Section 5.5 (fifth khaṇḍa) (two texts)

Upaniṣad text:

The Deity Parjanya, O Gautama, is the Fire; of that Air is the ‘Fuel’, the Cloud is the ‘Soma the Lightning is the ‘Flame’, the Thunder-bolt is the ‘Embers’, and the Thunderings are the ‘Sparks—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

The Text now states the signification of the second state of the Libation?—The Deity Parjanya, O Gautama, is Fire:—Parjanya is the Deity presiding over the accessories of rainfall.—Of that Fire, the Air is the fuel; as it is by Air that the Fire of Parjanya is enflamed; this is clear from the fact that Rain is found to follow upon a preceding wind.—7 he Cloud is the smoke,—because it is a product of smoke and also because it appears like smoke.—Lightning is the Flame,—because both have the common properly of brightness.—The Thunder-bolt is the Embers,—because both are hard or because both are connected with lightning.—The Thunderings are the Sparks, the term ‘thunderings’ stands for the rumblings of thunder.—the thunderings are sparks because both equally are spread over the clouds.—(I)

Upaniṣad text:

Into this fire the Deities offer king Soma; and from this libation comes Rain.—(2).

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

As before,—into this fire the deities offer king Soma; and from this libation comes rain.—Thus the water named ‘faith’ having (as the result of the first libation) developed into the form of Soma, reaches the second stage, the Parjanya-Fire, and develops into Rain.—(2)

End of Section (5) of Discourse V.