From brhadAraNyaka:

[Guest guest]

Dear devotees,

Here is a chapter on gAyatrI from brhadAraNyaka upanishad. (I see it

as a crude english translation - pay close attention to v-xiv-4).

 

Regards,

Kasturi Rangan

 

gAyatrI brAhmaNam of brhadAraNyaka

-

 

V-xiv-1: `Bhumi' (the earth), `Antariksa' (sky) and `Dyaus' (heaven)

make eight syllables, and the first foot of the Gayatri has eight

syllables. So the above three worlds constitute the first foot of the

Gayatri. He who knows the first foot of the Gayatri to be such wins

as much as there is in those three worlds.

 

V-xiv-2: `Rchah', `Yajumsi' and `Samani' make eight syllables, and

the second foot of the Gayatri has eight syllables. So the above

three Vedas constitute the second foot of the Gayatri. He who knows

the second foot of the Gayatri to be such wins as much as that

treasury of knowledge, the three Vedas, has to confer.

 

V-xiv-3: `Prana', `Apana' and `Vyana' make eight syllables, and the

third foot of the Gayatri has eight syllables. So the above three

forms of vital force constitute the third foot of the Gayatri. He who

knows the third foot of the Gayatri to be such wins all the living

beings that are in the universe. Now its Turiya, apparently visible,

supramundane foot is indeed this – the sun that shines. `Turiya'

means the fourth. `Apparently visible foot', because he is seen, as

it were. `Supramundane', because he shines on the whole universe as

its overlord. He who knows the fourth foot of the Gayatri to be such

shines in the same way with splendour and fame.

 

V-xiv-4: That Gayatri rests on this fourth, apparently visible,

supramundane foot. That again rests on truth. The eye is truth, for

the eye is indeed truth. Therefore if even today two persons come

disputing, one saying, `I saw it', and another, `I heard of it', we

believe him only who says, `I saw it'. That truth rests on strength.

The vital force is strength. (Hence) truth rests on the vital force.

Therefore they say strength is more powerful than truth. Thus the

Gayatri rests on the vital force within the body. That Gayatri saved

the Gayas. The organs are the Gayas; so it saved the organs. Now,

because it saved the organs, therefore it is called the Gayatri. The

Savitri that the teacher communicates to the pupil is no other than

this. It saves the organs of him to whom it is communicated.

 

V-xiv-5: Some communicate (to the pupil) the Savitri that is Anustubh

(saying), `speech is Anustubh; we shall impart that to him'. One

should not do like that. One should communicate that Savitri which is

the Gayatri. Even if a man who knows as above accepts too much as

gift, as it were, it is not (enough) for even one foot of the Gayatri.

 

V-xiv-6: He who accepts these three worlds replete (with wealth),

will be receiving (the results of knowing) only the first foot of the

Gayatri. He who accepts as much as this treasury of knowledge, the

Vedas (has to confer), will receive (the results of knowing) only its

second foot. And he who accepts as much as (is covered by) all living

beings, will receive (the results of knowing) only its third foot.

With its fourth, apparently visible, supramundane foot – the sun that

shines – is not to be counter balanced by any gift received. Indeed

how could any one accept so much as gift ?

 

V-xiv-7: Its salutation: `O Gayatri, thou art one-footed, two-footed,

there-footed and four-footed, and thou art without any feet, for thou

art unattainable. Salutation to thee, the fourth, apparently visible,

supramundane foot ! May the enemy never attain his object !' (Should

the knower of the Gayatri) bear hatred towards anybody, (he should)

either (use this Mantra): `Such and such – way his desired object

never flourish!' – in which case that object of the person against

whom he thus salutes the Gayatri, never flourishes – or (he may

say), `May I attain that (cherished object) of his!'

 

V-xiv-8: On this Janaka, Emperor of Videha, is said to have told

Budila, the son of Asvatarasva, `Well, you gave yourself out as a

knower of the Gayatri; then why, alas, are you carrying (me) as an

elephant ?' He replied, `Because I did not know its mouth, O

Emperor'. `Fire is its mouth. Even if they put a large quantity of

fuel into the fire, it is all burnt up. Similarly, even if one who

knows as above commits a great many sins, he consumes them all and

becomes pure, cleansed, undecaying and immortal'.