MANDUKYA UPANISHAD : Chapter-1. "AGAMA PRAKARANA" ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Mantram-3, Discussion-9.

20/11/2017

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD

Chapter-1.

"AGAMA PRAKARANA"
( The Scriptural Treatise )

Mantram-3

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Jagarita-sthano bahih prajnah saptanga

ekona-vimsati-mukhah sthula-bhuk

vaisvanarah prathamah padah.

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word by meaning :

Jagarita-sthano : one whose field is waking state;

bahih prajnah : who is conscious of the external;

sapta angah : has seven limbs;

ekona vimsati mukhah : has nineteen mouths;

sthula-bhuk : experiencer of gross objects;

vaisvanarah : (is) vaisvanara;

prathamah : first;

padah : quarter.

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The sum of Mantram :

The first quarter (pada) is Vaisvanara whose sphere of activity is the waking state, who is conscious of the external world of objects, who has seven limbs and ninteen mouths, and who enjoys the gross objects of the world.

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Discussion :- 9.

1.
The Bharathiya is essintially a poet in his temperament and this trait is developed in him to a large extent probably because of the luxurious beauty of his country, the Gangetic plains.

Eventhough he may have detached himself everything, including even his very body, mind and intellect, when he is trying to express his transcendental experiences, he cannot keep away from this poetictrait in him.

Thus, we find that in the scriptures also the expressions are poetical and very metaphorical.

2.
The very language Samskritam easily lends to such a style and Rishi-s of ancient Bharatham made the best use of it; and the sishya-s who were reaching their feet, themselves the product of that period, could perhaps appriciate it more, only when the Absolute is discussed in the language of poetry!

In the passage under discussion also, apart from its philosophic expressiveness, there is a lot of poetry though it is all summarised into almost a mere "the seven limbs" in Mandukya Upanishad.

To be continued ...