools of Thought for each of the Upanishads are in prevalence as per their own disciplines. It is stated that there are as many as 108 Upanishads as follows: 1) Mukhyopanishads: Atreya, Brihadaranya,Chhanodgya, Isha, Katha, Kaushitaki, Kena, Maitriyi, Manduka, Prashna and Mandukya Upanishads; 2) Samanyopanishads: Atmabodha, Mudgala, Vajra soochi, Mahad, Savitri, Sarvasaara, Skanda, Shariraka, Ekaakshara, Akshi, Praanaagnihotra, Subala, Manitraka, Niraalamba, Pingala, Adhyatmika, Muktika, Surya, Atma Upanishads; 3) Sanyasopanishads: Nirvana, Aruneya, Maitreyani, Maitreya, Sanyasa, Kundika, Brahma, Swetashwatara, Garbha, Tejobindu, Avadhuta, Katha Rudra, Varaha, Jabala, Parama hamsa, Advaya taraka, Bhikshu, Turiyaatika, Yagnyavalkya, Satyayani, Narada Parivrajaka, Parama hamsa parivrajaka, Parabrahma, Tripura Upanishads; 4) Shaakteyopanishads: Tripuyra, Soubhagya, Bahvarcha, Saraswati Rahasya, Sita, Annapurana, Devi, Tripuraatapaani, Bhavana Upanidhads; 5) Vaishnavopanishads: Vaasudeva, Avyakta, Narayana, Kali santaarana, Taaraasaara, Narasimhataapani, Tripadvibhuti, Rama -rahasya, Ramaataapani, Gopaalataapani, Krishna, Hayagriva, Dattatreya, Garuda Upanishads; 6) Shaivopanishads: Akshamaalika, Rudrakha, Jaabala, Swetashvatara, Kaivalya, Kalagni Rudra, Dakshinamurti, Rudra hridaya, Pancha Brahma, Shira, Atharva shikha, Brihad Jabala, Sharabha, Bhava, Ganapati; and 7) Yogopa -nishads:Nadabindu, Yogakundalini, Hamsa, Trishikhi, Mandala Brahmana, Shandilya, Paashupata, Maha Vakya. The plan is to profile the Mukhyopanishads in the Series of Essence of Pradhanopanishads being planned. I am ever beholden to the benign blessings of HH Vijayendra Saraswati of Kanchi Mutt for his constant inspiration and spiritual guidance that he has bestowed on me in abundance. My grateful prostrations to his grace for his continued blessings to me and all the members of my family. VDN Rao Chennai 3 CONTENTS PAGE Preface 3 Chapter One of Six Brahmanas: 4 (i) Ashwamwedha Yagna (ii) Hiranyagarbha’s own body as the Sacrifice and the resultant Creation of the Universe (iii) Devasura Srishti and origin of ‘Udgeeta’ as a powerful medium to control Evil Forces; (iv) Prajapati’s ‘Ahamasmi’ or ‘I am Myself’ manifests Purusha and Prakriti - Creation of Beings including Upadevas like Rudraadityas (v) Prajapati’s pair creates fathers, food, rituals, mind, speech and ‘Praana’ (vi) Naama, Rupa, Karma -or Name, Form and Work- of Individual Self. Chapter Two of Six Brahmanas: 19 (i) Ajatasghatru- Balaki Gargya ‘samvaada’: step by step analysis of Brahman; Brahma Vidya; three Stages of Awakenness- Dream- Death (ii) Origin of Human Beings with body parts and sensory organs as also the corresponding Sapta Rishis (iii) Mortal and Immortal ‘Swarupas’of Individual Selves and the Supreme (iv) Yagjnyavalkya-Maitreyi ‘samvada’detailing material resources vis-à-vis Salvation and Unity of Individual Self and Brahman (v) Madhu Vidya or the doctrine of honey as applicable to all the Beings, Elements, Concepts and the Self (vi) Madhu Vidya taught by Dadhyan Rishi to Ashwini Devatas assuming horse heads- the unique link between the Individual Self and the Supreme. Chapter Three of nine Brahmanas: 34 (i) Madhu Kaanda Vamsha Teachers on Scriptural Authentication of the link between the Self and the Supreme (ii) Yagjnyavalkya-Ashwala wordy duel at Janaka’s horse sacrifice and the Maharshi declared as the best of the Congregation of the Learned since human bondage by ‘Grahas’ and ‘Atigrahas’ controlling the Organs would end by death and subsequent transmigration of the Souls takes place as decided by the ‘Paapa-Punya’ accounts (iii) Supremacy of Horse Sacrifice performed by Gandharvas and extra territorial Beings too for Salvation - Yagjnyavalkya- Gandharva ‘samvaada’ on Cosmic Vital Force (iv) Gross body perishes and opens a fresh account of Karma Phala while Subtle Body lasts for ever as evidenced by ‘Praana’ or ‘Vayu’the ever present (v) Equation of Antaratma and Paramatma logically leads to quest for Brahman by means of renunciation (vi) Pursuit beyond the warf and woof of the cloth of Creation, Nature and Universe (vii) ‘Sutra’ or the thread between Brahman and the Self is Vayu-the subtle entity connecting the Five Elements, body organs and senses, praana and the past-present-future, but none realises the link except Brahman himself! (viii) The Sutra is the connector to the two halves of the Cosmic Shell while the process of ‘neti neti’ or ‘not this not this’ leads to Ultimate Reality! (ix) Yagjnyavalkya-Shakalya samvada about the worship worthy Devas viz. Rudras, Adityas,Vasus, Indra and Prajapati, besides Matter, Vital Force and so on! Chapter Four of six Brahmanas: 54 4 (i) Refinement of the concept of Brahman: Speech,Vision, Hearing, Mind and Heart (ii) Gross, Subtle, Causal bodies of Self-Supreme in explicit and implicit forms (iii) Janaka- Yagjnyavalkya’s deep session on proven Identity of Self-Supreme entities as these are mutual reflections ; Identity of Self- Supreme despite the former’s awaken and dream change over stages (iv) Mortal life’s final stage described as caterpillar reaches the edge of grass and holds another grass for support (v) Yagjnyavalkya-Maitreyi samvada on Causative fullness to derivative causation in view of the cause and effect syndrome (vi) The tradition of Guru-Sishya. Chapter Five of fifteen Brahmanas: 71 (i) ‘Purnamada, Purnamidam, Purnaat purnamudacyate’: This and that are Full ; from fullness is derived fullness and even if fullness is exhausted, still fullness prevails for ever! In other words, causative fullness is derivative causation; that is the Cause and Effect Syndrome (ii) Damayita-Daana-Daya or Control- Charity- Compassion constitute the three seeds of Virtue (iii) Prajapati’s heart or ‘hri-da-ya’ acts with qualities of Ushering- Giving-Securing which direct a human being’s name-form-work (iv) Prajapati Brahman’s hridaya is also the seat of Intellect as the varied appearance of Truth highlighting the Gross and Subtle Forms of Brahman as True, Absolute, Real, and Magnificent! (v)Satya Brahman manifests as Water, Surya and ‘Bhurbhuvaswah’(vi) Mind is the key indicator of Reality and Falsity as Yogis subdue it and sift the Truth and Untruth (vii) Vidyut Brahman or lightnings flashing darkness and highlighting Paramatma (viii) Vaak Brahman focusses speech connoting Vedas ans Scriptures declaring loud about Truth and Untruth (ix) Vishwaanara Agni Brahman proclaims his splendour and clearly distinguish Truth and Untruth (x) Vaayu Brahma or Praana deva demonstrates his prowess by his ready presence or absence and segregate Truth and Untruth (xi) Austerities like fasting and detachment embolden to face death seeking better status in the life ahead! (xii) Seekers of Brahman do realise the role of food and praana as inevitable factors of existence for seeking better comfort subsequently! (xiii) Meditation to Praana by Ukta Geeta facilitates unification of the body and the Soul!(xiv) Gayatri’s worship unifies Praana with Agni to burn off body pollutions and heaps of sins and heralds new pastures (xv) Prayerse to Surya Deva, Agni and Vayu to lead to Brahman / Self indeed. Chapter Six of five Brahmanas: 79 (i) Vasishathatva or Superiority of Praana over all the body organs and their corresponding faculties (ii) Panchala King Pravahana and Gautama Samvada on the travel pattern of a Good Soul after death, and as per Karma Phala enter the smoke zone of ether and travel to Pitru-Chandraadi lokas and after enjoying the company of Devas as stipulated by time return back to earth through ether/ rain as destined as a plant or insect or animal or a human again (iii) The methodology of Agni Karya by offering Sacrificial ‘Mantha’ or paste of fig wood and