The Chhandogya Upanishad - 72: Swami Krishnananda.

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Saturday 14, December 2024. 11:57.
Appendix 2: Samvarga-Vidya
Post-72.

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Appendix 2: Samvarga-Vidya:

Samvarga-Vidya is the vidya that was taught by the sage Raikva and is contained in Chapter Four, Sections 1 to 3 of the Upanishad. It is the nature of the subject that is indicated by the word samvarga, which is actually the process of absorption. The knowledge of the all-absorbing one is the actual meaning of Samvarga-Vidya. We are introduced into that which is all-absorbing. What is that? How is it taught? Let us see. The story is like this:

Section 1

Om. Janasrutir-ha pautrayanah sraddhadeyo bahudayi bahupakya asa, 

sa ha sarvata avasathan mapayan-cakre, sarvata eve me (annam) atsyantiti.

There was a king called Janasruti who was supposed to be the great-grandson of the emperor perhaps called Janasruta. This Janasruti was a reputed ruler who was well known for his immense charity. He was a great giver and had immense faith in the act of giving. And he used to give in plenty. He was very happy that he was in a position to give much in charity. What is more, he gave with great respect. His kitchen was always active. He used to have a lot of food cooked in his kitchen so that he might give it free to people. Such a king was he. He had built several rest houses everywhere. He must have been a very good man to do so much charity. He maintained not only rest houses, but also chou tries, inns, etc., built everywhere with the feeling that people would come and stay there and eat food in his name. "They will eat my food," he used to say with great exaltation. Such a great king was, according to this Upanishad, not merely famous in the social or political sense, but also was an advanced soul inwardly. He was a highly religious person and spiritually well trained due to the purity of his mind, the goodness of his heart, and the great charities that he was doing. Thus, he was an exceptionally great person outwardly as well as inwardly.

Atha ha hamsa nisayam atipetuh, taddhaivam hamso hamsam abhyuvada, 

ho ho'yi bhallaksa, bhallaksa, janasruteh pautrayanasya samam diva jyotir-atatam, tanma

 prasanksis-tat-tva ma pradhaksir-iti.

The story tells us that perhaps on a hot summer night the king was sleeping on the terrace of his palace. He was lying on his couch and some swans were flying across the sky. One of the birds which was behind called to the one that was flying in front, "Oh, stupid one! Do not be careless." It used the word bhallaksa. They say bhallaksa means wide open-eyed, well-seeing. It is an ironical way of saying that you do not see things properly. "You have got big eyes, you can see well, but you are not seeing that some danger is ahead of you. Do not rush like this. There is the great king Janasruti just below you. His effulgence is rising to the skies and his glory is reaching up to the heavens, as it were. Do not cross this effulgence lest you should be burnt by this glory of his. He is such a great man and you are crossing him. Do not go carelessly with your eyes closed." This was what the bird behind told the one that was flying in front.

Tam u haparah pratyuvaca kam vara enam etat santam 

sayugvanam iva raikvam attheti. yo nu katham sayugva raikva iti.

But, that other one which was told like this retorted back: "You are referring to some Janasruti whose effulgence is rising up, which I should not cross! Who is this Janasruti? What sort of man is this that you are speaking of, as if he is as great as Raikva with the cart? You speak as if this man is so great that his effulgence is going to the sky and I shall be burnt by the greatness and glory of this man. Who is this gentleman? What is he in comparison with that Raikva with the cart?"

This was the conversation that went on between the two birds that were flying above. The king heard how he was referred to by the two birds, the one praising him and the other saying that he did not deserve the praise because there was someone who was greater than him.

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