Isavasyopanishad - 3rd manthram

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asu:rya namathe lokah

andhe:na thamasavrithaha |

thansthe pre:thyabhi gacchanthi

e:ke cha:thma hano janaha ||

 

 

The third manthra explains the fate of those men who abstain karmas (or

duties) assigned to them.

 

Those, who discontinue action or karma and give the discharge for sake of

their duties bring self-destruction upon themselves. They are called

'a:thmahanas' (self-killers) in this manthra. 'e:ke cha:thma hano janaha' such

self-destroyers will ultimately be thrown into 'asu:rya namathe lokah', i.e.,

the worlds which are called 'asu:rya:s'. These worlds are 'andhe:na

asu:rya:s'. These worlds are 'andhe:na thamasavrithaha', filled with total

darkness and are enveloped in gloom and suffocation. Non-performers of karma

will be thrown into these evil and loathsome worlds and live there forever in

weltering sorrow and endless grief and agony, mixed with guilt and shame. When

does such a man go there? At the end of this life. As long as this body is

alive, he lives in this world; but death is inescapable, thus, after death, he

(i.e., the avoider of karma) will be thrown into those ugly worlds. He becomes

a spirit or ghost. The form of a ghost. The form of a ghost is not like this

body; one who assumes the ghost form after death cannot bear light, cannot

enjoy any pleasures or comforts of the physical body. He will be engulfed by

unending grief and lives in such a state ii the asu:rya (demonly) worlds,

because he committed the worst sin, namely self-destruction while alive in

this world.

 

 

Thus, this manthra proves the value and indispensability of the discharge of

our duties or performance of karma. The denial of karma is equal to

self-assassination and hence the greatest sin. Therefore, man has to perform

karma without attachment and live happily in this world and also in the nether

worlds.