PRASHNA UPANISHAD - 51: Rishi Pippala.

 

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

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SATYAKAMA’S QUESTION 

Query No 5: “The Development of Power” 

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Sunday 07, Apr 2024. 06:50.

Mantram - 5.1:The Fifth Question: by Satyakama 

Post-51.

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SATYAKAMA’S QUESTION 

Query No 5: “The Development of Power” 

RISHI PIPPALADA answered in the last chapter in the shortest possible manner the 

nature of the Reality towards which every being is merging – the Supreme Self. Only the 

most prepared student will find that sufficient to reach there himself. For the majority of 

students, it would be necessary for some Upasana or contemplative practice to be practised 

before he is able to even grasp the significance of what has been said so far about the Self. 

With that practical difficulty facing the Rishi, we arrive at the fifth chapter – greatly 

motivated to pursue the spiritual journey, but having little experience of having the 

development of mind needed to achieve success in it. 

The student comes to know of a practice called the “Om-Upasana”, prescribed by 

the Vedas. Naturally he would like to know how it is going to help him reach That 

attributeless Brahman which has just been spoken of. What is the necessity of this Upasana? 

Where does it lead us to?

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Mantram - 5.1:The Fifth Question: by Satyakama 

1

Atha hi enam Shaibyah Satya = Then Satyakama, the son of Shibi, asked the 

kamah papracchha; =   following question: 

2 

sah yah ha vai tad = That rare one (having the above as his goal,)   

bhagavan, manushyeshu =  among men, O Bhagavan,  

3 

praayanaatam omkaaram =  who until death, on Omkara,  

abhidhyaayeeta; =  intently meditates; 

4 

katamam vaava = To which particular   

sah tena lokam jayati? iti. =  world does he thereby go to? 

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The Purpose of Meditational Upasanas:

 1

 In this chapter, through the student’s question on Om meditation, the Rishi 

introduces the student to the techniques that would bring about a practical change in his 

mental make-up. These techniques are called Upasanas in the Vedas. The Upanishads are 

full of such helpful exercises by which the student is able to elevate himself to the level the 

teacher has theoretically inspired him to reach. 

Pujya Gurudev gives us a general introduction to the Upanishadic techniques: “We 

find that the Rishi would always insist on the practice of one method alone. This is to steady 

the mind of the aspirant, integrate his personality and make it single-pointed. Without this 

preparation of the mind and intellect, an average man’s comprehension cannot appreciate 

the unity that is underlying the diversity.”

The Fitness & Goal of the Seeker:

 2-3

 The aspirant spoken about in the verse is not an ordinary person who may take 

up the practice by fits and starts, or abandon it midway. He is a “rare” individual, a cut 

above the rest. He is determined to perform this exercise for life, i.e. till death, even if he 

does not succeed in it. He is also rare because his goal is very rarely chosen by people. 

It has to be said that this Upasana is not for the person who desires personal 

pleasures, whether in this world or in heavenly worlds. Such a person has to be directed to 

the Karma Kanda of the Vedas which show him ways of fulfilling these personal desires. 

 

The seeker we are concerned with may be of the following two types: 

i) Hiranyagarbha or Saguna Brahman: he seeks the source from which all creation 

arises. The Upasana Kanda applies to such a person. 

This may not be the highest spiritual goal, but it is higher than what most people 

strive for. It requires breaking away from one’s narrow egocentric vision of life, and 

encompassing the entirety of creation. To do this one reaches out or worships the very 

source from which all beings are born, namely, Hiranyagarbha. This is the conditioned or 

Saguna Brahman. 

ii) Supreme Brahman or Nirguna Brahman: this goal is sought by the one who wants 

to free himself altogether from the stranglehold on his life by the forces of Samsara. The 

Jnana Kanda applies to such a person. 

He wishes to escape from the clutches of Maya once and for all, i.e. he wants to be 

liberated. He knows that even if he attains the status of Hiranyagarbha, the King of the 

Universe, he is still tied to the realm of birth and death. Therefore, he goes a step above 

Hiranyagarbha and worships the Nirguna Brahman without any conditioning. Naturally, such 

a high goal requires a commensurate increase in sacrifice and development. Such a person is 

even rarer than the above seeker of Saguna Brahman. 

4

 It is of a person who falls in one of these two categories that Satyakama asks, 

“Where does he go to, practicing Om Upasana?”  

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Next

Mantram - 5.2:  Omkar – Both Higher & Lower Brahman

Continued

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