ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। ॐ श्री भवानिशङ्कराय नमः। ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः।
JAI SHANKAR
53. PANCHA BRAHMOPANISHAD
This is affiliated to KrishNa Yajurveda and its
Shaanti Mantra is ॐ सहनाववतू सहनोभूनक्तु…
already explained in an earlier series.
01. अवस्थात्रितयातीतं तुरीयं ब्रह्मसंज्ञितम्।
ब्रह्मविष्ण्वादिभिः सेव्यं सर्वेषां जनकं परम्।।
01. The Supreme Truth called Brahman is the
Tureeya state in us, beyond the triad of waking etc. This Brahman, progenitor of all, is served by Brahmaa, VishNu etc. It is beyond (परम्) (the reach of mind etc.).
02. ईशानं परमं विद्यात् प्रेरकं बुद्धिसाक्षिणम्।
आकाशात्मकमव्यक्तम् ॐकार स्वरभूषितम्।।
02. One should know Him, the Supreme Lord,
the inspirer (of all functions and faculties in us) and witness of our Buddhi. Ether has emanated from Him. He is invisible and is adorned with the syllable AUM.
03. सर्वंदेवमयं शान्तं शान्त्यतीतं स्वराद्बहिः।
अकारादिस्वराध्यक्षम् आकाशमयविग्रहम्।।
03. All gods are pervaded by Him. He is peaceful, nay, even beyond peace. He transcends ॐ. He presides over all the vowels (and consonants). He pervades ether (and
other elements). The sky (etc) is His visible form (विग्रह).
04. पञ्चकृत्यनियन्तारं पञ्चब्रह्मात्मकं बृहत्।
पञ्चब्रह्मोपसंहारं कृत्वा स्वात्मनि संस्थितः।।
04. He is the Controller of the five divine functions. He is the embodiment of five
Brahma-s. He is huge.. After dissolving the five Brahma-s within Him, He abides (by
Himself).
NOTE: Origination, preservation, dissolution,
restraint and benediction – सृष्टि स्थिति लय निग्रह
अनुग्रह – these are the five functions. One of Devi Lalita’s names is पञ्चकृत्यपरायणा।
Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha and Ishaana – these five forms of Shiva are known as Pancha Brahma.
05. स्वमायावैभवात् सर्वान् संहृत्य स्वात्मनि स्थितः।
पञ्चब्रह्मात्मकातीतो भासते स्वस्वतेजसां।।
05. Employing His glorious माया, He abides by Himself after withdrawing all unto Himself.
He transcends the Pancha Brahma-s and shines with His lradiant lustre.
06. आदावन्ते च मध्ये च भासते नान्यहेतुना।
मायया मोहिताः शम्भोर्महादेवं जगद्गुरुम्।।
न जानन्ति सुराः सर्वे सर्वकारणकारणम्।
06. He is luminous by nature in the beginning, middle and at the end. He has no reason for being thus luminous(it is His स्वभाव)… Deluded by the माया of Shambhu, the gods don’t know Mahadeva, the Universal Sadguru, the primary Cause of all causes.
07. न संदृशे तिष्ठति रूपमस्य परात्परं पुरुषं विश्वधाम।
येन प्रकाशते विश्वं यत्रैव प्रविलीयते।
तद्ब्रह्म परमं शान्तं तद्ब्रह्मास्मि परं पदम्।।
07. His form is not visible for the eyes. He is the transcendental Person. The universe is His Home. By Him, shines this universe and unto
Him it goes back in merger. “I am that Brahman.Peaceful, the Ultimate Blessedness.”
(Thus we should cultivate Advaita भावना).
08. पञ्चब्रह्मपरं विद्यात् सद्योजातादिपूर्वकम्।
दृश्यते श्रूयते यच्च पञ्चब्रह्मात्मकं जगत्।।
08. Whatever is seen and heard is this Supreme
Shiva beyond His five manifestations beginning with Sadyojata. This universe is an
expression of पञ्चब्रह्म (Sadyojata etc).
09. पञ्चब्रह्मात्मकं सर्वं स्वात्मनि प्रविलाप्य च।
सोऽहमस्मीति जानीयात् विद्वान् ब्रह्माऽमृतो भवेत्।।
09. The learned aspirant should (mentally)
dissolve the world, which is a composite of
Panchabrahma -s, within himself and know
“I am He” and thus abide as Brahman, the
Immortal One.
10. पञ्चाक्षरमयं शंभुं परब्रह्मस्वरूपिणम्।
जानीयाद्भक्तिभावेन स मुक्तो नात्र संशयः।।
10. One should ‘know’ Shambhu with devotion,
Shambhu who is Parabrahman and is identified with the 5-lettered मन्त्र( नमः शिवाय). He is then liberated no doubt.
11. नकारादि यकारान्तं ज्ञात्वा पञ्चाक्षरं जपेत्।
सर्वं पञ्चाक्षरं विद्यात् पञ्चब्रह्मात्वतत्त्वतः।।
11. One should do Japa of the five-lettered Mantra(नमः शिवाय), which has न in the beginning and य in the end, with understanding. Everything is comprehended within these five letters. Everything is pervaded by Panchabrahma-s.
NOTE: The five faces of Shiva:
Sadyojata West सृष्टि earth
Vamadeva North स्थिति fire
Aghora South लय water
Tatpurusha East निग्रह air
Ishana Upward अनुग्रह sky
12. यस्य श्रवणमात्रेणाश्रुतमेव श्रुतं भवेत्।
अमतं च मतं ज्ञातम् अविज्ञातं तथैव च।
12. By listening to which, the unheard becomes heard, the unthought of becomes thought and
the not-understood becomes understood.
13. एकेनैव च पिण्डेन मृत्तिकायाश्च गौतम।
विज्ञातं मृण्मयं सर्वं मृदभिन्नम् हि कार्यकम्।।
14. एकेन लोहमणिना सर्वं लोहमयं यथा।
विज्ञातं स्यात् अथैकेन नखानां कृन्तनेन च।।
15.सर्वं कार्ष्णायसं ज्ञातं तदभिन्नं स्वभावतः।
कारणाभिन्नरूपेण कार्यकारणमेव हि।।
16. तद्रूपेण सदा सत्यं भेदेनोक्तिः मृषा खलु।
अतश्च कारणं नित्यम् एकमेवाद्वयं खलु।।
17. अत्र कारणमद्वैतं शुद्धचैतन्यमेव हि।।
स शिवः सच्चिदानन्द: सोऽन्वेष्टव्यो मुमुक्षुभिः।।
13-17. O Gautama, by knowing one clod of earth, all that is earthy is understood as
non-different from earth(clay). By knowing one
bead of a metal, all that is of that metal
becomes known. By knowing one nailcutter
of iron, all that is made of iron is known.
In all these instances, the effect(kaarya) is
non-different from the cause(kaaraNa).
Identified with the cause, the effect is real.
To presume the effect to be different from
its cause is to make a false statement. The cause of the universe is pure Non-Dual Consciousness. He is Shiva. He is Sachchidananda(existence consciousness and bliss). He is to be sought by seekers of
Moksha.
18. अयं हृदि स्थितः साक्षी सर्वेषाम् अविशेषतः।
तेनायं हृदयं प्रोक्तः शिवः संसरमोचकः।।
18. This Shiva is in the hearts of all without distinction as Witness. Hence He, Shiva, is called Hridaya. This Shiva is our liberator
from Samsaara.
GLEANINGS FROM PANCHABRAHMOPANISHAD CONCLUDED
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। ॐ श्री भवानिशङ्कराय नमः। ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः।
JAI SHANKAR
54. RUDRAAKSHA JAABAALOPANISHAD
This is affiliated to Saama Veda and its Shaanti Mantra is ॐ आपयायन्तु मम अङ्गानि…already explained in an earlier series. In this Lord
Kaalaagnirudra tells BhushuNDa all about Rudraaksha
01. त्रिपुरवधार्थमहं निमीलिताक्षो अभवम्। तेभ्यो जलबिन्दवः भूमौ पतिताः ते रुद्राक्षा जाताः।
01. Lord Rudra says: For slaying the Tripura demon, I closed my eyes. Watery drops(tears) that fell from my eyes turned into Rudraaksha beads.
02. तत्राश्रुबिन्दवो जाता महारुद्राक्षवृक्षकाः।
स्थावरत्वमनुप्राप्य भक्तानुग्रहकारणात् ।।
02. The tear-drops turned into huge Rudraaksha trees. They became stationary for
confering blessings on the devotees.
Then follows a long discourse on different types of Rudraaksha from one face(एकवक्त्रम्) onwards to fourteen faced(चतुर्दशवक्त्रम्), the locations on one’s person where they can be worn,the relevant Mantra-s and the gradations in पुण्य that accrue etc etc. All this is outside the scope of this series, so I am skipping them..
03. मद्यं मांसं च लशुनं पलाण्डुं शीघ्रमेव च।
श्लेष्मातकं विद्वराहम् अभक्ष्यं वर्जयेन्नरः।।
03. Following should be given up: Liquor,
meat, garlic, onion, drumstick(moringa, favourite of Shri Narendra Modi!), salgam and
Sooran(Soornu in KonkaNi).
04. ग्रहणे विषुवे चैव अयने सङ्क्रमेऽपि च।
दर्शेषु पूर्णमासे च पूर्णेषु दिवसेषु च।
रुद्राक्षधारणात् सद्यः सर्वपापै विमुच्यते।।
04. By wearing Rudraksha on the days of eclipse(solar and lunar), on the days DakshiNaayana and UttaraayaNa begin, during transit of the sun from one Raashi to another,
during New Moon and Full Moon days and
on the days of 5th, 10th and 15th Tithis,
one is released forthwith from all kinds of sins!
GLEANINGS FROM RUDRAKSHA JAABAALOPANISHAD CONCLUDED
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। ॐ श्री भवानिशङ्कराय नमः। ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः।
JAI SHANKAR
55. BRIHAD JAABAALOPANISHAD
This Upanishad is affiliated to Atharva Veda and its Shaanti Mantra is भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः
….already explained in an earlier series.
This Upanishad tells about Rudraaksha, Vibhooti, five kinds of Bhasma, preparation of Bhasma from cowdung with appropriate chants, glorification of cowdung, go-mootra etc. Here and there there are some titbits of philosophy, which will be my cocern.
01. विभूतिर्भसितं भस्म क्षारं रक्षेति भस्मनो भवन्ति पञ्चनामानि। भृशं ऐश्वर्यकारणात् विभूतिः।
भस्म सर्वावभक्षणात्। भासनाद्भसितम्। क्षारणादापदां क्षारम्।
भूतप्रेतपिशाच ब्रह्मराक्षापस्मारभवभीतिभ्योऽभिरक्षणाद्रक्षा इति।
01. The sacred ash has five names: Vibhooti,
Bhasita, Bhasma, Kshaara and Rakshaa. It is conducive to immense(वि , विविध) prosperity(भूति )hence called Vibhooti. It devours (भक्षण) all(our sins), hence Bhasma.
It glistens(भासन) brightly, hence Bhasita. It makes all adversities melt(क्षारण ) away, hence Kshaara. It gives protection(रक्षण) against all types of evil spirits and epilepsy ,hence Rakshaa.(NOTE: When infants in the cradle were crying nonstop, Grandmaa-s in the good old days used to advise the young mothers:
Chant नमः शिवाय and apply विभूति. Indeed, this simple ‘treatment’ did act like magic!).
NOTE: These five names denote(वाच्य ) the sacred ash, but, connote(लक्ष्य) God . This whole creation proclaims the splendour of God. It is His VIBHOOTI, His masterpiece, Creation is His VIBHOOTI YOGA. However, this creation is doomed to be ash(BHASMA ) one day (ॐ अग्निरिति भस्म, ॐ वायुरिति भस्म, ॐ जलमिति भस्म, ॐ स्थलमिति भस्म, ॐ व्योमेति भस्म, सर्वं ह वा इदं भस्म(We chant these during भस्मधारणम्). God is most luminous, so He is BHASITA. He dissolves our trials and tribulations, so He is KSHAARA. He is the ultimate safeguard, so He is RAKSHAA(रक्षक).
02. Here is a lavish praise of the cow:
गुणत्रयमियं धेनुः विद्याभूद्गोंमयं शुभम्।
मूत्रं चोपनिषत् प्रोक्तं कुर्याद्भस्म ततःपरम्।।
वत्सस्तु स्मृतयश्चास्य तत्सम्भूतं च गोमयम्।
आगाव इति मन्त्रेण धेनुं तत्राभिमन्त्रयेत्।।
02. The cow is an embodiment of the three
GuNa-s (Satva Rajas Tamas). Cowdung is the auspicious Brahmavidyaa. Go-mootra is the
Upanishad. The calf symbolises Smriti
(Dharmashaastra). The cow should be invoked with the Mantra आगावो अगमन्नुत… and then Bhasma should be prepared.
(A very elaborate procedure interspersed with several chants is laid down for preparing the
Bhasma and an equally elaborate procedure for applying Bhasma on one’s person with several chants. I am skipping it.)
03. In praise of भस्मधारणम्।
ये भस्मधारणं त्यक्त्वा कर्म कुर्वन्ति मानवाः।
तेषां नास्ति विनिर्मोक्षः संसारात् जन्मकोटिभिः।।
त्रिपुण्ड्रं ये विनिन्दन्ति निन्दन्ति शिवमेव ते।
धारयन्ति च ये भक्त्या धारयन्ति शिवं च ते।।
धिग्भस्मरहितं भालं धिग् ग्राममशिवालयम्।
धिगनीशार्चनं जन्म धिग् विद्याम् अशिवाश्रयाम्।।
03. Without wearing Bhasma, those who perform rituals will never attain Moksha from Samsaara even in crores of births. Those who revile or ridicule tripuNDra(three horizontal lines of Bhasma)are ridiculing Shiva only. Those who wear TripuNDra are verily wearing Shiva indeed. Fie upon that forehead without Bhasma, fie upon that village that has no shrine of Shiva, fie upon that life that is devoid of Shiva worship, fie upon that learning that deals not with Shiva!
04. रुद्राग्नेर्यत् परं वीर्यं तद्भस्म परिकीर्तितम्।
तस्मात् सर्वेषु कालेषु वीर्यवान् भस्मसंयुतः।।
भस्मनिष्ठस्य दह्यन्ते दोषा भस्माग्निसंगमात्।
भस्मसंदिग्धसर्वाङ्गो भस्मनिष्ठ इति स्मृतः।।
04. Bhasma is the potency of Rudra’s Agni
(which is in His third eye). Therefore, one, who
applies Bhasma on his body, is always strong at all times. One devoted to Bhasma has all his faults and shortcomings burnt out due to the Agni latent in Bhasma. One, who has all his limbs applied with Bhasma, is called as भस्मनिष्ठ – i.e. established in Bhasma.
NOTE: We have seen earlier that BHASMA has another four names – VIBHOOTI, BHASITA, KSHAARA and RAKSHAA. All these names have
Brahman as their connotation or inner meaning. Therefore, a true Brahmanishtha is a Bhasmanishtha.
GLEANINGS FROM BRIHAD JAABAALOPANISHAD CONCLUDED
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। ॐ श्री भवानिशङ्कराय नमः। ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः।
JAI SHANKAR
56. BHASMA JAABAALOPANISHAD
This Upanishad is affiliated to Atharva Veda
and its Shaanti Mantra is ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः.. already explained in an earlier series. This Upanishad is in the form of a dialogue between Jaabaala and Shiva. It deals with Bhasma, holiness of TripuNDra, six -syllabled and eight-syllabled Shiva-Mantra-s etc.
01. मध्याह्न सायम् अह्नेषु त्रिकालेषु विधिवद्भस्मधारणम्
अप्रमादेन कार्यम्। प्रमादात् पतितो भवति। ब्राह्मणानाम्
अयमेव धर्मः अयमेव धर्मः। एवं भस्मधारणम् अकृत्वा
नाश्नीयाद् । अयमेव धर्मः सनातनः सर्वपापनाशको मोक्षहेतुः।
नित्योऽयं धर्मो ब्राह्मणानां ब्रह्मचारि गृहि वानप्रस्थ यतीनाम्।
एतदकरणे प्रत्यवैति ब्राह्मणः।।
01. One should do BhasmadhaaraNa as per
prescribed procedure in the morning, noon and evening. One should not be negligent in this respect. Negligence leads to a spiritual fall.
This, verily, is the Dharma for the BraahmaNa-s. Without doing BhasmadhaaraNa, one should not have food.
This alone is the eternal Dharma, destroyer of all sins and a means to Moksha. This is the daily Dharma laid down for BraahmaNa-s,
be they Brahmachari, householders, forest-dwellers and the ascetics. By not doing this, a BraahmaNa incurs sin.
02. षडक्षरो अष्टाक्षरो वा शैवो मन्त्रः जपनीयः।
ॐ नमः शिवाय
इति षडक्षरः। ॐ नमो महादेवाय इति अष्टाक्षरः। शैवॊ अयमेव मन्त्रः तारयति। स एव ब्रह्मोपदेशः।।
02. The six-syllabled (ॐ नमः शिवाय) or the
eight-syllabled (ॐ नमो महादेवाय) Mantra of Shiva should be taken up for Japa. This Mantra alone is the saviour. This(either of above two) alone is Brahmopadesha(because Shiva is none other than Brahman).
03. विश्वं भूतं भुवनं चित्रं बहुधा जातं जायमानं च यत् सर्वस्य
सोमोऽहमेव जनिता विश्वाधिको रुद्रो महर्षिः। यो रुद्रो अग्नौ यो अप्सु य ओषधीषु यो रुद्रो विश्वा भुवनाविवेश एवमेव। अयमेव आत्मा अन्तरात्मा ब्रह्मज्योतिः यस्मान्न मत्तोऽन्यःपरः। अहमेव परो विश्वाधिकः। मामेव विदित्वा अमृतत्वमेति। तरति शोकम्।
मामेव विदित्वा सांसृतिकीं रुजं द्रावयति। तस्मादहंं रुद्रो यः
सर्वेषां परमा गतिः।। (स+उमा= सोम HE is with Umaa, His Shakti).
03. I, Rudra,with Uma,, I, the Great Sage as it were, I am the progenitor of the wonderful universe that was,that is and that will be. I surpass(transcend) the universe. That Rudra who is in fire, water, herbs, who has entered the vast universe, is Atman. He is the Inner Self. He is the flame of Brahman. There is none surpassing Me. I alone am the Supreme, transcendental to the universe. By knowing Me alone, one attains Brahman and goes beyond sorrow. Only by knowing Me, one dissolves(द्रावयति) the illness (रुजम्) of Samsaara, hence My name as Rudra, the ultimate resort of all.
04. सोऽहं सर्वाकारः। यतो वा इमानि भूतानि जायन्ते येन जातानि जीवन्ति यत् प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति तं मामेव विदित्वा
उपासीत। भीषास्माद्वातः पवते। भीषोदेति सूर्यः। भीषास्मदग्निश्च इन्द्रश्च।
04. I assume all forms. From Me emanate all
elements and beings,who live and enter Me ultimately. By knowing Me, one should worship.
In fear of Me, the wind blows, the sun rises.
Agni, Indra fear Me.
NOTE: Mantra-s from Taittiriya Upanishad are
borrowed above.
05. सोमोऽहं सर्वेषाम् अधिष्ठाता। सर्वेषां च भूतानां पालकः।
सोऽहं पृथिवी सोऽहमापः सोऽहं तेजः सोऽहं वायुः सोऽहं कालः
सोऽहं दिशः सोऽहमात्मा। मयि सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्। ब्रह्मविदाप्नोति परम्। मामेव विदित्वा संसृतिपाशात्प्रमुच्यते। तस्मादहं पशुपाशविमोचकः। युक्तात्मानः यतन्ते मामेव प्राप्तुम्। प्राप्य मां न पुनरावर्तन्ते।
05. Together with Umaa, I am the basis of all.
I am the guardian of all beings. I am the earth,
water, fire, air, Time, directions. I am Atman.
Everything is established in Me. Knower of
Brahman attains the Supreme. By knowing Me only, one is freed from the bonds of Samsaara.
Therefore, I am the liberator of the पशु-s from their bonds. Self-controlled aspirants endeavour to attain Me only. Attaining Me, they
don’t return to Samsaara.
NOTE: An ignorant soul bound by lust, anger etc is a Pashu. Lust, anger, greed, attachment, arrogance and envy are the bonds(पाश-s).
06. एष एव आदेशः एष उपदेशः। एष एव परमो धर्मः।
भस्मोद्धूलनत्रिपुन्ड्राभ्यां कदाचिदपि न प्रमदितव्यम्।
रुद्राक्षधारणात् मदर्चनात् च न प्रमदितव्यम्।
06. This alone is My command, My Upadesh.
This alone is the supreme Dharma. One should never be negligent in applying Bhasma to one’s person. One should never be negligent in applying TripuNDra(three horizontal lines). One should never be negligent in wearing Rudraksha and in performing My worship.
GLEANINGS FROM BHASMA JAABAALOPANISHAD CONCLUDED
ॐ श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः। ॐ श्री भवानिशङ्कराय नमः। ॐ श्री मात्रे नमः।
JAI SHANKAR
57. SHARABHOPANISHAD
This Upanishad is affiliated to Atharva Veda and its Shaanti Mantra is ॐ भद्रं कर्णेभिः शृणुयाम देवाः…already explained in an earlier series.
Sharabha is a huge monstrous animal, part-lion and part-bird. Shiva is said to have assumed this form for fighting with Narasimha and defeating Him. After killing HiraNyakashyapa, Narasimha didn’t cool down and was rather destructive. So, Shiva confronted Him as
Sharabha and vanquished Him! This Upanishad glorifies Shiva.
01. एको रुद्रः ध्येयः सर्वेषां सर्वसिद्धये। यो ब्रह्मणः पञ्चवक्त्रहन्ता तस्मै रुद्राय नमो अस्तु।।
यो विस्फुलिङ्गेन ललाटजेन सर्वं जगत् भस्मसात्करोति।
पुनश्च सृष्ट्वा पुनरप्यरक्षत् तस्मै रुद्राय नमो अस्तु।
यॊ वामपादेन जघान कालं घोरं पपेऽथो हालाहलं दहन्तम्।
तस्मै रुद्राय नमो अस्तु।
01. Rudra is One. For fulfilment of all wishes, He is to be meditated upon. He, who clipped the fifth face of Brahmaa, our salutations be to
that Rudra. He, who reduces to ash the entire universe with just a spark from His forehead-eye, then creates it again and protects it, our salutations be to that Rudra.
He, who with left leg kicked Time, who drank the incendiary poison Halahala, our
salutations be to that Rudra.
NOTE: This story of Sharabha Avataara has deep spiritual symbolism. Shiva and VishNu are both necessary to maintain cosmic balance. When either of them over-reacts, the balance is disturbed. अति सर्वत्र वर्जयेत्। Narasimha represents righteous anger and he had to eliminate the evil that was HiraNyakashyapa. But, His anger kept boiling even after slaying the demon. The violent rage was a threat and was proving self-destructive.So, Shiva, the Ever-Peaceful had to intervene. Shiva PuraaNa says a pacified Narasimha embraced Sharabha, proving both are two sides of the same coin. In the end, Hari-Hara Advaita won the day.
Sharabha etymologically means shining(भ) arrow(शर). (प्रणवो धनुः शरो ह्यात्मा – मुण्डक उपनिषद्). आत्मन् is peaceful (शान्तोऽयमात्मा) by nature. In the presence of such a Self – शान्तं शिवम् अद्वैतम् – violent temper melts away as did Ugra Narasimha’s.
02. यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते अप्राप्य मनसा सह। आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् न बिभेति कदाचन।। अणोरणीयान्महतोमहीयान्
आत्माऽस्य जन्तोर्निहितो गुहायाम्। तमक्रतुः पश्यति वीतशोको धातुप्रसादान्महिमानमीशम्।।
02. Speech accompanied by mind retreats,. unable to attain Brahman. He, who has experienced the bliss of Brahman, never fears anything. Atman, subtler than the subtlest and greater than the greatest is lodged in the heart of every creature. A desireless man sees the glory of the Lord through the Grace of God, the Upholder and becomes free from sorrow.
NOTE: The Mantra यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते… is from Taittiriya Upanishad (2-9-1). This Mantra अणोरणीयान्महतोमहीयान् is 1-2-20 in Kathopanishad. The last word there is आत्मनः and here it is ईशम्।
03. वसिष्ट वैयासिक वामदेव विरिञ्चिमुख्यैः हृदि भाव्यमानः।
सनात्सुजातादि सनातनाख्यैः ईड्यो महेशो भगवानादिदेवः।।
03. Mahesha, God, who was in the beginning (aadi), is meditated upon in the heart by sages like Vasishta, Shuka(son of Vyasa), Vamadeva,
Virinchi, Sanatsujata, Sanatana etc. He is worthy of our worship(ईड्यः).
04. सत्यो नित्यः सर्वसाक्षी महेशो नित्यानन्दो निर्विकल्पो निराख्यः। अचिन्त्यशक्तिः भगवान् गिरीशः स्वमायया कल्पितनामरूपः।।
04. Shiva, Lord of Mount Kailasa, is th eternal
Truth. He is the witness of all, the Great Lord,
perpetually blissfull, beyond our thought and
indescribable. His powers are beyond our
imagination. With His creative power of माया,
He assumes Names and Forms.
05. अतिमोहकरी माया मम विष्णोश्च सुव्रत।
तस्य पादांबुजध्यानात् दुस्तरा सुतरा भवेत्।।
05. This माया, mine as well as VishNu’s, is very delusive, O sage of excellent vows. By meditating on His(VishNu’s as well as mine) lotus feet, माया, difficult to cross, becomes very easy to tide over.
06. एको विष्णुः महद्भूतं पृथग्भूतान्यनेकशः।
त्रीन् लोकान् व्याप्य भूतात्मा भुङ्क्ते विश्भुगव्ययः।।
06. VishNu is One. He is the Great Being who has differentiated Himself into myriad forms.
Pervading the three worlds, He, the Self of all beings, enjoys the world(His own projection).
He is immutable.
NOTE: This मन्त्र is verse no.140 in VishNu Sahasranama
07. ब्रह्मार्पणं ब्रह्म हविर्ब्रह्माग्नौ ब्रह्मणा हुतम्।
ब्रह्मैव तेन गन्तव्यं ब्रह्मकर्मसमाधिना।।
07. The ladle(davlo in KonkaNi) is Brahman, the oblation is Brahman, the offering is poured by Brahman in the fire of Brahman. Brahman alone is to be reached by him, who sees samesightedly all action(Karma) as inspired by and offering to Brahman.(This is 4-24 in Gita).
08. मायावशादेव देवाः मोहिताः ममतादिभिः।
तस्य माहात्म्यलेशांशं प्रवक्तुं केन शक्यते।।
08. Swayed by the delusive माया, even the gods were beguiled by thoughts of ‘mine’ etc. For whom is it possible to speak well about even an iota of His(Shiva’s, VishNu’s) माया? (Even gods,
portrayed in our mythology, are bitten by the ‘I and mine'(अहं मम) bug!).
09. एक एव शिवो नित्यः ततोऽन्यत् सकलं मृषा।
शिव एव सदा ध्येयः सर्वसंसारमॊचकः।।
09. One Shiva alone is eternal, rest is all
appearance. Shiva alone is to be meditated upon always. He is the liberator from
Samsaara.
GLEANINGS FROM SHARABHOPANISHAD
CONCLUDED