KAIVALYA UPANISHAD : 5. Swami Advaitanand Ji.

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Friday, April 29, 2022. 19:45.

From the Atharva Veda (26 Mantras) : “The HOMOGENEITY of Brahman”

1. THE PRELIMINARIES : (Mantras  1-3a, 3 no.)

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Mantram 3a: The Importance of Renunciation

"na karmana na prajaya dhanena, tyagena eke amritatwam anashuh."

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Translation :

9 na karmana na prajaya dhanena,    = Not by work, nor by progeny, nor by wealth, but

10 tyagena eke amritatwam anashuh. = by renunciation alone, Immortality is attained.

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Commentary :

9-10 The usual means by which we get things done in the world – namely, through

work, through family members and through wealth – are eliminated here for the attainment

spiritual goals. For both the paths that are listed in the next section, the common accepted

means is RENUNCIATION. Only the degree of renunciation varies in the two paths.

The practice of renunciation for each goal is different. This is explained clearly in the

next section. The two pathways to make the spiritual journey to the Ultimate are now given.

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2. ATTAINMENT OF GOALS - (Mantras 3b-7, 4 no.)

SADHANA FORMS THE means by which the Goal is attained. It is the heart of

spiritual life. Meditational practice is the means to make rapid spiritual progress.

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Mantram - 3b/4a: Goal 1: The Road to Jivanmukti (Liberation )

"parena nakam  nihitam guhayaam  vibhrajate yad  yatayah vishanti

 vedanta-vijnana  sunishchitarthah  sannyasa yogad."

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Translation :

Goal 1: Higher than heaven,

1 parena nakam  nihitam guhayaam =  seated in the ‘cave of the intellect’,

2 vibhrajate yad  yatayah vishanti.    =   shines That which  the self-controlled sages enter into (attain).

3 vedanta-vijnana sunishchitarthah  sannyasa yogad. = The deeper imports of the knowledge of Vedanta – they come to ascertain clearly, and they strive on the path of the Yoga of Renunciation.

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Commentary :

1-3 GOAL 1: 

This is the path to Jivanmukti, outlined earlier. It is the direct means

through Self-knowledge. This path is called Jnana Yoga. As ignorance is at the root of all

delusion, knowledge is the only means to overcome it. This is the path prescribed in the

Upanishad portion of the Vedas, also called Vedanta. For this the seeker needs to have

already purified his mind through Sadhana Chatushtaya, and is ready with a receptive mind

for knowledge, as already described.

Renunciation in the case of such a ripe aspirant means giving up all Karmas that have

an ego-prompted desire at its root, as well as all actions considered to be one’s duties in life.

This leaves the aspirant totally free to practice intense meditation. Such renunciation is

termed Sannyasa, and involves giving up of all things that hold our mind to this world. In the

case of Goal 1, “Na Karmana, Na Prajana and Dhanena Tyagena” – means the giving up of

all restless activities, desire for sexual pleasure and desire for wealth. This is a greater

renunciation than that required to be made for Goal 2.

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Next : Mantras 4b: Goal 2: The Road to Brahmaloka.

To be continued ....

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