MANDUKYA UPANISHAD : Chapter-1. "AGAMA PRAKARANA" ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Mantram-3, Discussion-3.

09/07/2017.

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD

Chapter-1.

"AGAMA PRAKARANA"

( The Scriptural Treatise )

Mantram-3

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Jagarita-sthano bahih prajnah saptanga

ekona-vimsati-mukhah sthula-bhuk

vaisvanarah prathamah padah.

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Jagarita-sthano : one whose field is waking state;

bahih prajnah : who is conscious of the external;

sapta angah : has seven limbs;

ekona vimsati mukhah : has nineteen mouths;

sthula-bhuk : experiencer of gross objects;

vaisvanarah : (is) vaisvanara;

prathamah : first;

padah ; quarter.

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The first quarter (pada) is Vaisvanara whose sphere of activity is the waking state, who is conscious of the external world of objects, who has seven limbs and ninteen mouths, and who enjoys the gross objects of the world.

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Discussion - 3.

1. The Upanishad is trying to give us an exact location, identity, field of activity and things enjoyed by the 'waker' in us.

2. This 'waker-ego' is called in samskritam the language of the rishi-s, as "Vaisvanara"; and this Vaisvanara (or visva) is the ego that enjoys the waking-state-consciouness and is aware of the world of sense objects.

3. He is not only conscious of the objects but the only enjoyment known to him is in the field of sense objects.

4. He enjoys forms, sounds, tastes, smells, and touches - and that is all.

5. The 'waker', while he is awake, cannot have any substantial enjoyments, other than these five tiny fields of the objects of the five senses!

To be continued ......