PRASHNA UPANISHAD - 53: 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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Monday 06, Apr 2024. 07:10.
Mantram  5.3 - One Letter – Gift of Human Birth on Earth 
Post-53.

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Mantram  5.3 - One Letter – Gift of Human Birth on Earth: 

5.3.1 i) The Upasana on Letter “A” 

1 

Sah yadi ekamaatram = If on just the first letter (A) of “Om”,  

abhidhyaayeeta = he devoutly meditates,  

sah tena eva samveditah. = by that alone, he becomes enlightened. (How?) 

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5.3.2 ii) The Phala – The Rare Human Birth 

2 

toornam eva = (Here is how:) For very quickly,   

jagatyaam abhi-sampadyate. =  he attains this Earth-plane. (which is rare) 

3 

Tam rik-cha =Him do the Rig Mantras,     

manushyalokam upanayante. = lead to a HUMAN

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5.3.3 iii) Benefit of a Human Birth 

4 

Sah tatra = Having obtained such a rare human birth,   

tapasaa brahmacharyena = by the practice of self-control, sexual abstinence 

shraddhayaa sampannah= and faith – saturated with these three –  birth! (very rare, indeed) 

5 

mahimaanam anubhavati. = he comes to experience true greatness. (i.e. the Self)  

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Now comes an interesting differentiation in the Upasana. Not every student’s 

understanding is of the same grasping power. Many may follow the Upasana, but each one 

will practice it from his own level of understanding. For convenience the sage has broken up 

this understanding into 3 stages. This verse contains the first level of understanding. 

Worship of Virat – Consciousness Associated With the Gross World:

1

 The pronunciation of ‘Om’ can be split into three syllables – ‘A’, ‘U’ and ‘M’. One 

Matra means the first level of understanding. If the worshipper uses only the first letter, his 

consciousness settles on the gross creation, represented by the waking state

 Consciousness associated with this is called Virat . Hence, this type of Upasana is termed Virat worship. 

2-3

 The fruits of any Sadhana are always commensurate with the feeling or Bhava 

with which it is done and the goal or intention set in our mind. In the first stage of 

development, the mind is still very much in touch with the gross body and the gross world. 

Strong links exist with them which determine the destiny of the soul. Such a soul, engaged 

in Virat worship, attains the Earth-plane. 

At this point we see that out of sheer optimism the Rishi sees the good side of a bad 

situation – he views the whole attainment in a positive light. At least, such a worshipper, by 

doing the Om worship partially, is guaranteed the precious and rare human birth! That will 

hold him in good stead. It will ensure that he can make further progress if he does the right 

Sadhana. Only in the human birth can one earn merit or demerit and progress or regress.

Such an Upasaka, when he dies, returns back to earth to continue the spiritual 

journey. It is also said this happens ‘quickly’, which shows how valuable Sadhana can be to 

get a good human birth. 

A Simile: “Knowing India”

 Guruji gave another of his personal examples to explain how we have different levels 

of understanding. A person wants to go to India. He studies a map of India, and says, “I 

know India”. Then he reads a book on the history of India and says, “Yes, I know India.” Then 

he travels to India. He reads more of the religion and philosophy and says, “I know the real 

India.” Seeing a few big cities, he says, “I know India.” Then he gets a chance to go to the 

villages and gets a completely different picture of India. He now says, “So this is real India.” 

He meets the Mahatmas and saints of India and experiences something of what they teach 

and says, “I know the true India.” 

There is not much difference in his statements each time, but what a vast difference 

in his understanding of the country at each stage. It is the same with the different stages of 

Upasana. At each stage the person feels “Now I have got the real thing!” 

To some it is just a sound; to others it is a greeting; to others it can be a beautiful 

chant; and so it goes on, more and more and more depth…until the same OM means 

Brahman Himself. And as the depth increases, so does the spiritual reward. 

4-5

 From the Rishi’s perspective, he would like to see a spiritual turn in the person’s 

life. He points out the way forward – self-control, sexual abstinence and faith. If these hints 

are followed there is every hope that the personcan transform himself from an ordinary 

worldling to a Mahatma in due course. This is the optimism which motivates the Rishi to 

teach the students before him. 

From the Virat level of Consciousness, there is scope to grow even further…  

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Next

Mantram - 5.4 :Two Letters – Gift of the Heavenly Worlds 

Continued

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