MANDUKYA UPANISHAD : Chapter-1. "AGAMA PRAKARANA" ( The Scriptural Treatise ) Mantram-3, Discussion-4.

12/07/2017.

MANDUKYA UPANISHAD

Chapter-1.

"AGAMA PRAKARANA"

( The Scriptural Treatise )

Mantram-3

*****************************

Jagarita-sthano bahih prajnah saptanga

ekona-vimsati-mukhah sthula-bhuk

vaisvanarah prathamah padah.

*****************************

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.

********************************************

*

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.

* .

Discussion - 4.

1.

The Visva is described here by the Upanishadik Seers as having " seven limbs and nineteen mouths"

2.

The matter - of - fact - intellects reading such expressions in the Upanishad naturally go mad  and miss the beauty, the wealth of significance and the essential knowledge that is lying concealed in them.

3. 

 They read into these words a literal meaning, and naturally come to feel it as obnoxious.

4.

For , indeed, it is positively insulting to say that they in their waking - state are a hydra-headed, many- footed, dragons!

5,

Certainly, our sympathies must go to these modern scientists and to these modern educated men who have ample reasons, to be sure, to protest against a literature, that dares call them as monstrous dragons!

6.

But in fact, no such insults are meant.

7.

We shall go into this in minute detail.

To be continued ....