MUNDAKOPANISHAD : CHAPTER-3. SECTION-1. MANTRAM-1. { Another method of pointing to 'Brahmam' ---- two birds staying on the same tree. }

MUNDAKA  UPANISHAD


 CHAPTER-3.


SECTION-1.


MANTRAM-1. { Another  method  of  pointing  to 'Brahmam'  ----   two  birds  staying  on  the  same  tree.  }


Dvau  suparna  sanuja  sakhaya

samanam  vrksham   parisasvajate,

tayor  anyah  pippalam  svadv-atty-

anasnan  anyo  abhicakasiti.


dvau  =  two;

suparna  =  birds;

sayuja  =  closely  united;

sakhaya  =  in  friendship;

samanam  =  the  self  -  same;

vrksham  =  tree;

parisasvajate  =  perch  on;

tayoh  =  among  the  two;

anyah  =  one;

pippalam  =  fruit;

svadu  =  with  relish;

atti  =  eats;

anasnan  =  without  eating;

anyah  =  the  other;

abhicakasiti  =  ( just )  looks  on.


"Two  birds  bound  to  each  other  in  close  friendship,  perch  on  the  self - same  tree.  One  of  them  eats  the  fruits  of  the  tree  with  relish,  while  the  other  ( just  )  looks  on,  without  eating."


Discussion-1.  Introduction.


This  is  one  of  the  famous  mantra-s  in  the  entire  Upanishad,  and  at  the  same  ime  it  is  most  controversial.

It  is  controversial,  because,  very  few  pandita-s  actually  understand  the  exact  significance  of  the  term  "Jivatma"  and  "Paramatma."

This  famous  metaphor  of  the  two  birds  sitting  upon  the  self-same  tree,  one  eating  and  the  other  only  witnessing,  is  one  of  the  beat  examples  where  philosophy  has  married  poetry  to  bring  out  a  child  of  perfection  in  this  Statement!!

Next : Discussion-2. "about  two  birds   ......."

To be continued  ....