TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 65. Rishi Yajnavalkya.

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Monday  23, September 2024, 06:50.
Taittiriya Upanishad
Part-2.
BRAHMANANDA VALLI
PART 2: 9 No. Anuvakas (Chapters)
THE BLISS THAT IS BRAHMAN
Post - 65.

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Anuvaka 2.4 : From Manomaya to Vijnanamaya

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Mantram - 2.4.1: Shruti Quotation on Mind 

1 

“yatah vaachah nivartante; = “Whence all speech turns back, 

apraapya manasaa sah; =  Unreached by itself together with the mind,  

2 

aanandam brahmanah vidvaan; = Knowing the Bliss of That Brahman, 

na bibheti kadaachan,” iti. = One knows no fear at any time.” 

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1

 The intention of these quotes from the Shruti is to bring out the essential features 

of the sheath under scrutiny. This verse is about the Mind. As powerful as the mind is to 

accomplish so many superhuman things in this world, the first two lines put an abrupt end 

to that eulogy by showing where it fails hopelessly; where it is ‘out of bounds’, as it were. 

When the mind is challenged by being called a failure, it does not like it. It tries to 

prove that statement wrong. Is this perhaps the intention of the Rishi – to urge the reader 

to strive like he has never done before to succeed even when it comes to matters of the 

Spirit? Many aspirants may take up such a challenge for that reason – even if it is already 

doomed to fail. 

Acharyaji recounted stirling achievements of the mind in every field of human 

endeavour. The reason is that the mind is able to grasp and convey subtle concepts on any 

subject, especially science in the modern era. It is astonishing to note what it can do. People 

work on double and triple PhD’s on just a small part of a field of study. Giving credit to such 

capability of the human mind, the Rishis place it next to Brahman for its potency to 

approach the Unknown. 

The mind’s desire to know is, from the accounts of the Rishis, very different from the 

soul’s desire to know Itself, the yearning or burning aspiration to want God alone. However, 

this verse places on record its superb efforts even in this field. It probes into the 

unknowable Brahman with great dexterity, and even though it has to eventually “turn back” 

as a failure, both in speech and in mental probing, yet its efforts are not ridiculed by the 

Rishi. He appreciates its attempt.

2

 These lines tell us that the best one can do with the mind as an instrument of 

knowledge is to discover Brahman as conditioned by the mind, i.e. to attain Hiranyagarbha 

which is Consciousness in association with the Total Mind.  

That achievement in itself will drive out all fear from the aspirant. When he gets a 

taste of the Bliss of Brahman through his efforts in concentrating his mind on 

Hiranyagarbha, it will make a permanent change in his outlook on life. This is, no doubt, not 

the ultimate goal, but at every stage of the spiritual journey there is some fruit to reap for 

the Sadhaka. Fearlessness is no mean quality to attain. 

Continued

Next:

Mantram - 2.4.2: Manomaya Kosha as “Inner Self” of Pranamaya Kosha

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