Section 5.15 (fifteenth khaṇḍa) (two texts)

Upaniṣad text:

Then he said to Jana—O, Śārkarākṣya, what is that Self on which you meditate?’—‘The Ākāśa, O Revered Sir,’—he said.—‘This that you meditate upon as Self is that Vaiśvānara-Self which is ‘Extensive’. Hence, you are extensive in offspring and wealth’.—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

He said to Jana etc., etc.,—as before This Vaiśvānara-Self is extensive. The Ākāśa is ‘Extensive’, because it is all-pervading. And because you meditate upon it as endowed with the quality of ‘extensiveness’, therefore you are extensive in offspring—in the shape of sons, grandsons and the rest,—and wealth.—in the shape of gold and other things.—(1)

Upaniṣad text:

‘You eat food and see what is dear. One who thus meditates upon this Vaiśvānara-Self eats food and sees what is dear; and there is Brahmic glory in his family.—But this is only the trunk of the Vaiśvānara-Self; and your trunk would have been shattered if you had not come to me.’—(2)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

But this is only the Trunk,—i.e., the middle position of the body of Vaiśvānara;—the term ‘sandeha’ being derived from the root ‘dihi’ signifying conglomeration, and the body being a conglomeration of flesh, blood, bones etc.,—it is called ‘Sandeha’. Your trunk would have been shattered—torn asunder,- if you had not come to me.’—(2)

End of Section (15) of Discourse V