Section 4.5 (fifth khaṇḍa) (three texts)

Upaniṣad text:

Then the Bull said to him—‘Satyakāma’— He answered ‘Yes, sir’—‘My Boy, we have reached a thousand; carry us to the Teacher’s House.’—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

When the Boy had become duly accomplished with faith and austerity, the deity Vāyu connected with the quarters became satisfied with him, and entering into the body of the Bull,—i.e. having become a Bull for the purpose of helping the Boy.—addressed him by name.—To him Satyakāma replied—‘Yes, Sir’;.—this was the answer he gave.—My Boy, we have reached a thousand,—as you had promised.—now carry us to the teacher’s House’.—(1)

Upaniṣad text:

‘I would declare to thee the foot of Brahman’.—‘Do tell it to me, revered sir’.—‘The Eastern side is one factor, the Western side is one factor, the Southern side is one factor, the Northern side is one factor. This, My Boy, is Brahman’s four-factored food, named ‘The Luminous’.—(2)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

‘Further, I shall declare to thee—tell you—the foot of Brahman.—Being thus addressed, the Boy replied—‘Do tell it to me, revered Sir—Being thus requested, the Bull said to Satyakāma—‘The Eastern side is one factor—quarter, one-fourth part of Brahman’s foot; similarly, the western side is one factor, the Southern side is one factor and the Northern side is one factor. This, my boy, is the four-factored Brahman’s foot,—that which has four factors or quarters—by name the Luminous,—i.e. of which the name is ‘The Luminous:’—(2)

Upaniṣad text:

He who knowing this thus meditates upon this four-factored Foot of Brahman, as the Luminous, becomes luminous in this world; and he wins luminous regions, who, knowing this thus, meditates upon the four-factored foot of Brahman, as the Luminous.—(3)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

If any one knows the said four-factored foot of Brahman and meditates upon it as endowed with the quality of Luminosity,—to him accrues this reward—He becomes luminous in this world,—i.e. becomes well-known; and there accrues to him also the unseen reward that he wins after death,—luminous regions,—connected with Deities; He who knowing this meditates upon the four-factored foot of Brahman as ‘The Luminous’.—(3)

End of Section (5) of Discourse IV