Isavasyopanishad - 5th mantra

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5th Manthram:

 

 

thadejathi than naijathi

thad du:re thadwa dantike |

thadantharasya bahyasya

thadu sarvasyasya bahyataha ||

 

 

This manthram further establishes either the sky, the earth, the water

and all the remaining things in the universe as being filled with the

divine power. And this is the essence of all Upanishads. In this

manthram, mutually contradicting epithets have been used to explain the

nature of Paramathma. For example, 'thadejathi' means 'that which

vibrates or shakes. 'thannaijathi' implies that which does not shake or

vibrate. Similarly, 'thaddu:re' means that which is far away whereas

'thadwadantike' means that which is closeby. Thus, the implication of

this manthram appears to be self-contradictory and hence confusing. This

is so when we take the superficial or surface meaning into account. But

a deeper meaning of this manthram perfectly reconciles the seeming

contradiction. 'Paramathma' or God vibrates or shakes with affection and

pity when His devotees are in distress. For instance, Lord Sri Rama used

to grieve if any citizen in His kingdom was in distress. This is God's

characteristic. Nevertheless, it should not be misconstrued that He will

yield to anyone at anytime. For instance, He is never affected by the

hardest and most oustere penance of many people. He will never vibrate

or shake by their severe efforts as long as they think that they are

doing penance. Likewise, He will be far away and inaccessible to those

who think that they alone are capable or qualified for reaching Him. On

the other hand, He will always be present by the side of those who

believe that is done by God. This secret has also been revealed in the

Vishnu Sahasranama wherein God is 'Sulabha' (easily attainable) and

'Durlabha' (not attainable at all). The implication is that God is

easily accessible to those who submit absolutely to Him and He is not

accessible to those who think that they are efficient and knowledgeable

and therefore reach God easily. In this present Manthram, it is also

stated that He is 'thadantharasya sarvasyasya' (present inside this

phenomenal world and He is also in everything) and also 'sarvasya asya'

(i.e, present outside this universe also). Hence, God is easily

attainable because He is inside everything in this world, He is also

difficult to reach because He pervades inside this world. This manthram

thus reveals the most unique quality of God.

 

 

God is 'thaddhava tho nya nathye:thi thisthath': He is very fast and

runs and surpasses everything else in speed, but He will be steady and

stable everywhere. That is, He is here as well as there and exists

everywhere.

 

 

'thasminnapo mathari sva dadhathi': 'matharisva' even the wind, 'apah

dadhathi', keeps the water under its pressure, 'thasmin', because of

Him. That is, God is the source, controller, master and protector and

preserver behind the wind, behind the sky, behind the sun, the moon, the

planets and the entire universe. Then, why should man hesitate to

dedicate himself to God? There seems to be no reason. Nor objection. God

is so supreme and generous that He can easily accept man's surrender of

karma to Him.