Section 7.12 (twelfth khaṇḍa) (two texts)

Upaniṣad text:

‘Ākāśa indeed is greater than Fire, in the Ākāśa subsist the sun and the moon, lightning, stars and fire. It is through Ākāśa that one calls; it is through Ākāśa that one hears; it is through Ākāśa that one hears back; it is in Ākāśa that one rejoices; it is in Ākāśa that one does not rejoice; in Ākāśa is everything born; and it is Ākāśa towards which every thing grows.—Meditate upon Ākāśa.—(1)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

Ākāśa indeed is greater than Fire; because Ākāśa is the cause (origin) of Fire along with Air. In the previous section, Air has been mentioned along with fire, in the phrase ‘having held the Air’; hence Air has been mentioned separately here; in the world, the cause has always been found to be larger than its effect; e. g. the clay is larger than the jar; similarly, Ākāśa is the cause of Fire along with Air; hence it is greater.—“How so?”—In Ākāśa subsist the sun and the moon, both, which are forms of Fire,—as also lightning, stars and fire, all in the form of fire, subsist in the Ākāśa;—and when one thing subsists in another, the former is smaller and the latter greater.—Further, it is through Ākāśa that one calls another person,—and when the person thus called hears, it is through Ākāśa that he hears—the words uttered by the other;—and one hears back another, he does so only through Ākāśa;—it is in Ākāśa that one rejoices,—all men speak among themselves; it is in Ākāśa that one does not rejoice,—one separates himself from his wife and others;—it is in Ākāśa that everything is born,-and not in anything already occupied by a solid form;—similarly, it is Ākāśa towards which everything grows;—upwards, not downwards.—For these reasons meditate upon Ākāśa.—(1)

Upaniṣad text:

‘One who meditates upon Ākāśa as Brahman attains extensive regions, full of light, free from pressure and spacious; and he is free to act as he wishes, in the sphere within reach of Ākāśa,—one who meditates upon Ākāśa as Brahman.’—‘Revered sir, is there anything greater than Ākāśa ?’—‘Certainly, there is something greater than Ākāśa.’—‘Please explain that to me, Revered sir.’—(2)

Commentary (Śaṅkara Bhāṣya):

Listen to the reward;—The wise men attain extensive—large—regions,—full of light,—on account of the permanent connection with Ākāśa and light,—free from pressure—‘Sambādha’ is over-crowding and consequent pressure upon one another, and spacious,—admitting of free movement.—In the sphere within reach of Ākāśa etc., etc.,—as explained already.—(2)

End of Section (12) of Discourse VII.