True Meaning of Brihadarnayaka Upanishad Shloka 8:4:18

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Jai Sriman Narayana!

Dr.  Susarla's question is " What is the correct understanding of this mantra

from the rihadaaranyaka Upanishad 8.4.18? I have seen people translating this o

mean that one who desires a son should eat the meat of a young bull. his makes

no sense to me, given the multiple references in the Rig eda describing the cow

to be something which deserves protection "

 

The shloka in question is shloka #18 from ashtamodyaya (8th chapter), chathurtha

(4th) bra:hmanam

" Atha iche puthrome panditgjanayithva:

..............

oukshenava:rishabe:nava "

 

 

My final reply is as follows:

Yes, the external meaning appears to be  that by mixing the food with  the meet

of a bull (mature in age) cooked in ghee and eating it, one would get a son who

is fully versed in all four vedas. Vedas are written such a way that they are

bewildering to the outsider. As Parasara Bhattar varu points out  the vedic

literature has to be looked through the glass of Bhakthi (Bhakthi

siddanjanena....).

 

Rishaba (bull) has been used in our literature to refer to a strong person. Now,

the question is who is strong? That too, the shloka is  referring to a young

bull; that means very strong. All the puranas reveal that a pure devotee of Lord

Sriman Narayana is very strong unperturbed by anything( for example Prahlada). 

Prahlada is like a untamed young bull (young rishaba) untamed by all the

disasters created by hiranyakashipu. Now, what is the underlying cause (meat) of

this extreme strength?  It is uninterrupted niranthara smarana of Lord Hari

(Sriman Narayana). Therefore. the true meaning of the shloka is that by eating

food  (rice cooked in ghee) which  has been offerred to Lord Sriman Narayana

after mixing it with the nectar of the praise of His kalyana gunas with intense

love for Him, and by niranthara Hari smaranam even at the time of conception,

one would get a son who is a devotee of the Lord and a maha panditha (scholar)

who is well versed in all four vedas.

 

With all glories to Lord Sri Venkateswara, and to Surahbhi and family, and

thousands of pranams to His Holiness Jagadguru Sri Sri Sri Thridand Sriman

Naryana Ramanuja Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji,

 

I remain. Sincerely

Narender P. Reddy

 

 

QUESTION)

" Hari Krishna Susarla "

Brihadaaranyaka Upanishad 6.4.18

 

What is the correct understanding of this mantra from the Brihadaaranyaka

Upanishad 6.4.18? I have seen people translating this to mean that one who

desires a son should eat the meat of a young bull. This makes no sense to me,

given the multiple references in the Rig Veda describing the cow to be something

which deserves protection.

 

I have the commentary of Madhva on this Upanishad, and strangely, he does not

comment on 6.4 at all. I also looked at the commentary published by the Gaudiya

Math, and it too simply ignores these mantras.

 

I would appreciate any light you can shed on this matter. Actually, I think this

section of the Brihadaaranyaka contains many " controversial " verses. But if they

are shruti, then Vaishnavas should accept them, should they not?

S. HariKrishna