Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (with commentary) · Chapter 4.5

BrhUpBh_4,4.25 idānīṃ samastasyaivā'raṇyarakasya yor'tha uktaḥ sa samuccityāsyā kaṇḍikāyāṃ nirdiśyata etāvānsamastāraṇyakārtha iti /
sa vā eṣa mahānaja ātmājaro na jīryata iti na vipariṇamata ityarthaḥ /
amaro yasmāccājarastasmādamaro na mriyata ityamaraḥ /
yo hi jāyate jīryate ca sa vinaśyati mriyate vā /
ayaṃ tvajatvādajaratvāccāvināśī yato 'ta evāmṛtaḥ /
yasmājjaniprabhṛtistribhirbhāvaviripairvarjitastasmāditarairapi bhāvavikāraistribhistatkṛtaiśca kāmakarmamohādibhirmṛtyurūpairvījata ityetat /
abhayo 'ta eva /
yasmāccaivaṃ pūrvoktaviśeṣaṇastasmasmādbhayavarjitaḥ bhayaṃ ca hi nāmāvidyākāryaṃ tatkāryapritiṣedhena bhāvavikārapratiṣedhena cāvidyāyāḥ pratiṣedhaḥ siddho veditavyaḥ /
abhaya ātmaivaṅguṇaviśiṣṭaḥ kimasau brahma parivṛḍhaṃ niratiśayaṃ mahadityarthaḥ /
abhayaṃ vai brahma /
prasiddhametalloke 'bhayaṃ brahmeti /
tasmādyuktamevaṅguṇaviśiṣṭa ātmā brahmeti /
ya evaṃ yathoktamātmānamabhayaṃ brahma veda so 'bhayaṃ hi vai brahma bhavati /
eṣa sarvasyā upaniṣadaḥ saṃkṣiptor'tha uktaḥ /
etasyaivārthas samyakprabodhāyotpattisthitipralayādikalpanā kriyākārakaphalādhyāropaṇā cā'tmani kṛtā tadapohena ca neti netītyadhyāropitāviśeṣāpanayadvāreṇapunastatvamāveditam /
yathaikaprabhṛtyāparārdhasaṃkhyāsvarūpaparijñānāyā rekhādhyāropaṇaṃ kṛtvaikeyaṃ rekhā daśeyaṃ śateyaṃ sahasreyamiti grāhayatyavagamayati saṃkhyāsvarūpaṃ kevalaṃ na tu saṃkhyāyā rekhātmatvameva yathā cākārādīnyakṣarāṇi grāhayati tathā cehotpatyādyanekopāyamāsthāyaikaṃ brahmatattvamāveditam /
punastatkalpitopāyajanitaviśeṣapariśodhanārthaṃ neti netīti tattvopasaṃhāraḥ kṛtaḥ /
tadupasaṃhṛtaṃ punaḥ pariśuddhaṃ kevalameva saphalaṃ jñānamante 'sya kaṇḍikāyāmiti //4,4.25//
iti caturthaṃ brāhmaṇam //
START BrhUp 4,5.1
atha ha yājñavalkyasya dve bhārye babhūvatur maitreyī ca kātyāyanī ca |
tayor ha maitreyī brahmavādinī babhūva |
strīprajñaiva tarhi kātyāyanī |
atha ha yājñavalkyo 'nyad vṛttam upākariṣyan

BrhUpBh_4,5.1 āgamapradhānena madhukāṇḍena brahmatattvaṃ nirdhāritam /
punastasyaivopattipradhānena yājñavalkīyena kāṇḍena pakṣapratipakṣaparigrahaṃ kṛtvā vigṛhyavādena vicāritam /
śaiṣyācāryasaṃbandhena ca ṣaṣṭhe praśnaprativacananyāyena savistaraṃ vicāryopasaṃhṛtam /
athedānīṃ nigamanasthānīyaṃ maitreyībrāhmaṇamārabhyete /
ayaṃ ca nyāyo vākyakovidaiḥ parigṛhīto hetvapadeśātpratijñāyāḥ punarvacanaṃ nigamanamiti /
athavā'gamapradhānena madhukāṇḍena yadamṛtatvasādhanaṃ sasaṃnyāsabhātmajñānamabhihitaṃ tadeva tarkeṇāpyamṛtatvasādhanaṃ sasaṃnyāsamātmajñānamadhigamyate /
tarkapradhānaṃhi yājñavalkīyaṃ kāṇḍam /
tasmācchāstratarkābhyāṃ niścitametadyadetadātmajñānaṃ sasaṃnyāsamamṛtatvasādhanamiti /
tasmācchāstraśraddhāvadbhiramṛtatvapratipitsubhiretatpratipattavyamiti /
āgamopapattibhyāṃ hi niścitor'thaḥ śraddheyo bhavatyavyabhicārāditi /
akṣarāṇāṃ tu caturthe yathā vyākhyātor'thastathā pratipattavyo 'trāpi /
yānyakṣarāṇyavyākhyātāni tāni vyākhyāsyāmaḥ /
atheti hetūpadeśānantaryapradarśanārthaḥ /
hetupradhānāni hi vākyānyatītāni tadanantaramāgamapradhānena pratijñātor'tho nigamyate maitreyībrāhmaṇena /
haśabdo vṛttāvadyotakaḥ /
yājñavalkyasyarṣeḥ kila dve bhārye patnyau babhūvaturāstāṃ maitreyī ca nāmata ekāparā kātyāyanī nāmataḥ tayorbhāryayormaitreyīha kila brahmavādinī brahmavadanaśīlā babhūvā'sīt /
strīprajñā striyāṃ yocitā sā strīprajñā saiva yasyāḥ prajñā gṛhaprayojanānveṣaṇālakṣaṇā sā strīprajñaiva tarhi tasminkāla āsītkātyāyanī /
athaivaṃ sati ha kila yājñavalkyo 'nyatpūrvasmādgārhasthyalakṣaṇādvṛttātpārivrājyalakṣaṇaṃ vṛttamupākariṣyannupācikīrṣuḥ san //4,5.1//
START BrhUp 4,5.2
maitreyīti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ |
pravrajiṣyan vā are 'ham asmāt sthānād asmi |
hanta te 'nayā katyāyanyāntaṃ karavāṇīti

BrhUpBh_4,5.2 he maitreyīti jyeṣṭhāṃ bhāryāmāmantrayāmāsa /
āmanñya covāca ha pravrajiṣyanpānivrājyaṃ kariṣyanvā are maitreyyasmātsthānādgārhasthyādahamasmi bhavāmi /
maitreyyanujānīhi māṃ hantecchasi yadi te 'nayā kātyāyanyāntaṃ karavāṇotyādi vyākhyātam //4,5.2//
START BrhUp 4,5.3-4
sā hovāca maitreyī --
yan nu ma iyam bhagoḥ sarvā pṛthivī vittena pūrṇā syāt syāṃ nv ahaṃ tenāmṛtāho3 neti |
neti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ |
yathaivopakaraṇavatāṃ jīvitam |
tathaiva te jīvitaṃ syāt |
amṛtatvasya tu nāśāsti vitteneti

sā hovāca maitreyī --
yenāhaṃ nāmṛtā syām kim ahaṃ tena kuryām |
yad eva bhagavān veda tad eva me brūhīti

BrhUpBh_4,5.3-4 saivamuktovāca maitreyī sarveyaṃ pṛthivī vittena pūrṇā syānnu kiṃ syāṃ kimahaṃ vittasādhyena karmaṇāmṛtā'ho na syāmiti /
neti hovāca yājñavalkya ityādi samānamanyat //4,5.3-4 //
START BrhUp 4,5.5
sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ --
priyā vai khalu no bhavatī satī priyam avṛdhat |
hanta tarhi |
bhavaty etad vyākhyāsyāmi te |
vyācakṣāṇasya tu me nididhyāsasveti

BrhUpBh_4,5.5 sa hovāca priyaiva pūrvaṃ khalu no 'smabhyaṃ bhavatī bhavanti sato priyamevāvṛdhadvardhitavatī nirdhāritavatyasi /
atastuṣṭo 'haṃ hantecchasi cedamṛtatvasādhanaṃ jñātuṃ he bhavati te tubhyaṃ tadmṛtatvasādhanaṃ vyākhyāsyāmi //4,5.5//
START BrhUp 4,5.6
sa hovāca |
na vā are patyuḥ kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavati |
na vā are jāyāyai kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavati |
na vā are putrāṇāṃ kāmāya putrāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya putrāḥ priyā bhavanti |
na vā are vittasya kāmāya vittaṃ priyaṃ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya vittaṃ priyaṃ bhavati |
na vā are paśūnāṃ kāmāya paśavaḥ priyaṃ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya paśavaḥ priyaṃ bhavati |
na vā are brahmaṇaḥ kāmāya brahma priyaṃ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya brahma priyaṃ bhavati |
na vā are kṣatrasya kāmāya kṣatraṃ priyaṃ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya kṣatraṃ priyaṃ bhavati |
na vā are lokānāṃ kāmāya lokāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya lokāḥ priyā bhavanti |
na vā are devānāṃ kāmāya devāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya devāḥ priyā bhavanti |
na vā are vedānāṃ kāmāya vedāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya vedāḥ priyā bhavanti |
na vā are bhūtānāṃ kāmāya bhūtāni priyāṇi bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya bhūtāni priyāṇi bhavanti |
na vā are sarvasya kāmāya sarvaṃ priyaṃ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya sarvaṃ priyaṃ bhavati |
ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyi |
ātmani khalv are dṛṣṭe śrute mate vijñāta idaṃ sarvaṃ viditam

BrhUpBh_4,5.6 ātmani khalvare maitreyī dṛṣṭe /
kathaṃ dṛṣṭa ātmanīti, ucyate-pūrvamācāryāgamābhyāṃ śrute punastarkeṇopapattayā mate vicārite /
śravaṇaṃ tvāgamamātreṇa mata upapattyā paścādvijñāna evametannānyatheti nirdhārite /
kiṃ bhavatītyucyata idaṃ viditaṃ bhavati /
idaṃ sarvamiti yadātmano 'nyat /
ātmavyatirekeṇābhāvāt //4,5.6//
START BrhUp 4,5.7-10
brahma taṃ parādād yo 'nyatrātmano vedān veda |
kṣatraṃ taṃ parādād yo 'nyatrātmanaḥ kṣatraṃ veda |
lokās taṃ parādur yo 'nyatrātmano lokān veda |
devās taṃ parādur yo 'nyatrātmano devān veda |
vedās taṃ parādur yo 'nyatrātmano vedān veda |
bhūtāni taṃ parādur yo 'nyatrātmano bhūtāni veda |
sarvaṃ taṃ parādād yo 'nyatrātmanaḥ sarvaṃ veda |
idaṃ brahmedaṃ kṣatram ime lokā ime devā ime vedā imāni bhūtānīdaṃ sarvaṃ yad ayam ātmā

sa yathā dundubher hanyamānasya na bāhyāñ chabdāñ chaknuyād grahaṇāya |
dundubhes tu grahaṇena dundubhyāghātasya vā śabdo gṛhītaḥ

sa yathā śaṅkhasya dhmāyamānasya na bāhyāñ chabdāñ chaknuyād grahaṇāya |
śaṅkhasya tu grahaṇena śaṅkhadhmasya vā śabdo gṛhītaḥ

sa yathā vīṇāyai vādyamānāyai na bāhyāñ chabdāñ chaknuyād grahaṇāya |
vīṇāyai tu grahaṇena vīṇāvādasya vā śabdo grhītaḥ

BrhUpBh_4,5.7-10 tamayathārthadarśitaṃ parādātparākuryātkaivalyāsaṃbandhinaṃ kuryādayamanātmasvarūpeṇa māṃ paśyatītyaparādhāditi bhāvaḥ //4,5.7-10 //
START BrhUp 4,5.11-12
sa yathārdraidhāgner abhyāhitasya pṛthag dhūmā viniścaranty evaṃ vā are 'sya mahato bhūtasya niḥśvasitam etad yad ṛgvedo yajurvedaḥ sāmavedo 'tharvāṅgirasa itihāsaḥ purāṇaṃ vidyā upaniṣadaḥ ślokāḥ sūtrāṇy anuvyākhyānāni vyākhyānanīṣṭaṃ hutam āśitaṃ pāyitam ayaṃ ca lokaḥ paraś ca lokaḥ sarvāṇi ca bhūtāni |
asyaivaitāni sarvāṇi niśvasitāni

sa yathā sarvāsām apāṃ samudra ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ sparśānāṃ tvag ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ gandhānāṃ nāsike ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ rasānāṃ jihvaikāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ rūpāṇāṃ cakṣur ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣaṃ śabdānāṃ śrotram ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ saṃkalpānāṃ mana ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarvāsāṃ vidyānāṃ hṛdayam ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ karmaṇāṃ hastāv ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣām ānandānām upastha ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ visargāṇāṃ pāyur ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣām adhvanāṃ pādāv ekāyanam |
evaṃ sarveṣāṃ vedānāṃ vāg ekāyanam

BrhUpBh_4,5.11-12 caturthe śabdaniḥśvāseneva lokādyarthaniḥśvāsaḥ sāmarthyādikto bhavatīti pṛthaṅnoktaḥ /
iha tu sarvaśāstropa saṃhāraṃ iti kṛtvār'thaprāpto 'pyarthaḥ spaṣṭīkartavya iti pṛthagucyate //4,5.11-12 //
START BrhUp 4,5.13
sa yathā saindhavaghano 'nantaro 'bāhyaḥ kṛtsno rasaghana eva |
evaṃ vā are 'yam ātmānantaro 'bāhyaḥ kṛtsnaḥ prajñānaghana eva |
etebhyo bhūtebhyaḥ samutthāya tāny evānuvinayati |
na pretya saṃjñāstīty are bravīmi |
iti hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ

BrhUpBh_4,5.13 sarvakāryapralaye vidyānimitte saindhavaghanavadanantaro 'vāhyaḥ kṛtsnaḥ prajñānadhana eka ātmāvatiṣṭhate /
pūrvaṃ tu bhūtamānnāsaṃsargaviśeṣallabdhaviśeṣavijñānaḥ san /
tasminpravilāpite vidyayā viśeṣavijñāne tannimitte ca bhūtasaṃsarge na pretya saṃjñāstītyevaṃ yājñavalkyenoktā //4,5.13//
START BrhUp 4,5.14
sā hovāca maitreyī --
atraiva mā bhagavān mohāntam āpīpadat |
na vā aham imaṃ vijānāmīti |
sa hovāca -- na vā are 'haṃ mohaṃ bravīmi |
avināśī vā are 'yam ātmānucchittidharmā

BrhUpBh_4,5.14 sā hovācātraiva mā bhagavānetasminnaiva vastuni prajñānaghana eva na pretya saṃjñā'stīti mohāntaṃ mohamadhyamāpīpidāpīpadadavagamitavānasi saṃsohitavānasītyarthaḥ /
ato na vā ahamimamātmānamuktalakṣaṇaṃ vijānāmi vivekata iti /
sa hovāca nāhaṃ mohaṃ bravīmyavināśī vā are 'yamātmā yato vina(naṃ)ṣṭuṃ śīlamasyeti vināśī na vināśyavināśī vināśabdena vikriyāvināśītyavikriya ātmetyarthaḥ /
are maitreyyayamātmā prakṛto 'nucchittidharmā /
ucchittiruccheda ucchedo 'nto vināśa ucchittirdharmo 'syetyucchittirardharmā nocchittidharmānucchittidharmā nāpi vikriyālakṣaṇo nāpyapacchedalakṣaṇo vīnāśo 'sya vidyata ityarthaḥ //4,5.14//
START BrhUp 4,5.15
yatra hi dvaitam iva bhavati tad itara itaraṃ paśyati, tad itara itaraṃ jighrati, tad itara itaraṃ rasayate, tad itara itaram abhivadati, tad itara itaraṃ śṛṇoti, tad itara itaraṃ manute. tad itara itaraṃ spṛśati, tad itara itaraṃ vijānāti |
yatra tv asya sarvam ātmaivābhūt tat kena kaṃ paśyet tat kena kaṃ jighret tat kena kaṃ rasayet tat kena kam abhivadet tat kena kaṃ śṛṇuyāt tat kena kaṃ manvīta tat kena kaṃ spṛśet tat kena kaṃ vijānīyāt |
yenedaṃ sarvaṃ vijānāti taṃ kena vijānīyāt |
sa eṣa neti nety ātmā |
agṛhyo na hi gṛhyate |
aśīryo na hi śīryate |
asaṅgo na hi sajyate |
asito na vyathate na riṣyati |
vijñātāram are kena vijānīyād ity uktānuśāsanāsi maitreyi |
etāvad are khalv amṛtatvam iti hoktvā yājñavalkyo vijahāra