Reference for a shloka

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Letter COM:2639437 (301 lines)

Sundarananda (das) IDS (Moscow - R)

19-Sep-99 20:14

Madana-mohana (das) MG (IC - R) [4549]

Nayana-ranjana (das) (BBT Bombay - IN) [4054]

Thakura-seva (das) SS (Copenhagen - DK) [970]

Reference: Text COM:2639124 by Madana-mohana (das) MG (IC - R)

Reference for a shloka

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Sri Vajra-sucika Upanisad

 

 

INVOCATION

 

harih om. apyayantu mamangani vak pranas caksuh srotram atho balam indriyani

ca sarvani. sarvam brahmopanisadam maham brahma nirakuryam. ma ma brahma

nirakarot. anirakaranam astu. anirakaranam me 'stu. tad-atmani nirate ya

upasinatsu dharmas te mayi santu. te mayi santu. om santih santih santih.

 

harih om - O Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Hari; apyayantu - may

become strong; mama - my; angani - limbs; vak - words; pranas - breath;

caksuh - eyes; srotram - ears; atho - then; balam - strength; indriyani -

senses; ca - and; sarvani - all; sarvam - all; brahma - the Supreme;

upanisadam - the Upaninad; ma - may not; aham - I; brahma - the Supreme;

nirakuryam - reject; ma - may not; ma - may not; brahma - the Supreme;

nirakarot - reject; anirakaranam - without rejection; astu - may be;

anirakaranam - without rejection; me - of me; astu - may be; tad-atmani - in

the Supreme; nirate - engaged; ya - which; upanisatsu - in the Uapninads;

dharmas - religious truths; te - they; mayi - in me; santu - may be; te -

they; mayi - in me; santu - may be; om - Om; santih-peace; santih - peace;

santih - peace.

 

 

Hari Om. O Lord Hari, O Supreme Personality of Godhead, I pray that by Your

mercy my limbs, words, life-breath, eyes, ears, bodily strength, and all my

senses may become strengthened and enlivened. I pray that I may never

abandon the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is described in the

Upanisads, and who is the source of everything that exists. I pray that the

Supreme Personality of Godhead may never abandon me. I pray that I may never

abandon Him. I pray that He may never abandon me. I pray that the truths of

the Upanisads may always be present within me, who am faithfully devoted to

the Supreme Personality of Godhead. I pray that the truths of the Upanisads

may always be present within me. Om. Peace. Peace. Peace.

 

Text 1

 

vajra-sucim pravaksyami

sastram ajnana-bhedanam

dusanam jnana-hinanam

bhusanam jnana-caksusam

 

vajra-sucim - Vajra-suci; pravaksyami - I shall now speak; sastram -

scripture; ajnana - ignorance; bhedanam - destroying; dusanam - refutation;

jnana - knowledge; hinanam - without; bhusanam - decoration; jnana-caksusam

- of they who have eyes of knowledge.

 

Now I will speak the Vajra-sucika Upanisad, which destroys ignorance,

refutes the fallacies of the foolish, and decorates the wise whose eyes are

filled with knowledge.

 

 

Text 2

 

brahma-ksatriya-vaisya-sudra iti catvaro varnas tesam varnanam brahmana eva

pradhana iti veda-vacananurupam smrtibhir apy uktam. tatra codyam asti ko va

brahmano nama kim jevah kim dehah kim jatih kim jnanah kim karma kim

dharmika iti.

 

brahma-ksatriya-vaisya-sudra - brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra; iti -

thus; catvarah - four; varnah - varnas; tesam - of these; varnanam - varnas;

brahmana - brahmana; eva - indeed; pradhana - the most important; iti -

thus; veda-vacananurupam - according to the words of the Vedas; smrtibhih -

by the Smrti-sastras; apy - also; uktam - said; tatra - there; codyam - to

be asked; asti - is; kah - who?; va - or; brahmanah - a brahmana; nama -

indeed; kim - whether?; jivah - the living entity; kim - whether?; dehah -

the body; kim-whether?; jatih - birth; kim - whether?; jnanam - knowledge;

kim - whether?; karma - activity; kim - whether?; dharmikah - pious deeds;

iti - thus.

 

 

The four varnas are: brahmana, ksatriya, vaisya, and sudra. Of these varnas

the most important are the brahmanas. This is confirmed by both the Vedas

and the Smrti-sastras. Here someone may ask: "How is it that a certain

person becomes a brahmana? Is it that some spirit souls are brahmanas by

nature and other spirit souls are not? Is it that some bodies are brahmana

bodies and others not? Is it that one is a brahmana by birth in a brahmana

family? Is it that one is a brahmana because he is a learned scholar? Is one

a brahmana because of his past karma? Is one a brahmana because he performs

pious deeds?

 

Text 3

 

tatra prathamo jivo brahmana iti cet tan na. atetanagataneka-dehanam

jivasyaika-rupatvat ekasyapi karma-vacad aneka-deha-sambhavat

sarva-sariranam jivasyaika-rupatvac ca. tasman na jivo brahmana iti.

 

tatra - there; prathamah - first; jivah - spirit soul; brahmana - brahmana;

iti - thus; cet - if; tat - that; na - no; ateta - passed; anagata - yet to

come; aneka - many; dehanam - of bodies; jivasya - of the spirit soul; eka -

one; rupatvat - because of the form; ekasya - of one; api - also;

karma-vacat - impelled by karma; aneka - many; deha - of bodies; sambhavat -

because of birth; sarva-sariranam - of all bodies; jivasya - of the spirit

soul; eka - one; rupatvat - because of the form; ca - also; tasmat -

therefore; na - not; jivah - the spirit soul; brahmana - brahmana; iti -

thus.

 

If someone says: "A particular person is a brahmana because he is a brahmana

spirit soul", then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. The soul

remains the same, even though because of karma it transmigrates into many

different kinds of material bodies. Therefore it is not that certain spirit

souls are brahmanas by nature and others are not."

 

 

Text 4

 

tarhi deho brahmana iti cet tan na. a-candaladi-paryantanam manusyanam

panca-bhautikatvena dehasyaika-rupatvat jara-marana-dharmadharmadi-samya-

darsanat. brahmanah sveta-varnah ksatriyo rakta-varno vaisyah pita-varnah

sudrah krsna-varna iti niyamabhavat pitr-adi-sarira-dahane putradinam

brahma-hatyadi-dosa-sambhavac ca. tasman na deho brahmana iti.

 

tarhi - then; dehah - body; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus; cet - if; tat -

that; na - not; a-candaladi-paryantanam - from candalas on; manusyanam - of

human beings; panca-bhautikatvena - because of being made of five elements;

dehasya - of the body; eka-rupatvat - because of one nature; jara - old age;

marana - death; dharma - piety; adharma - impiety; adi - beginning with;

samya - equality; darsanat - because of the sight; brahmanah - a brahmana;

sveta-varnah - white color; ksatriyah - ksatirya; rakta-varnah - red color;

vaisyah - vaisya; pita - varnah - yellow color; sudrah - sudra; krsna -

varna - black color; iti - thus; niyama - restraint; abhavat - because of

the absence; pita - father; adi - beginning; sarira - body; dahane - in

burning; putra - son; adinam - beginning with; brahma-hatyadi-dosa-sambhavat

- from the sins that begin with killing a brahmana; ca - and; tasmat -

therefore; na - not; dehah - the body; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus.

 

If someone says: "A particular person is a brahmana because he has the body

of a brahmana," then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. All classes

of human beings, down to the lowest outcaste, have the same kind of material

body made of five material elements, and subject to old age, death, and

other changes in exactly the same ways. Neither is it true that brahmanas

have fair complexions, ksatriyas ruddy complexions, vaisyas yellow

complexions, and sudras dark complexions.

 

[MISSED IN THE TRANSLATION!!! Also, by burning the body of a dead brahmana

on a pyre, his son does not become contaminated with the sin of killing a

brahmana.]

 

Therefore there is no such thing as a brahmana body. It is not the body that

is a brahmana."

 

 

Text 5

 

tarhi jatir brahmana iti cet tan na. tatra jaty-antara-jantusv

aneka-jati-sambhavat. maharsayo bahavah santi. rsyasrngo mrgyah. kausikah

kusat. jambuko jambukat. valmiko valmikat. vyasah kaivarta-kanyayam.

sasa-panohat gautamah. vasistha urvasyam. agastyah kalase jata iti

srutatvat. etesam jatya vinapy agre jnana-pratipadita rsayo bahavah santi.

tasman na jatir brahmana iti.

 

tarhi - then; jatih - birth; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus; cet - if; tan

- that; na - not; tatra - there; jaty - birth; antara - another; jantusu -

in living entities; aneka-jati-sambhavat - because of many births;

maharsayah - great sages; bahavah - many; santi - are; rsyasrngah -

Rsyasrnga; mrgyah - from a doe; kausikah - Kausika; kusat - from a kusa

grass; jambukah - Jambuka; jambukat - from a jackal; valmikah - Valmiki;

valmikat - from an ant-hill; vyasah - Vyasa; kaivarta-kanyayam - from a

fisherman's daughter; sasa-panohat - from the side of a rabbit; gautamah -

Gautama;. vasistha - Vasistha; urvasyam-from Urvasi; agastyah - Agastya;

kalase - in a waterpot; jata - born; iti - thus; srutatvat - beacuse of the

Sruti-sastra; etenam - of them; jatya - by birth; vina - without; apy -

also; agre - before; jnana - by knowledge; pratipadita - established; rsayah

- sages; bahavah - many; santi - are; tasman - therefore; na - not; jatih -

birth; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus.

 

If someone says: "One becomes a brahmana by taking birth in a brahmana

family," then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. A brahmana may be

born in any kind of family. Indeed, many great brahmana sages were not born

from brahmanas. Rsyasrnga Muni was born from a doe. Kausika Muni was born

from kusa grass. Jambuka Muni was born from a jackal. Valmiki Muni was born

from an anti-hill. Vyasa Muni was born from a fisherman's daughter. Gautama

Muni was born from the side of a rabbit. Vasistha Muni was born from Urvasi.

Agastya Muni was born from a pot of water. All this is described in the

Sruti-sastra. Thus many great brahmana sages, although not born in brahmana

families, are accepted as great brahmanas because of their spiritual wisdom.

Therefore it is not birth in a brahmana family that makes one a brahmana."

 

 

Text 6

 

tarhi jnanam brahmana iti cen na. ksatriyadayo 'pi paramartha-darsino

'bhijna bahavo santi. tasman na jnanam brahmana iti.

 

tarhi - then; jnanam - knowledge; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus; cet - if;

na - not; ksatriyadayah - beginning with ksatriyas; api - also; paramartha -

the ultimate goal of life; darsinah - seeing; abhijna - wise; bahavah -

many; santi - are; tasmat - from that; na - not; jnanam - knowledge;

brahmana - brahmana; iti-thus.

 

If someone says: "A particular person is a brahmana because he has

knowledge," then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. Many ksatriyas

and others have true knowledge and understand the final goal of life, but

they are still not brahmanas. Therefore it is not knowledge alone that makes

one a brahmana."

 

Text 7

 

tarhi karma brahmana iti cet tan na. sarvesam praninam

prarabdha-sancitagami-karma-sadharmya-darsanat karmabhir preritah santo

janah kriyah kurvantiti. tasman na karma brahmana iti.

 

tarhi - then; karma - karma; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus; cet - if; tan

- then; na - not; sarvesam - of all; praninam - living entities; prarabdha -

begun; sancita - accumulated; agami - arriving; karma - karma; sadharmya -

the same nature; darsanat - because of seeing; karmabhih - by karma;

preritah - impelled; santah - saintly; janah - persons; kriyah - pious

deeds; kurvanti - do; iti - in this way; tasmat - therefore; na - not; karma

- karma; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus.

 

If someone says: "A particular person is a brahmana because he performs his

prescribed duties," then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. Many

pious living entities alike perform the prescribed duties resulting from

their previous karma, but that does not make them all brahmanas. Therefore

it is not performance of prescribed duties that makes one a brahmana."

 

 

Text 8

 

tarhi dharmiko brahmana iti cet tan na. ksatriyadayo hiranya-dataro bahavah

santi. tasman na dharmiko brahmana iti.

 

tarhi - then; dharmikah - pious deeds; brahmana - brahmana; iti - thus; cet

- if; tan - then; na - not; ksatriyadayah - beginning with ksatriyas;

hiranya-datarah - giving gold in charity; bahavah - many; santi - are;

tasman - therefore; na - not; dharmikah - pious deeds; brahmana - brahmana;

iti - thus.

 

If someone says: "A particular person is a brahmana because he performs

pious deeds," then the scripture replies: "No. That is not so. Many

ksatriyas and others gave gold in charity and performed many pious deeds,

but that did not make them brahmanas. Therefore pious deeds alone do not

make one a brahmana."

 

Text 9

 

tarhi ko va brahmano nama. yah kascid atmanam advitiyam jati-guna-kriya-

hinam sad-urmi-sad-bhavety-adi-sarva-dosa-rahitam satya-jnananandananta-

rupam seyam nirvikalpam asesa-kalpadharam asesa-bhutantaryamitvena

vartamanam antar bahis cakasa-vad anusyutam akhandananda-svabhavam aprameyam

anubhavaika-vedyam aparoksataya bhasamanam kara-talamalaka-vat saksad

aparoksi-krtya krtarthataya kama-ragadi-dosa-rahitah sama-damadi-sampanno

bhava-matsarya-trsnasa-mohadi-rahito dambhahankaradibhir asamsprsta-ceta

vartata evam ukta-laksano yah sa eva brahmana iti

sruti-smrti-puranetihasanam abhiprayah. anyatha hi brahmanatva-siddhir nasty

eva. sac-cid-anandam atmanam advitiyam brahma bhavayed atmanam

sac-cid-anandam brahma bhavayed ity upanisat.

 

tarhi - then; kah - who?; va - or; brahmanah - a brahmana; nama - indeed;

yah - who; kascit - someone; atmanam - the Supreme; advitiyam - one without

a second; jati-guna-kriya-hinam - without birth, qualities, or actions;

sad-urmi - the six waves; sad-bhava - the six states of existence; iti -

thus; adi - beginning; sarva - all; dosa - faults; rahitam - without; satya

- eternal existence; jnana - knowledge; ananda - bliss; ananta - limitless;

rupam - from; sa iyam - this; nirvikalpam - transcendental;

asesa-kalpadharam - the resting place of all; asesa-bhutantaryamitvena -

because of being the Supersoul present in everyone's hearts; vartamanam -

being so; antah - within; bahis - without; ca - and; akasa-vat - like the

sky; anusyutam - woven together; akhanda - unbroken; ananda - bliss;

svabhavam - nature; aprameyam - beyond conception; anubhava - direct

perception; eka - only; vedyam - to be known; aparoknataya - by being

invisible; bhasamanam - manifested; kara-talamalaka-vat - like a walnut in

one's hand; saksat - directly; aparoksi-krtya - becoming invisible;

krtarthataya - by success; kama-ragadi-dosa-rahitah - free of lust,

attachment, and other vices; sama-damadi-sampannah - endowed with

peacefulness, self-control, and other virtues;

bhava-matsarya-trsnasa-mohadi-rahitah - free of envy, hankering,

bewilderment, and other faults; dambhahankaradibhih - free of pride and ego;

asamsprsta-ceta - His heart untouched by matter; vartate - is; evam - thus;

ukta - described; laksanah - qualities; yah - who; sa - he; eva - indeed;

brahmana - a brahmana; iti - thus; sruti-smrti-puranetihasanam - of the

Sruti, Smrti, Puranas, and Itihasas; abhiprayah - to be known; anyatha -

otherwise; hi - indeed; brahmanatva-siddhih - the perfection of being a

brahmana; na - not; asti - is; eva - indeed; sac-cid-anandam - eternal and

full of knowledge and bliss; atmanam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead;

advitiyam - without any rival; brahma - the Supreme; bhavayet - should

meditate; atmanam - the Supreme Personality of Godhead; sac-cid-anandam -

eternal and full of knowledge and bliss; brahma - the Supreme; bhavayet -

should meditate; ity - thus; upanisat - the Upaninad.

 

Then someone may ask: "Who is a brahmana, then?" The scriptures answer: "A

brahmana directly sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has no rival,

who is never born, never touched by the modes of material nature, and never

trapped in material actions, who is free of the six material waves and the

six material states of being, who is free of all defects, whose form is

eternal, limitless, and full of knowledge and bliss, who is free of material

dualities, who is the resting place of all that exists, who is the Supersoul

residing in the hearts of all living beings, who is everywhere, within and

without everything, like the great sky, who is a loom on which everything is

woven, whose bliss never ends, who is invisible, who is seen only by His own

consent, and who voluntarily appears before His devotees and becomes like a

walnut grasped in their hands. Also, a brahmana is free of lust, attachment,

and other vices, is endowed with peacefulness, self-control and other

virtues, is free of envy, hankering, illusion, and other defects, and has a

heart untouched by pride and false ego. The Sruti, Smrti, Puranas, and

Itihasas declare that such a person is a brahmana. A person who does not

have these qualities cannot be a brahmana. A brahmana always meditates on

the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who has no rival and is eternal and full

of knowledge and bliss. A brahmana always meditates on the Supreme

Personality of Godhead, who is eternal and full of knowledge and bliss. Thus

the Upanisad is spoken.

(Text COM:2639437) --------