TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD – 91. Rishi Yajnavalkya.

 

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Monday 23, June 2025, 08:00. 
TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD   Pertaining to the SELF-CREATION of Brahman there is a Shruti Mantram… Upanishad Part-2. 
ABHAYA PRATISHTHAA  
BRAHMAANANDA MEEMAAMSAA 
Anuvaka 2.8 A Measure of “Relative Joy” 
Bhashya F: 
THE MAHAVAKYA OF THIS UPANISHAD 
Coverage: Mantras From 2.8.13 to 2.9.1.
Post-91.

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Mantram: 2.8.14: The Enlightened Knower:

15.sah yah evamvit, asmaat lokaat pretya; = Whoever knows That, on leaving this world, 

16.etam annamayam aatmaanam upasamkraamati; = the self made of Food he first 

 

17.etam praanamayam aatmaanam upasamkraamati;= attains; then of Prana ; 

18.etam manomayam aatmaanam upasamkraamati; = then of Mind; 

19. etam vijnanamayam aatmaanam upasamkraamati; =  then of Intellect; 

20.etam aanandamayam aatmaanam upasamkraamati; = and then of Bliss.

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15

 The general term “whoever” is used. Acharyaji firstly drew our attention to the 

universality of outlook which this word indicates. The Upanishads can apply to all mankind, 

not just a selected group with particular affiliations. The only condition in this case is that 

the person must “know the Truth”. 

Evamvit ensures that we are speaking here about the same Brahman who was 

defined earlier as “Satyam Jnanam Anantam”. 

Asmaat Lokaat Pretya: Pretya literally means “after departing”, i.e. upon death. 

However, it carries with it a special meaning when it refers to one who knows Brahman. In 

his case, it also means “without expecting anything”, with no desires to go to any heavenly 

abode, etc. There is no attraction for anything here that is being left behind, nor is there any 

attraction to wherever he may be going hereafter. 

He has transcended the 5 Koshas with these experiences. So, where does he go?  

16

 Annamaya Kosha: He sees the totality of objects as not different from Food, of 

which his own body is made. There is a broadening of outlook right from the physical level. 

He is able to identify himself with everything in the gross level. 

17

 Praanamaya Kosha: The vital force is even more distinctly universal in nature 

than Food. The advance in consciousness here is to see all Life as One. There is one common 

life-principle in all creatures.  

18

 Manomaya Kosha: The mental sheath is transcended when the seeker identifies 

himself with all minds, i.e. the Total Mind. He is less and less associated with his own ego by 

this stage. The Upasana of seeing Mind as a universal entity gives him a new sense of 

awareness of himself.  

19

 Vijnanamaya Kosha: The widening expands into the intelligence level also. The 

Total intellect or Mahat becomes one’s identity. Cosmic law and order becomes his domain 

when he transcends his own individual intellect. 

20

 Anandamaya Kosha: And finally, as he progresses, he experiences greater and 

greater Joy, until he enjoys the Joy of Brahmaji. What is beyond the Anandamaya? 

We have seen at the end of Anuvaka 7, in the Seventh Proof, that one who reaches 

the state of knowing Brahman becomes fearless as far as security is concerned, and fearful

 as far as discipline and obedience of the cosmic order is concerned.

 He reaches the “unperceivable, bodiless, inexpressible, and unsupporting Self.”

WHO IS THIS KNOWING ENTITY:

 I

 / The question raised by Sri Shankaracharya now is “Who or What is the one that 

knows? Is he the Self or is he different from it? Who is the Reacher, and what is the nature 

of his Reaching? This is now looked into in detail: 

There are two options: 

i) The attainer is different from that which he attains. 

Defect:  

a. In this case the defect is that this contradicts the Vedic texts. 

The Shastras say unanimously that there is “One only, without a second”. 

ii) The attainer is the same as that which it attains. 

Defects:  

a. The same entity becomes subject and object. 

b. The Supreme Brahman becomes a Samsari. 

c. Or, the Supreme becomes a non-entity.

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Next
Objection 4:  
Both Options Have Defects. Now What?
Continued

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