PRASHNA UPANISHAD.10 - Rishi Pippalada.

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#6 Questions, 67 Mantras : “Questions from Disciples Answered”

##KABANDHI’S QUESTION : 

Query No 1: “Matter & Energy”

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Thursday, September 15,  2022. 06:00. 
UPASANAS ON PRAJAPATI (TIME)

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Mantram - 1.10 The Northern Path of “No Return”

"Atha uttarena tapasaa, 

brahmacharyena, shraddhayaa, vidyayaa

aatmaanam anvishyaa aadityam abhijayante.

etat vai praanaanaam aayatanam etat amritam-abhayam

etat paraayanam, etasmaan na punah aavartanta;

iti esha nirodhah, tad eshah shlokah:"

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Translation :

1 Atha uttarena However,                                                = by the northern route,

2 tapasaa, brahmacharyena, shraddhayaa, vidyayaa   =  go those who practise austerity, celibacy, who have faith and pursue knowledge;

3 aatmaanam anvishyaa  aadityam abhijayante.           = for they seek the Atman (Self), and obtain the world of the Sun.

4 etat vai praanaanaam aayatanam etat amritam-abhayam  = This is the “Home” of all living creatures, It is Immortal, a place without Fear;

5 etat paraayanam, etasmaan na punah aavartanta;              = It is the highest goal; from there they do not “Return” again.

6 iti esha nirodhah, tad eshah shlokah:                 = For this is the END!

-On this, there is the following Mantram. 

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Commantery :

1-3 The Solar Path (northern path) is for those who have recognized the illusory 

nature of the world and are therefore already practicing penance, celibacy, faith and 

knowledge to get liberated from it. Remaining steadfast to one’s duty is Tapas. Just through 

that the mind becomes one-pointed.

Just as the southern or Lunar path applied to the Grihasthashram (householders), so 

also the northern or Solar path applies to the Sannyasin or the one who is willing to 

renounce all desire for progeny and practise Tapas and Brahmacharya. Through the 

householder’s life one attains the highest fulfillment of all his desires; through Sannyasa, 

one attains the highest realm beyond all worldly entanglements. Which world is that?

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4-5 Paraayanam: this is the highest goal, namely Brahman, the Immortal (Amritam) 

and the Fearless (Abhayam). The “Home” (Aayatanam) of all beings is the Source from 

which we all arise. In this northern path, one goes to this very Source, by which total 

liberation from worldly life is obtained.

Those (Sannyasins) striving towards such a goal but not able to attain it in this birth, 

are said to go to Brahmaloka, which is called here as the world of the Sun. Although this is 

not the final goal, it is an interim stage to it. Hence, in this verse, even going to Brahmaloka 

is said to be realm of “No Return”. It is better than the southern path which takes one to 

more and more entanglement with the world, the realm of “Endless Return”. 

From Brahmaloka, these souls go further to the final realisation of Brahman by being 

instructed along that path directly by Brahmaji Himself. 

This is technically called Krama Mukti, or gradual or progressive liberation, or liberation in stages. There is no return to the Earth-plane for these souls. 

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6 They are on the path which takes them to ultimate liberation. The cycle of births 

and deaths ends once and for all for these striving souls.

Important Note: An important point of difference exists between the two paths

described here and the third path of Jnana Yoga which leads one to Jivanmukti, or liberation 

while one is still living. The former paths deal with the route taken after death. The latter 

deal with the path that takes one to freedom while one is still alive. The latter is the path 

the Upanishad is hoping we would follow. But the Upanishadic sage is well aware that it is 

not possible for all to pursue this path and succeed. 

Thus at this point it sticks to the two paths mentioned above, which are easier to follow -

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Next - Mantram 1.11 Sruti Quotation: A. The Year as Time Cycle
To be continued ...

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