MUNDAKOUPANISHAD - 64. Swami Advayananda.

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Monday 04, November 2024, 06:30.
6 Chapters (64 Mantras)
Here begins the second Section of the Third Canto. 
6. QUALITIES SEEN IN A SAGE 
(Mantras -54-64, 11 no.) 
63. Mantram - 6.10: Transfer of the Supreme Wisdom 
Post - 64.

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63. Mantram - 6.10: Transfer of the Supreme Wisdom: 

0 

tad etad richaa-abhyuktam = The Rig Veda explains the rules to teach this text: 

1 

kriyaavantah, =i) To those who perform rituals ; 

shrotriyaa, = ii) who read and study the Vedas ;  

brahma-nishthaah, =   iii) who aim to establish themselves in Brahman

 2 

swayam juhvata ekarshim = iv) who offer oblations themselves to the Ekarshi fire; 

shraddhayantah; = v) who possess faith; and 

4 

shirovratam vidhivad = vi) the vow of Shirovrata – 

yaih tu cheernam. = to those who have strictly observed it – 

3 

teshaam eva etaam  = To these people alone let this  

brahmavidyaam vadeta, = knowledge of Brahman be taught;

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[Note: Pada 4 has been placed before Pada 3 to keep the thought-flow.] 

There is an entrance examination for all institutions of higher learning. We accept 

this in secular life, but some people question it in spiritual life. The Upanishad itself lays 

down the six standards in this verse as an entrance examination for study of the scriptures. 

The Adhikaris or qualified students to receive the knowledge of this Upanishad is being 

described here. The only way to protect this knowledge is to spread it to deserving students 

who qualify for it.  

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1-4

An important point to note about an “Entrance Exam” is that it checks out the minimum

qualifications needed to enter this path of knowledge. It does not make too many 

demands of a person – that growth comes after starting the course. Hence, we notice that 

all the above six pre-requisites are simply to check if the person is basically interested in his 

religious development, and whether he has a worthy goal to strive towards. 

Shiro-Vrata: This last item may be the only item that needs an explanation to 

Western readers. Shiro-Vrata means “the vow of holding fire on the head”. It is a Vedic vow 

that is familiar amongst the followers of the Atharva Veda. 

A prescribed action such as this has always to be taken symbolically. The pot of fire 

on the head is to mean that our intellect and mind have to have a fiery spirit of yearning for 

God and His knowledge. Without this yearning he will not grasp the subtle truths. 

“Fire on the head” and the title of this Upanishad “shaven head” may match each 

other, but it does not mean that only Sannyasins are qualified to study this knowledge.

 

Vows such as the Shiro-Vrata were once well known, but very few in India now know 

of their existence. In today’s world, this could well be interpreted to mean that the person 

should be acutely aware of his duties and responsibilities to family and society. He must be 

prepared to sacrifice for the welfare of others. This is seen in the final mantram . . . 

*****

Next

64. Mantram - 6.11: Conclusion 

Continued

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