MUNDAKA UPANISHAD - 46. Swami Advayananda.

Chinmaya International Foundation (CIF) :

A two-day National Seminar at CIF Shodha Sansthan under the Central Sanskrit University concluded on 30th March 2023. The seminar had an extensive discussion on the much-awaited National Education Policy.

Sanskrit is the bridge connecting all generations to ancient Bhartiya knowledge and original Indian wisdom. Leveraging the language instils a sense of pride in the youth and connects us to our roots.  

The seminar was inaugurated by the noted agriculture scientist Prof Abdul Salam and was attended by several luminaries in academia.

Swami Sharadananda Sarasvati delivered the valedictory address and the Seminar was concluded by a vote of thanks by Dr. Rajasekhar Reddy, Director, CIFSS.

============================================================================

Saturday  24,  Feb  2024. 06:45.

6 Chapters (64 Mantras)

4. PENETRATING BRAHMAN

(Mantras - 33-43, 11 no.)

triteeya mundake, prathamah khandah – 

Here begins the first Section of the Third Canto.

5. THE “TWO BIRDS” METAPHOR 

(Mantras - 44-53,  10 no.) 

Post - 46.

==============================================================================

46 - Mantram - 5.3: The Benefits of Holy Company (Satsangam) : 

1.

 yadaa pashyah  =  When the seeking bird (the one that is troubled) 

 pashyate rukmavarnam,  =  beholds the “golden-hued” Bird (the enlightened one), 

2. 

kartaaram eesham puru  =  as the doer, the ruler and the Supreme  

sham brahma-yonim;   =  Being, the very Source of the birth of the universe,  

3. 

tadaa vidvaan,   =  then, becoming wise,  

punya-paape vidhooya,   =  it shakes off all deeds of merit and demerit, 

4. 

niranjanah   =  becomes stainless (pure),  

paramam saamyam upaiti.  =  and attains the supreme state of Equanimity! 

===========================================================================

The metaphor is now seen through the eyes of a soul thirsting for spiritual direction. 

It illustrates the benefits of having good company in life, the value of Satsang. We become 

the kind of person that we move around with. With worldly persons we imbibe their 

worldliness; with spiritual company, we imbibe their virtues. 

1.

 In this instance, the ego-bird is very fortunate that it has the divine-Bird as its 

companion constantly. The first two lines refer to the Sadhana stage of the seeker. The ego- 

bird without its ego is no different from the divine-Bird. To become that, it needs to go 

through the transformation process, called Sadhana. 

The transformation is a painful process. The “golden-hued” Bird is an indirect simile 

referring us to the smelting of gold ore in a furnace. After going through such a process the 

seeker comes out pure as molten gold, free of all impurities. The gold colour that symbolizes 

Indestructibility, equally symbolises the austerity that one needs to undergo to attain it. 

2.

 Effacement of the Ego is like smelting of ore because the Ego will hang on to its 

supports tenaciously. It always thinks it is the doer, the ruler and that everything is centred 

around it. This notion is very hard to relinquish. When it is transformed to the conviction 

that everything is done by the Lord, then ego simply melts away out of existence. 

Brahma Yonim stands here in contrast to Hiranyagarbha, which is the “Womb of 

Creation” through which the material world comes forth. Brahma Yonim represents the 

Womb (Yonim) which is the origin of even Hiranyagarbha. Brahman is the very Source of all 

creation. It is every seeker’s goal to attain the state of Brahman-hood. 

3.

 Punya and Paapa are the seeds of future actions. They spring forth into action at 

the ripe moment and under the right conditions like a seed. They are stored as Karma, 

which is effectively what binds man to this world. The sage (Vidvaan) shakes off or burns 

away his connection with these bonds of Karma. The means by which he does so is shown in 

the previous Pada. He learns from the senior bird to feel that the Supreme Being is the Doer, 

the Ruler, and the Enjoyer. In this way he loosens the hold that his Ego has over his actions. 

4.

 Realization comes only with purity (Niranjana) of the soul. Only a taintless, pure 

soul can achieve union with the Supreme. When all taints are removed, the merging of the 

individual soul and the Supreme Soul is only a matter of course. Because this equality is at 

the highest level and is actually equivalent to the term Non-Duality used for this union, it is 

described as Paramam or the Highest. 

The Vedantic student is greatly indebted to Sri Shankaracharyaji for the clarity of 

explanation he has given to these verses. He has not twisted any facts, but simply presented 

them for the Truth they represent. 

*****

Next

THE SPIRITUAL ACCESSORIES

47 -Mantram - 5.4 : Accessories on the Path – 1 to 2 

Continued

==============================================================================