PRASHNA UPANISHAD -60 : Rishi Pippala.

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#6 Questions, 67 Mantras: “Questions from Disciples Answered.”

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SUKESHAA’S QUESTION: 
Query No 6: The Source of Power
Tuesday 13, Aug  2024, 06:40.
Post-60

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Mantram - 6.1: The Sixth Question: by Sukesha 

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6.1.1 i) Sukesha Gift-Wraps his Question: 

1 

atha hi enam sukeshaa = Then Sukesha, the son of Bharadvaja, asked 

bhaaradvaajah papracchha: = the following question: 

2 

bhagavan, hiranyanaabhah = O Venerable Sir, Hiranyanabha, a prince of 

kausalyah raajaputrah = Kosala, 

3 

maam upeti etam prashnam = once approached me and put forward this 

apricchhata; = question:

4 

shodasha kalam, bhaaradvaaja, = “Bharadvaja, do you know the man who 

purusham vettha. = possessed of sixteen Kalas (or limbs)?” 

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6.1.2 ii) Sukesha Removes the Wrapping :

5 

tam aham kumaaram abruvam: To that Prince I said: 

na aham imam veda. = “No, I do not know it. 

6 

Yadi aham imam vedisham, = If I did know the answer, 

katham te na aavakshyam, iti? = why would I not have told it to you?” 

7 

samoolah vaa esha parishushyati, = Indeed, he dries up root and all  

yah anritam abhivadati; = who utters a falsehood; 

8 

tasmaat naarhaami  = Therefore, I could not afford  

anritam vaktum. = to utter to him a falsehood. 

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6.1.3 iii) Sukesha Presents his Gift Question! 

9 

sah tooshneem ratham aaruhya = Silently, riding in his chariot, he (the Prince) 

pravavraaja. = went away back (to where he had come from).  

10 

tam tvaa pricchhaami = I am now asking you, (O Venerable Sir): 

kva asau purushah, iti. = “Where does that Purusha exist?” 

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1

The sixth disciple, Sukesha, now steps forward to ask his question. 

His introduction to his question itself teaches us something interesting, 

as an aside to the question: 

i) 2 The fact that a Prince is interested in this matter shows that it is of concern not 

only to spiritual aspirants but also to leaders of society. And the Prince was very 

disappointed not to be enlightened on this point.

ii) 3-4

 The incident brings to light that we as students are duty-bound to society to 

learn such matters thoroughly so that we can pass it on to those in the community who 

need to know them, too, for their own further understanding of the Truth. 

iii) 5-8

 Yet, if we do not know, there is no harm at all in saying so rather than 

pretending to know. Worse still would be to lie and give a false answer. Intellectual honesty 

is upheld as a value among those who teach the Shastras. 

iv) 9 The Prince goes away in deep disappointment, without saying a word. This 

shows how much people look up to the teachers in society for proper guidance. The status 

in which an Acharya (teacher) of the Vedic period is held is seen in the Prince’s reaction. 

v) 10

 It is the duty of a good Acharya to get to know what he does not know.

Guruji read parts of the Shankara Bhashya (Shankaracharyaji’s Samskrit commen

tary) on this Upanishad. From that we gather that knowledge comes only with great 

difficulty. We need to persevere and overcome all obstacles to get to it. And for knowledge 

of the most important thing in life, how much greater would be the impediments!  

Knowing Brahman is a very serious matter. As Guruji said, “It is not trivial like the 

passing of a truck’s shadow trampling over a man’s shadow and causing him to weep!” 

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Next

Mantram - 6.2: The Kalas Are Inside the Body Itself! 

Continued

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