Section 3.18 (eighteenth khaṇḍa) (six texts)

Upaniṣad text:

One should meditate upon the Mind as Brahman; this is with reference to the Body. With reference to Deities,—(one should meditate upon) Ākāśa as Brahman.—In this way both become taught,—that with reference to the Body and that with reference to the Deities.—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

God has been spoken of as ‘consisting of the Mind also as ‘consisting of the Ākāśa’, as forming a part of the quality of Brahman; now with the words ‘Mind as Brahman’, the Text proceeds to lay down the meditating of these two—Mind and Ākāśa—as the entire Brahman.—Manas, Mind, is that whereby one thinks, the Internal Organs—this is Brahman, the Highest;—thus should one meditate. This doctrine refers to the Man’s own self (i.e. the Body wherein the Mind lies); that doctrine which refers to the Deities we are going to expound: One should meditate upon Akaśa as Brahman—In this way both—the doctrines of viewing Brahman in reference to the Body, and that of viewing it in reference to the Deities—become taught—expounded; Both Mind and Akaśa are subtle entities—and Brahman is accessible by the Mind; hence it is only fit that the Mind should be looked upon as Brahman. As for Akaśa, it is all-pervading, subtle and free from limitations; (and it is only fit that it should be looked upon as Brahman.—(1)

Upaniṣad text:

This same Brahman is four-footed: Speech is one foot, Breath is one foot, the Eye is one foot, the Ear is one foot;—this is with reference to the Body.

Now with reference to Deities—Agni is one foot, Vāyu is one foot, Āditya is one foot, the Quarters are one foot.—Thus both become taught,—that with reference to the Body and with reference to the Deities.—(2)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

This same Brahman—named ‘Mind’—is four-footed; i.e. It has four feet.—“In what way is the Mind—Brahman ‘four-footed’?”—Speech, Breath, Eye and Ear are the four ‘feet’;—this is with reference to the Body. Now with reference to the Deities—the four ‘feet’ of Ākāśa-Brahman are Agni, Vāyu, Āditya and the Quarters.—In this way, both forms of the ‘four-footed’ Brahman become taught,—that with reference to the Body and that with reference to the Deities.—(2)

Upaniṣad text:

Speech itself is the fourth foot of Brahman; it shines and warms with the light of Agni. One who knows this shines and warms up with renown, fame and Brahmic glory.—(3)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

Speech itself is the fourth foot—of the Mind-Brahman,—fourth, in reference to the other three feet; because it is through this ‘foot’ of Speech that the Mind stands upon,—becomes fixed upon—the cow and such other things that are spoken of; hence Speech is like the foot of Mind.—Similarly, Breath—the organ—is one foot; as it is through this that it moves over to objects of olfactory perception.—Similarly the Eye is one foot; the Ear is one foot.—Thus is the four-footed-ness of the Mind-Brahman established, in reference to the Body.—Now as in reference to the Deities,—Agni, Vāyu, Āditya and the Quarters are the four feet of Ākāśa-Brahman; these are found to be attached to Ākāśa just as the four feet of the cow are attached to the belly; hence these Agni and the rest—are said to be the ‘feet of Ākāśa.—Thus both forms of ‘four-footed-ness’,—that relating to the Body, and that relating to the Deities—become taught.—

Now Speech, which is the fourth foot of Mind-Brahman shines and warms with the light of Agni as pertaining to Deities; that is, it generates light and warmth. Or it may mean that Speech becomes energised by the man feeding upon Oil, Butter and other such articles partaking of the nature of the Deity Agni, whereupon it becomes imbued with courage to speak—the reward accruing to one who knows this as above explained is that he shines and warms up with renown, fame and Brahmic glory.—(3)

Upaniṣad text:

Breath is the fourth foot of Brahman; it shines and warms with the light of Vāyu; one who knows this shines and warms with renown, fame and Brahmic glory.—(4)

The Eye is the fourth foot of Brahman : it shines and warms with the light of Āditya; one who knows this shines and warms with renown, fame and Brahmic glory.—(5)

The Ear is the fourth foot of Brahman : it shines and warms with the light of the Quarters. One who knows this shines and warms with renown, fame and Brahmic glory:—Yea, one who knows this.—(6)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

Similarly Breath is the fourth foot of Brahman; for the apprehension of odour, it shines and warms with the light of Vāyu;—similarly the Eye shines and warms with the light of Āditya, for the apprehension of colour;—the Ear shines and warms with the light of the Quarters for the apprehension of sounds—The reward of knowledge is the same in all cases; the imperceptible (spiritual) reward consists in Union with Brahman, for one who knows this.

The repetition is meant to indicate the end of the Exposition of the particular doctrines.—(4-6)

End of Section (18) of discourse III