PRASHNA UPANISHAD.13. - 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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Tuesday, November 01,  2022. 06:00. 

UPASANAS ON PRAJAPATI (TIME)

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Mantram- 1.13 : C. The Day as Time Cycle

1 Ahah-raatrah vai prajaapatih; tasya ahah eva praanah; raatrih eva rayih. 

2 Praanam vaa ete pra-skandanti ye diva ratyaa samyujyante; 

3 brahmacharyam eva tadyad  raatrau ratyaa samyujyante. 

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Translation :

1 Ahah-raatrah vai prajaapatih; tasya ahah eva praanah; raatrih eva rayih. = A full day-night cycle is Prajapati. Its day-time is the “Energy” aspect,  while its night-time is the “Matter” aspect.

2 Praanam vaa ete pra-skandanti ye diva ratyaa samyujyante; = They, indeed, waste their energy  who unite in love by day,

3 brahmacharyam eva tadyad  raatrau ratyaa samyujyante. = whilst considered as Brahmacharis are those  who unite in love by night.

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Commentary :

1 By now the reader, knowing the trend in the above two verses, may well guess 

which half of the 24-hour Day represents Prana (Energy) and which half Rayi (Matter).

2-3 Two symbols come to a confluence in these lines, which adds somewhat to their 

misinterpretation.

 

i) The first symbol is Day, representing the two Paths open to each individual.

ii) The second is Love (or Sex), representing Devotion for one’s chosen path.

If symbolic meanings are used, then there is no new thing being said in this verse. As 

per one’s choice of Path, so would be one’s devotion to it.

Brahmacharya for the Householder:

However, owing to the lower instincts in the majority of mankind, they have raised a 

controversy here about the definition of Brahmacharya. Many people misinterpret it to suit 

their own sensual inclinations. The sensual-minded take the meanings literally as approval 

of their sexual instincts at night, which is a good example of how “the Devil can also quote 

scriptures”. By doing so, they pervert both symbols and both rules at the same time:

i) The first rule applies to the one who is following the “Day” path. For him it would 

be a waste of energy to indulge in sensual enjoyments, at any time in life, day or night (using 

these words literally). 

ii) The second rule applies to the one who is following the “Night” path, the path of 

sense pleasures. For him, it is simply stated here as a fact that by his very nature, he is given 

to indulgence at any time in life, be it day or night (again taken literally). It is already always 

“Night” for him (symbolically), so there is no question of the verse giving consent or 

withholding consent to his indulgence. He gives consent to it himself!

The point that a student should always remember is that Hindu scriptures never 

advocate uncontrolled indulgence in sex for the householder; and for the other three stages 

complete abstinence is advocated. It has a purpose in the maintenance of the life-cycle, and 

applies only to the Grihastha Ashrama or the householder stage of life. Sex outside the 

householder’s life is simply not permitted by the scriptures.

Swami Chinmayanandaji expresses this fact in the words: “The Rishi talks over the 

shoulders of his (celibate) disciples to the world of the householders…

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Next- Mantram - 1.14 D. Food as the Symbol of the Lord.

To be continued 

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