MUNDAKA UPANISHAD - 16. Swami Advayananda.
========================================================================
=======================================================================
6 Chapters (64 Mantras)
Chapter-1.
Section-2.
2. A CLOSE LOOK AT RITUALS : (Mantras 10-22, 13 no.)
=========================================================================
Sunday, December 04, 2022. 08:00.
Post - 16.
=========================================================================
16 Mantram - 2.7: A. Rituals – Their Inherent Undependability
Criticism of rituals-devoid of knowledge (Upasana ) :
With Translation :
1plavaa hi ete adridhaa = Verily, undependable is this boat
yajna-roopaa, = in the form of the Yajna,
2 ashtaadasha uktam = said to be manned by eighteen ‘oars-men’.
avaram yah eshu karma; = This form of sacrifice leads to the Lower region.
3 etat shreyah ye abhinandanti = Those who acclaim it as desirable
moodhaah, = are indeed ignorant;
4 jaraa mrityum = for, to a life of old age and death,
te punah eva api yanti. = they are subject again and again.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bhashyam ( Vyakyanam ) :
1 The plain truth is being said here. Owing to the large number of “terms and
conditions”, for the ordinary individual it is difficult to do these rituals to perfection. Either
he will not be able to afford it, or he will not have the mental capacity to observe every
detail with thoroughness. Hence, this “boat” is not to be depended on.
The 18 Constituents or Supporters:
2 There are 18 people upon whose performance the Yajna has to depend. If any
single one of them shirks his duty and does not come up to the mark in his function, the
Yajna does not bear its fruit. This is the main reason that renders the Yajna for selfish desire
undependable (Addridha).
The “boat of Yajna” is being drawn by 18 tough oarsmen, but
towards an uncertain, unpredictable destination – a beautiful imagery in its own right.
a. 16 Priests:
These are 4 priests from each of the 3 Vedas; and 4 Brahma
Gana priests who manage or co-ordinate the whole Yajna. Their names are:
Rig Veda:
Hota, Maitravarunah, Achchavakah, and Gravastup;
Yajur Veda:
Adhvaryu, Prati Prasthta, Neshtha, and Unneta;
Sama Veda:
Udgata, Prastotha, Pratiharta, and Subramanya;
Brahma Ganas:
Brahma, Brahmana Shamsee, Agneedrah, and Pota.
b. Patni: one’s wife;
c. Yajmaan: oneself.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-4 What begins here and continues in the next 4 mantras should not be seen as
criticism of the Karma Kanda. It is a part of the Vedas, the body of knowledge of which the
Upanishads form the Jnana Kanda. The Rishi will not criticize another part of the same text.
Through these verses the seeker is actually guided to the “path of desirelessness”.
Due to the numerous defects listed under the path of Karma Kanda or desire-prompted
activities, the seeker develops disgust for this path and considers the Jnana Path..
The main defect in Karma Kanda is that the fruit attained is so limited and paltry that
it is just not worth all the trouble; the limited fruit means that the actions have to be
repeated again and again to get more pleasures; addiction sets in; and at the end it brings
one back to ‘square one’. It does not take one an inch further in his evolution.
As a mother guides her children, the Upanishads guide the seeker who comes to her
shores to quench his thirst. The mother has many kinds of drinks, but always wants her
children to drink the most health-giving one.
.jpg)
Comments
Post a Comment