Brihadaranyaka upanishad

[Guest guest]

--- krishna_susarla wrote:

 

I have Madhva' commentary on the BU. I looked at 1.4.10 but it does not say

anything to that effect. Perhaps the numbering is different in our two prints.

Can you type out the Sanskrit for the mantra in question? This will help me zero

in on it.

 

 

Swami Madhavananda's translation of Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad verse 1.4.10

 

This self was indeed Brahman in the beginning. It knew only itself as "I am

Brahman". Therefore It became all. And whoever among devas knew it also became

that. and the same with sages and men. The sage Vamadeva, while realizing this

as that knew, "I was Manu and the sun". And to this day whoever in like manner

know It as "I am Brahman" becomes all this. Even the devas connot prevail

against him for he becomes their self. While he who worships another deva

thinking, "He is one, and I am another", does now know. He is like an animal to

the devas. As many animals serve a man, so does each man serve the devas. Even

if one animal is taken away, it causes anguish, wht should one say of many

animals ? Therefore it is not liked by them than men should know this.

 

The sanskrit for the english words in bold is given here. atha yo'nyAm

devathAmupAstE, anyO'sAvanyO'hasmithi, na sa veda, yatha pasurEvam sa dEvAnAm|

 

I understand that Sri Vaishnavas may have commented on this. Or responded to it

in one of the vada granthas. Hope it helps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hare Krishna. I just attempted an interpretation of this verse based on gaudiya

theology and found it easy to do so. my comments are in italics withn

 

Brihad Aranyaka Upanishad verse 1.4.10

 

This self was indeed Brahman in the beginning. It knew only itself as "I am

Brahman". Therefore It became all. [this part refers to the lord manifesting the

world and the jivas]

 

And whoever among devas knew it also became that. and the same with sages and

men. [this refers to one knowing the lord realizing his nature as brahman]

 

The sage Vamadeva, while realizing this as that knew, "I was Manu and the sun".

[the sage became tri kala jna knowing his previous births as Manu & the Sun]

 

And to this day whoever in like manner know It as "I am Brahman" becomes all

this. [on the path of realization of para brahman or krishna one may become all

this as Vamadeva did]

 

Even the devas connot prevail against him for he becomes their self. [as he is

dear to the lord, he becomes dear to the devas as much as their own self is. so

even they cannot prevail against him]

 

While he who worships another deva thinking, "He is one, and I am another", does

not know. [this is an instruction to the karma khanda follower that he should

understand that the jivas occupying the post of devas is of the same category as

him. he should not think that they are the lord who is different from all the

devas, sages, men, asuras and other jivas occupying the particlar bodies]

 

He is like an animal to the devas. As many animals serve a man, so does each man

serve the devas. Even if one animal is taken away, it causes anguish, what

should one say of many animals ? Therefore it is not liked by them than men

should know this. [the demigods being elevated know that Kesava is the

benefactor and that the men will benefit only by directly worshipping him. but

they are possessive of men as men are of animals due to the influence of maya

shakti of the lord. so they sometimes obstruct the realization of this truth by

men. but pure devotees reveal this to men.]

 

The sanskrit for the english words in bold is given here. atha yo'nyAm

devathAmupAstE, anyO'sAvanyO'hasmithi, na sa veda, yatha pasurEvam sa dEvAnAm|