MANDUKYA UPANISHAD : Chapter-1. "AGAMA PRAKARANA" ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Mantram-1, Discussion- 5.

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD

Chapter-1.

"AGAMA PRAKARANA"
( The Scriptural Treatise )

Mantram-1

"Harih  Aum,  Aum,-ityetad-aksharam-idam  sarvam

tasyopa-vyakhyanam  bhutam  bhavad-bhavisyad  iti

sarvam-onkara  eva,  yac-canyat-trikalatitam

tad-apy-onkara  eva."


Harih  Aum  =  symbol  of  para Brahmam;

Aum  iti  =  Omkara  ( iti )  thus;

etat  aksharam  =  this  syllable;

idam  sarvam  =  ( is )  all  this;

tasya  =  of  that  ( Omkara );

upa-vyakhyanam  =  a  clear  exposition;

bhutam  =  the  past;

bhavat  =  the  present;

bhavishyat  =  ( and )  the  future;

iti  =  thus  ( belonging  to );

sarvam  =  all  this;

Omkara  eva  =  ( is )  Omkara  only;

yat  =  that  which  is;

ca  =  and;

anyat  =  anything  else;

trikala  atitam  =  beyond  ( the  three  periods  of )  time;

tat  =  that;

api  =  also;

Omkarah  =  ( is )  Omkara;

eva  =  only.


"Harih  Aum, Aum,  the  word,  is  all  this.  A  clear  explanation  of  it  is  ( the  following )" : -

"All  that  is  past,  present,  and  future,  verily  is  Aum.  That  which  is  beyond  the  three  periods  of  time  is  also,  indeed,  Aum."

Discussion- 5.

Thus, if we read the Upanishad with this understanding of the story before actual declaration, we shall easily see a  meaning and message in the very abruptness of its declarations.

Now looking at the first mantram : -
The first two words  in the mantram serve as a prayer on the part of Master.
Each day invoking the Lord's grace, the student also repeats the prayer that he may be blessed with the correct knowledge of the texts and that he may successfully complete a fruitful study of Vedam-s.

Acharya Swami Sri Adi Sankaracharya in his remarks says, "though the name ( Nami ) are one and the same," the explanation has been given here by giving prominence to the name ( Abhidhan or Nama )  AUM.

In this Upanishad, we have first of all a treatment  of the very syllables of the sound AUM and then the significance of the syllables.
The explanations of these parts will follow.

For the time being, the Master is trying to explain the entire problem of the student in one simple expression, direct and poignant as, "AUM, THE WORD, IS ALL THIS."
To be continued  .....