THE MUNDAKA UPANISHAD (contd)

CHAPTER 1 : CANTO 2

 
ØO¤ÎfkOEÔO¢ÓOÝO¢d   p#ÐOØOØO¤ÎfkE    ¢¹ÏO£ÙO:   ÁOÎf:

ÏOdEÏOÏO¯   ÞOÏÙOØO¯
ØOÓæOEÝO¤   kØOOR¢ÎO   kÛOÙOOE   ÙOOÓÙOÔOÜÙO|
ÞÏOO¢ÓO   æOEÏOOÙOO|   ÖOh¤ÒOO   ÞOÓÏOÏOO¢ÓO
ÏOOÓÙOOÅOrÐO   ¢ÓOÙOÏO|   ÞOÏÙOkOØOO
eÝO   ÛO:   ÔOÓO¯ÐOO:   ÞO¤k]ÏOÞÙO   ÚOOEkE   /  1/                 
ÏOÏO¯   that
eÏOÏO¯   that thing
ÞOÏÙO|   true
ØOÓæOEÝO¤    in the secret formulae
kØOOR¢ÎO   activities (like Agnihotra)
kÛOÙO:   the far-sighted
ÙOO¢ÓO   which
AÔOÜÙOØO   saw
ÏOO¢ÓO   them
æOEÏOOÙOO|   in the aeon of Treta (duties in the 3 Vedas)
ÖOh¤ÒOO   in many ways
ÞOÓÏOÏOO¢ÓO    are done
ÏOO¢ÓO   them
AOÅOrÐO   observe
¢ÓOÙOÏO|   always
ÞOÏÙOkOØOO:   those who desire truth
eÝO   this
ÛO:   your
ÔOÓO¯ÐOO:   pathway
ÞO¤k]ÏOÞÙO    deeds rightly carried out
ÚOOEkE   enjoyed

                  That  truth  is  this,  that  what  observances  the  seers comprehended  from  the three  Vedas  and  were  practised  intensely  during  theTreta  age,  you  should  also  practise with  devotion.  Oh!  Seekers  of  Truth!   That  is  your  path  which  will  lead  you  to  the world  of  those  of  meritorious  deeds.         (1).
 
ÙOdO   ÚOEÚOOÙOÏOE   /¢ÅOR:   ÞO¢ØO¼E   hÛÙOÛOOhÓOE   .
ÏOdO{{ÇÙO×OOÂOOÛOÓÏOrEÎOO{{h¤ÏO£:   p#¢ÏOÔOOdÙOEÏO¯   /2/
ÙOdO   when
ÚOEÚOOÙOÏOE   rises (moves)
¢h   indeed
A¢ÅOR:   flame
ÞO¢ØO¼E   aflame (with sacrificial fuel)
hÛÙOÛOOhÓOE   the sacrificial fire
ÏOdO   then
AOÇÙO×OOÂOOW   the two edges
AÓÏOrEÎO   in the middle
AOh¤ÏO£:   oblations
p#¢ÏOÔOOdÙOEÏO¯    should be offered with deep faith

                        When  the  fire  fed  by  sacrificial  fuel  is  ablaze,  with  tongues  darting  forth,  the  sacrificer  should  offer  the  oblations,  with  deep  faith,  into  the  middle  area,  between    the  two  edges  of  the  fire.(2).  
ÙOÞÙOO¢ÂÓOhOEæOØOdÜORØOÔOOWÎORØOOÞOØOÅOOÏO¤ØOORÞÙO -
       ØOÓOOÂO#ÙOÎOØO¢ÏO¢ÐOÛO¢ÇORÏO|   ÅO
Ah¤ÏOØOÛOWáqOdEÛOØO¢ÛO¢ÒOÓOO   h¤ÏOØOOÞOÔÏOØOO|ÞÏOÞÙO
       ÚOOEkOÓO¯   ¢hÓO¢ÞÏO               /  3/                        
ÙOÞÙO   whose
A¢ÂÓOhOEæO|   Agnihotra sacrifice
AdÜOR|   without the ceremony of Darsa
AÔOOWÎORØOOÞO|   without the ceremony of Paurnamasa
AÅOOÏO¤ØOORÞÙO|    without the ceremony of Caturmasya
AÓOOÂO#ÙOÎO|   without the ceremony of Agrayana
A¢ÏO¢ÐO   guest
ÛO¢ÇORÏO|   without
ÅO   and
Ah¤ÏOØO¯   Agnihotra itself not performed on time
AÛOWáqOdEÛOØO¯    Vaisvadevam rite not performed
A¢ÛO¢ÒOÓOO   without compliance of procedure
h¤ÏOØO¯   oblations offered
AOÞOÔÏOØOOÓO¯    upto and including the seventh
ÏOÞÙO   his
ÚOOEkOÓO¯   worlds
¢hÓO¢ÞÏO   destroys

                        If  the  sacrificers'  (primary)  rite  of  Agnihotra  sacrifice  is  not  backed  up  by  the  sacrifices  prescribed  for  new-moon  and  full-moon  days,  the  four-month  sacrifices,  the  one  performed  in  the  autumn,  or  when  performed  without  guests,  or  performed  without  the  due  share  going  to  the  Visvadevas  or  in  any  way  done  without  compliance  to  injunctions,  it  will  deny  him  entry  into  the  seven  worlds.      (3).  
kOÚO£   krOÚO£   ÅO   ØOÓOOEÇOÛOO   ÅO   ÞO¤ÚOOE¢hÏOO
                     ÙOO   ÅO   ÞO¤ÒO¥ØO#ÛOÎOOR
ÞP[¢ÚO¢ÄñÓO£   ¢ÛOáâÅO£   ÅO   dEÛO£   ÚOEÚOOÙOØOOÓOO
                      i¢ÏO   ÞOÔÏO¢ÇOºO:         /  4/
kOÚO£   dark
krOÚO£   fearsome
ÅO   and
ØOÓOOEÇOÛOO   as fast as the mind
ÅO   and
ÞO¤ÚOOE¢hÏOO    deep red
ÙOO   who
ÅO   and
ÞO¤ÒO¥ØO#ÛOÎOOR    colour of dense smoke
ÞP[¢ÚO¢ÄñÓO£    emitting sparks
¢ÛOáâÅO£    multirayed
ÅO   and
dEÛO£   resplendent
ÚOEÚOOÙOØOOÓOO:    moving
i¢ÏO   thus
ÞOÔÏO   seven
¢ÇOºO:   tongues

                        The  fire  has  seven  darting  tongues  with  names  standing  for the  dark,  the  terrible,  swift  like  the  mind,  deeply  red-coloured,  the  smoke-hued,  brilliant  and  combining  all  forms.      (4).
 
eÏOEÝO¤   ÙOàrÏOE   ×rOÇOØOOÓOEÝO¤   ÙOÐOOkOÚO|
                ÅOOh¤ÏOÙOOE   OddOÙOÓO¯           
ÏO|   ÓOÙOÓO¯ÏÙOEÏOO:   ÞO¥ÙORÞÙO   rÜØOÙOOE   ÙOæO
         dEÛOOÓOO|   ÔO¢ÏOrEkOE{¢ÒOÛOOÞO:   /  5/
eÏOEÝO¤   these
ÙO:   who
ÅOrÏOE   moves
×rOÇOØOOÓOEÝO¤    brilliant
ÙOÐOOkOÚO|   at the apposite time
ÅO   and
AOh¤ÏOÙO:   oblations
¢h   certainly
AOddOÙOÓO¯   taking
ÏO|   him
ÓOÙO¢ÓÏO   lead
eÏOO:   these
ÞO¥ÙORÞÙO   sun's
rÜØOÙO:   rays
ÙOæO   where
dEÛOOÓOOØO¯   of the gods
ÔO¢ÏO:   chief
ek:   the only one
A¢ÒOÛOOÞO:   resides

                        If  the  performer  of  this  ritual  (Agnihotra),  does  so  when  the tongues  of  the  fire  are  brilliant  i.e.  at  the  appropriate moment,  these  oblations  in  the  form  of  the  rays  of  the  Sun, lead  him  to  where  the  supreme  Lord  of  the  Devas  resides.  (5).  
e/Eh£¢ÏO   ÏOØOOh¤ÏOÙO:   ÞO¤ÛOÅORÞO:   ÞO¥ÙORÞÙO
            r¢ÜØO¢×OÙORÇOØOOÓO|   ÛOh¢ÓÏO
¢p#ÙOO|   ÛOOÅOØO¢×OÛOdÓO¯ÏÙOOE{ÅORÙOÓO¯ÏÙO   eÝO
        ÛO:   ÔO¤ÎÙO:   ÞO¤k]ÏOOE   ÖO#'ÚOOEk:   /  6/
e¢h   come
i¢ÏO   thus
ÏO|   him
AOh¤ÏOÙO:   oblations
ÞO¤ÛOÅORÞO:    radiant
ÞO¥ÙORÞÙO   sun's
r¢ÜØO¢×O:   by the rays
ÙOÇOØOOÓO|   the sacrificer
ÛOh¢ÓÏO   carry
¢p#ÙOO|   palatable
ÛOOÅO|   words of mouth
A¢×OÛOdÓÏÙO:    uttering
AÅORÙOÓÏÙO:    worshipping
eÝO:   this
ÛO:   your
ÔO¤ÎÙO:   merit
ÞO¤k]ÏO:   well merited
ÖO#'ÚOOEk:   the world of Brahma (Heaven )

                       The  shining  oblations  lead  the  performer  through  the rays  of  the  Sun,  to  the  welcoming  and  pleasing  words of  praise:  "Come  hither,  come  hither,  this  is  the  sacred region  of  Brahma,  for  which  you  have  qualified  through your  meritorious  deeds,"  all  the  while  showing  reverence to  him.(6).  
ÔÚOÛOO   /EÏOE   Ad]FO   ÙOÉOãÔOO   A¾OdÜOOEÀÏOØOÛOr|   ÙOEÝO¤   kØOR   .
eÏOÅO¯C%EÙOOE   ÙOE{¢×OÓOÓd¢ÓÏO   ØO¥FO   ÇOrOØO¦ÏÙO¤|
                   ÏOE   ÔO¤ÓOrEÛOO¢ÔO   ÙO¢ÓÏO   /7/
ÔÚOÛOO   rafts
¢h   certainly
eÏOE   these
Ad]FO:   frail
ÙOÉOãÔOO:   the constituents of a sacrifice
A¾OdÜO   eight and ten (18)
uÀÏO|   is said
AÛOr|   lower
eÝO¤   in these
kØOR   activity
eÏOÏO¯   this
½EÙO:   bliss
ÙOE   who
A¢×OÓOÓd¢ÓÏO    feel joyous
ØO¥FO:   the deluded
ÇOrO   old age
ØO¦ÏÙO¤|    death
ÏOE   they
ÔO¤ÓO:   repeatedly
eÛO   only
A¢ÔO   also
ÙO¢ÓÏO   attain

                    Frail  are  the  rafts  (sacrifices)  with  the  eighteen  members
(the  18  priests  of  the  Agnihotra)  on  which  these  inferior activities  float.  Deluded  in  mind,  those  who  revel  in  this as  the  supreme  good,  are  condemned  to  the  cycle  of  repeated  transmigratory  incarnations  of  decadence  and  death.  (7).
 
A¢ÛOïOÙOOØOÓÏOrE   ÛOÏORØOOÓOO:   ÞÛOÙO|   ÒO£rO:   ÔO¢ÎfÏO|   ØOÓÙOØOOÓOO:
ÇOÄòÓÙOØOOÓOO:   ÔO¢rÙO¢ÓÏO   ØO¥FO   AÓÒOEÓOWÛO
               ÓO£ÙOØOOÓOO   ÙOÐOO{ÓÒOO:   /  8/
A¢ÛOïOÙOO|   in ignorance
AÓÏOrE   centered
ÛOÏORØOOÓOO:   remaining
ÞÛOÙO|   on their own
ÒO£rO:   wise
ÔO¢ÎfÏO|   learned
ØOÓÙOØOOÓOO:    egoistic
ÇOÄòÓÙOØOOÓOO:    being jostled about
ÔO¢rÙO¢ÓÏO    aimlessly wander
ØO¥FO:   those under delusion
AÓÒOEÓO   by a blind
iÛO   like
ÓO£ÙOØOOÓOO:    being led
ÙOÐOO   how
AÓÒOO:   the blind

                        Deeply  centred  in  ignorance  but  considering  themselves  learned  and  endowed  with  discrimination,  depressed  and dejected  due  to  delusion,  comparable  to  blind  persons being  led  by  a  blind  person,  these  egoistic  ones, are  jostled  about  in  the  world,  and  wander  aimlessly    (8).
 
A¢ÛOïOÙOO|   ÖOh¤ÒOO   ÛOÏORØOOÓOO   ÛOÙO|   k]ÏOOÐOOR
               iÏÙO¢×OØOÓÙO¢ÓÏO   ÖOOÚOO:         .
ÙOÏk¢ØORÎOOE   ÓO   p#ÛOEdÙO¢ÓÏO   rOÂOOÏO¯   ÏOEÓOO{{ÏO¤rO:
                        ßO£ÎOÚOOEkOàqÙOÛOÓÏOE   /  9/
A¢ÛOïOÙOO|   amidst ignorance
ÖOh¤ÒOO   in various ways
ÛOÏORØOOÓOO:   floundering
ÛOÙO|   we
k]ÏOOr¯ÐOO:   have attained our target
i¢ÏO   thus
A¢×OØOÓÙO¢ÓÏO    think of themselves
ÖOOÚOO:   the unillumined
ÙOÏO¯   that
k¢ØORÎO:   those given to activity
ÓO   do not
p#ÛOEdÙO¢ÓÏO    realise the truth
rOÂOOÏO¯   due to attachment
ÏOEÓO   because of that
AOÏO¤rO:   tormented in mind
ßO£ÎOÚOOEkO:   having enjoyed the results of their actions
ÅÙOÛOÓÏOE   fall from heaven

                        Rambling  in  manifold  ways  and  steeped  in  ignorance,  the  unenlightened  feel  that  they  have  achieved  the  supreme goal  in  life.  Those  attached  to  doing  their  duties  but  not understanding  the  reality,  feel  wretched  and  after the  merits  of  their  deeds  are  exhausted,  they  fall  from heaven.(9).  
i¾OÔO¥ÏOR||   ØOÓÙOØOOÓOO   ÛO¢r¿|   ÓOOÓÙOÅC%EÙOOE   ÛOEdÙOÓÏOE   p#ØO¥FO:           .
ÓOOkÞÙO   ÔO¦¿E   ÏOE   ÞO¤k]ÏOE{ÓO¤×O¥ÏÛOEØO||   ÚOOEk|
              h£ÓOÏOr|   ÛOO   ¢ÛOÜO¢ÓÏO   /  10/
i¾OÔO¥ÏOR|   acts of sacrifice and of charity
ØOÓÙOØOOÓOO:    thinking
ÛO¢r¿|   supreme
ÓO   no
AÓÙOÏO¯   other
½EÙO:   supreme thing
ÛOEdÙOÓÏOE   comprehend
p#ØO¥FO:   thoroughly deluded
ÓOOkÞÙO   of the heaven
ÔO¦¿E   peak
ÏOE   they
ÞO¤k]ÏOE   in the place of happiness
AÓO¤×O¥ÏÛOO    having enjoyed
iØO|   this
ÚOOEk|   universe
h£ÓOÏOr|   of lesser status
ÛOO   or
¢ÛOÜO¢ÓÏO    enter

                      Thinking  that  acts  of  sacrifice  and  charity  make  for  the highest  objective  in  life,  the  deluded  persons  do  not  visualise anything
better  for  salvation.  Having  exhausted  through enjoyment,  the  pleasures
of  the  meritorious  deeds  in  the heights  of  Heaven,  which  they  had
merited  by  their  good  deeds,  they  return  to  this  world  or  even  one
that  is  lower.(10).
 
ÏOÔO:½¼E   ÙOE   /¤ÔOÛOÞOÓÏÙOrÎÙOE   ÜOOÓÏOO   ¢ÛO¹O|ÞOOE
                         ×OWßÙOÅOÙOOR|   ÅOrÓÏO:   .
ÞO¥ÙOR¹OrEÎO   ÏOE   ¢ÛOrÇOO:   p#ÙOO¢ÓÏO   ÙOæOOØO¦ÏO:   ÞO
                       ÔO¤âÝOOE   /ÛÙOÙOOÏØOO       /11/
ÏOÔO:   engaged in the prescribed duties
½¼E   meditation
ÙOE   who
¢h   certainly
uÔOÛOÞO¢ÓÏO    reside
ArÎÙOE   in the forest
ÜOOÓÏOO:   of controlled senses
¢ÛO¹O|ÞO:   scholars
×OWßÙOÅOÙOOR|    living on alms
ÅOrÓÏO:   leading such a life
ÞO¥ÙOR¹OrEÎO   by the path of the sun
ÏOE   they
¢ÛOrÇOO:   taintless
p#ÙOO¢ÓÏO   go forward
ÙOæO   where
AØO¦ÏO:   the deathless
ÞO:   He
ÔO¤âÝO:   Brahman
¢h   verily is
AÛÙOÙOOÏØOO    Undiminishing One

                      On  the  other  hand,  those  who  engage  in  prescribed  duties, and  those  who  engage  in  meditation,  staying  away from  family  bonds,  exercising  control  over  the  senses,  devoted to  learning  and  subsisting  on  alms;  becoming  cleansed  of  their sins,  they  proceed  through  the  door  of
the  Sun  to the  abode  of  the  imperishable  and  immortal  Brahman  (11).)  
ÔOr£ßÙO   ÚOOEkOÓO¯   kØOR¢ÅOÏOOÓO¯   ÖO#O'ÎOOE
      ¢ÓOÛOERdØOOÙOO°OÞÏÙOk]ÏO:   k]ÏOEÓO   .
ÏO¢¹ÉOOÓOOÐOR|   ÞO   ÂO¤âØOEÛOO¢×OÂOÅCEÏO¯   ÞO¢ØOÏÔOO¢ÎO:
                        ½OE¢æOÙO|   ÖO#'¢ÓO¿ØO¯     /  12/
ÔOr£ßÙO   after examining
ÚOOEkOÓO¯   the worlds
kØOR¢ÅOÏOOÓO¯    attained by actions
ÖO#O'ÎO:   seeker of truth
¢ÓOÛOERd|   disinterest
AOÙOOÏO¯   concluding
ÓO   not
A¢ÞÏO   existing
Ak]ÏO:   not done
k]ÏOEÓO   by that which is done
ÏOÏO¯   that
¢ÛOÉOOÓOOÐOR|    for acquiring superior knowledge
ÞO:   that seeker
ÂO¤â|   the enlightened one
eÛO   only
A¢×OÂOÅCEÏO¯    seek
ÞO¢ØOÏÔOO¢ÎO:    with sacrificial fuel in hand
½OE¢æOÙO|   the learned
ÖO#'¢ÓO¿ØO¯    established in Brahman

               Let  a  seeker  after  truth,  after  examining  the  worlds  attained  by  action,  be  free  from  all  desires,  by  concluding  that  nothing permanent  can  be  attained  through  action.  With  a  view  to  gain that  knowledge  about  the  Imperishable,  gathering  the  sacrificial fuel  in  his  hands,  let  him  wait  on  that  preceptor,  well  versed in  the  scriptures  and    also  firmly  established  in  the  Ultimate Reality    (12).  
ÏOÞØOW   ÞO   ¢ÛO¹OÓO¤ÔOÞO°OÙO   ÞOØÙOkq   p#ÜOOÓÏO¢ÅOÏtOOÙO
                               ÜOØOO¢ÓÛOÏOOÙO
ÙOEÓOOßOr|   ÔO¤âÝO|   ÛOEd   ÞOÏÙO|   p#OEÛOOÅO   ÏOO|   ÏOÏÛOÏOOE
                              ÖO#'¢ÛOïOØO¯               /  13/
ÏOÞØOW   to him (seeker of truth)
ÞO:   he (preceptor)
¢ÛO¹OÓO¯   learned
uÔOÞO°OÙO   he who has approached
ÞOØÙOkq   in line with the scriptural mandates
p#ÜOOÓÏO¢ÅOÏOOÙO    one of equanimity of mind
ÜOØOO¢ÓÛOÏOOÙO    having control over external senses
eÓO   by whom
AßOr|   the Undiminishing
ÔO¤âÝO   Brahman
ÛOEd   had realised
ÞOÏÙO|   the Immutable
p#OEÛOOÅO   instruct comprehensively
ÏOO|   that
ÏOÏÛOÏO:   as it is
ÖO#'¢ÛOïOØO¯    that knowledge about Brahman

                     To  that  disciple  (seeker)  who  has  come  with  reverence  to  the  preceptor,  with  control  over  mind  and  the  senses  subjugated, let  that  wise  preceptor  truly  impart  that  knowledge  about the  Ultimate  Reality,  by  which  the  true  and  Imperishable Purusha  will  be  realised  (13).  
i¢ÏO   ØO¤ÎfkOEÔO¢ÓOÝO¢d   p#ÐOØOØO¤ÎfkE   ¢¹ÏO£ÙO:   ÁOÎf:   /                        
i¢ÏO   Thus ends
ØO¤ÎfkOEÔO¢ÓOÝO¢d    of the Mundaka Upanishad
p#ÐOØOØO¤ÎfkE    of the First Chapter
¢¹ÏO£ÙO:  ÁOÎf:   the Second Canto
 
                     Thus  ends  the  Second  Canto  of  the  First  Chapter
                                       of  the  Mundaka  Upanishad  
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