Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary

by S. Sitarama Sastri | 1905 | 19,662 words

The Mundaka Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems used to teach meditation and spiritual knowledge regarding the true nature of Brahma and the Self (Atman). It is composed of the three main parts (mundakas): 1) The first of three parts expounds the science of higher and lower knowledge. 2) The second part describes the true nature of t...

यः सर्वज्ञः सर्वविद्यस्यैष महिमा भुवि दिव्येब्रह्मपुरे ह्येष व्योम्न्यात्मा प्रतिष्ठितः ।
मनोमयः प्राणशरीरनेता प्रतिष्ठितोऽन्ने हृदयं सन्निधाय तद्विज्ञानेन परिपश्यन्ति धीरा आनन्दरूपममृतं यद् विभाति ॥ ७ ॥

yaḥ sarvajñaḥ sarvavidyasyaiṣa mahimā bhuvi divyebrahmapure hyeṣa vyomnyātmā pratiṣṭhitaḥ |
manomayaḥ prāṇaśarīranetā pratiṣṭhito'nne hṛdayaṃ sannidhāya tadvijñānena paripaśyanti dhīrā ānandarūpamamṛtaṃ yad vibhāti || 7 ||

7. This Atman who knows all and all of everything and whose glory is so celebrated on earth is seated in the akas of the blight city of Brahman. He is conditioned by the mind, is the leader of the prana and the body and is seated in food, i.e., the body fixing the intelligence (in the cavity of their heart). The discerning people see by means of their superior knowledge on all sides the atman which shines, all bliss and immortality.

 

Shankara’s Commentary:

Com.—Where He is, is now explained; the terms ‘sarvajna’ and ‘sarvavit’ have already been explained. He is again described; by the expression “whose glory is this” is meant “whose glory is celebrated.” What is that glory? By whose commands stand supported the earth and the sky, by whose command, the sun and the moon always rotate as the flaming fire-brand. By whose command the rivers and the seas do not overstep their limits, whose command all that is moveable and immoveable likewise obey, whose commands in the same way, the seasons, the solstices, and the years do not transgress; by whose commands all karma, their performers and their fruits do not likewise go beyond their appointed time; that is his glory. Bhuvi, in the world. This Deva whose is all this glory and who is omniscient. Divye, bright, i. e., illuminated by all the states of consciousness. Brahmapure, in the lotus of the heart, so called because the Brahman is always manifesting himself there, in the form of intelligence. Vyomni, in the akas, within the cavity of the heart. He is perceived as if seated there because, otherwise, motion to or from, or fixity in a place is not possible for him who is all-pervading like the akas. Manomaya, because seated in the heart, he is perceived only by the modifications of the mind. (Thus) conditioned by the mind. Leader of the prana and the body, because lie leads the prana and the body from one gross body into another body. Pratishthitah, fixed. Anne, in the food, i.e., in the body which is a modification of the food eaten and which grows and decays day by day. Hridayam, intellect, Sannidhaya, fixing—in the cavity of the lotus; for, the Atman is really seated in the heart and not in the food. Tat, the entity of the Atman. Vijnanena, by knowledge, thorough, produced by the teachings of the sastras and the preceptor, and arising from control of the mind, control of the senses, meditation, complete renunciation and freedom from desire. Paripasyanti, see on all sides full. Dhirah, the discerning. A’nandarupam, free from all dangers, miseries and troubles. Vibhati, shines much in one-self always.

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