ISAVASYA UPANISHAD : - Mantram - 4.

ISAVASYA UPANISHAD :

or


VAJASANEYI    SAMHITA    UPANISHAD


Mantram-4.



Aneja-dekam   manaso  javiyo  nainad-deva   apnuvan-purva-marsat,


tad-dhavato-nyana-tyeti   tisthat  tasmin-napo   matarisva   dadhati.





anejat  =  unmoving;

ekam  =  one;

manasah  =  than  the  mind;

javiyah  =  swifter;

na  =  not;

enat  =  this;

devah  =  gods ( here meaning senses );

apnuvan  =  reached,  overtake;

purvam  =  before;

atsat  =  ran;

tat  =  it;

dhavatah  =  running;

anyan  =  others;

atyeti  =  overtakes;

tisthat  =  staying;

tasmin  =  in  it;

apah  =  activities  (  literally  meaning  water, -- here  figuratively  used  for  action );

matarisva  =  wind;

dadhati  =  supports  or  allots.






(4) "The  Self ( Atma ) is  the  motionless  one,  swifter  than  the  mind.  The  devas  ( senses )  could  not  overtake;  it  ( Self )  ran  before  them ( senses ).  Sitting,  ( staying  motionless ) It goes  faster  than  those  who  run  after  it.  By  It,  'Matarisva'   ( the  element  Air ) supports  the  activity  of  all  living  beings ( providing  'Oxygen'  for  respiration, ie life )."





Discussion-1. From  this  mantram  onwards  we  have,  in  four  continuous  mantra-s,  the  description  of  the  Supreme  indicated  in  terms  of  Its  qualities  ---  and  these  mantra-s  together  is  one  vakya,  representing  the  fourth  wave-of-thought.

Though  the  Eternal  has  no  quality  of  Its  own,  since  the  language  can  explain  only  in  terms  of  gunas  or  experiences,  the  qualities  of  the  Self  are  indicated  here,  which  are  not  to  be  taken  literally.

Certainly,  it  is  a  futile  attempt  to  try  to  explain  the   "Infinite" in  terms  of  a  finite  language.

The  inability  of  the  language  to  express  the  "Inexpressible"  is  found  enlarged  and  clearly  expressed  in  the  very  language  in  which  the  'Upanishad'  is  trying  to  explain  the  "Self ( Atma )" in  these  four  mantra-s ( 4,5,6,7. )

Next : Discussion-2. "The Atma  or  the  Self  is  motionless " .....

To be continued  ....