Mundaka Upanishad with Shankara’s Commentary
by S. Sitarama Sastri | 1905 | 19,662 words
The Mundaka Upanishad is a collection of philosophical poems used to teach meditation and spiritual knowledge regarding the true nature of Brahma and the Self (Atman). It is composed of the three main parts (mundakas): 1) The first of three parts expounds the science of higher and lower knowledge. 2) The second part describes the true nature of t...
Verse 3.2.10
तदेतदृचाऽभ्युक्तं क्रियावन्तः श्रोत्रिया ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः स्वयं जुह्वत एकर्षिं श्रद्धयन्तः ।
तेषामेवैतां ब्रह्मविद्यां वदेत शिरोव्रतं विधिवद्यैस्तु चीर्णम् ॥ १० ॥tadetadṛcā'bhyuktaṃ kriyāvantaḥ śrotriyā brahmaniṣṭhāḥ svayaṃ juhvata ekarṣiṃ śraddhayantaḥ |
teṣāmevaitāṃ brahmavidyāṃ vadeta śirovrataṃ vidhivadyaistu cīrṇam || 10 ||10. This is explained by the mantra “who perform the karma enjoined, who are srotriyas, who are centred in the Brahman (lower) and who with faith, offer oblations themselves to the fire named Ekarshi, perform the vow named Sirovrata (who duly carry a fire on the head); to those alone, let one teach this knowledge of the Brahman.” (20)
Shankara’s Commentary:
Com.—Now, the Upanishad concludes by indicating the rule regarding the teaching of the knowledge of Brahman. This, the rule about the teaching of the knowledge of Brahman is expounded by this text. Who perform the karma enjoined, who are Srotriyas, who being engaged in the worship of the manifested Brahman seek to know the unmanifested Brahman. Who with faith, themselves offer the oblations to the fire known as Ekarshi; to them alone whose mind is thus purified and who are, therefore, fit (to receive instruction) should one teach the knowledge of Brahman as also to those by whom is duly practised the vow of Sirovratam such being the well known Vedic vow among those who are of the Atharvana Veda.