ISAVASYA UPANISHAD : - Mantram -3.

ISAVASYA UPANISHAD :

or     


VAJASANEYI    SAMHITA    UPANISHAD 


Mantram-3. 


Asurya   nama  te  lokah  andhena  tamasavrtah,


Tagmste  pretyabhi-gacchanti   ye  ke  catma-hano  janah.


asurya   ( asuryah )    =   demonic,  sunless;

nama   =   really;

te   =   those;

lokah   =   people,  worlds;

andhena  tamasa  =  by  blindening  darkness  ( gloom );

avrtah   =  covered;

tagm   =  to  those;

te  =  they;

pretya   =  after  death;

abhigacchanti  =  go  to;

ye  ka  ca  =  whosever;

atma   hanah  =  killers  of  the  Self;

janah  =  people. 



" Sunless  are  those  worlds,  and  enveloped  in  blindening  gloom  to  which  all  those  people,  who  are  slayers  of  their  own  Souls  go,  departing  from  here."


Discussion-1. The  destination  or  the  goal  reached  by  those  who  are  spiritual  suicides  is  mentioned  here.

In  the  scheme  of  the  'Upanishad '  the first  mantram  was  relegated  to  explain  the  goal,  the  process,  and  training  for  those  who  are  walking  the  'Path  of  Renunciation,'  while  the  second  mantram  was  employed  in  explaining  the  'Path  of  Action'  which  is  mainly  meant  for  those  who  have  not  got  the  qualifications  for  pursuing  the 'Path  of  Meditation.'  

The  great  Rishi-s  thus  divided  mankind  into  two  groups  ---  the  meditators  and  the  active  workers.


All  human  beings  born  should  toe  the  line,  either  of  the  meditators  or  the  great  men  of  action.

Activity,  when  pursued  properly,  can  raise  the  individual  to  the  upper  
strata  from  where  he  can  comfortably  start  the  process  of  meditation.

Next : Discussion-2. 'having  been  born  as  man.  an  individual  or  society  or  community  or  nation  who  refuses    to  live  either  way '.....

To be continued ....