Prashnopanishad - Question 2 - English

The second question of praśnōpaniṣad asks which powers sustain the person and which among them is supreme. Pippalada answers through a vivid teaching: the senses, mind, speech, fire, sun, and other powers all have their place, but prāṇa is the central life-force on which they depend.

This question belongs to the Atharva Veda's contemplative style, where physiological, cosmic, and spiritual meanings are woven together. Prana is not treated merely as breathing air; it is the organizing vitality that allows the senses, mind, and body to function. When prana prepares to depart, all other faculties weaken.

dvitīyaḥ praśnaḥ

Translation (bhāvārtha):
This title announces the second question of the Prashna Upanishad.

atha hainaṃ bhārgavō vaidarbhiḥ paprachCha।
bhagavan katyēva dēvāḥ prajāṃ vidhārayantē katara ētatprakāśayantē kaḥ punarēṣāṃ variṣṭhaḥ iti ॥1॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Bhargava asks how many deities uphold a person, which illumine the body, and which among them is supreme.

tasmai sa hōvāchākāśō ha vā ēṣa dēvō vāyuragnirāpaḥ pṛthivī vāṅmanaśchakṣuḥ śrōtraṃ cha।
tē prakāśyābhivadanti vayamētadbāṇamavaṣṭabhya vidhārayāmaḥ ॥2॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Pippalada lists space, air, fire, water, earth, speech, mind, sight, and hearing as powers that claim to support the body.

tān variṣṭhaḥ prāṇa uvācha।
mā mōhamāpadyatha ahamēvaitatpañchadhātmānaṃ pravibhajyaitadbāṇamavaṣṭabhya vidhārayāmīti tē'śraddadhānā babhūvuḥ ॥3॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana, the chief life-force, tells them not to fall into delusion, for he supports the body by dividing himself fivefold.

sō'bhimānādūrdhvamutkrāmata iva tasminnutkrāmatyathētarē sarva ēvōtkrāmantē tasmiṃścha pratiṣṭhamānē sarva ēva pratiṣṭhantē।
tadyathā makṣikā madhukararājānamutkrāmantaṃ sarva ēvōtkrāmantē tasmiṃścha pratiṣṭhamānē sarva ēva pratiṣṭanta ēvaṃ vāṅmanaṣchakṣuḥ śrōtraṃ cha tē prītāḥ prāṇaṃ stunvanti ॥4॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The other powers do not believe him, so prana prepares to depart; as he rises, all the others rise like bees following their queen.

ēṣō'gnistapatyēṣa sūrya ēṣa parjanyō maghavānēṣa vāyuḥ।
ēṣa pṛthivī rayirdēvaḥ sadasachchāmṛtaṃ cha yat ॥5॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Convinced, the powers praise prana as fire, sun, rain, Indra, wind, earth, matter, deity, being, and non-being.

arā iva rathanābhau prāṇē sarvaṃ pratiṣṭhitam।
ṛchō yajūṣi sāmāni yajñaḥ kṣatraṃ brahma cha ॥6॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
They praise prana as the hub in which the Vedas, sacrifice, priestly power, and warrior power are established.

prajāpatiścharasi garbhē tvamēva pratijāyasē।
tubhyaṃ prāṇa prajāstvimā baliṃ haranti yaḥ prāṇaiḥ pratitiṣṭhasi ॥7॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana is praised as Prajapati moving in the womb, born as beings, and receiving offerings through the senses.

dēvānāmasi vahnitamaḥ pitṛṇāṃ prathamā svadhā।
ṛṣīṇāṃ charitaṃ satyamatharvāṅgirasāmasi ॥8॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana is called the carrier of offerings to gods and ancestors and the truth of the seers.

indrastvaṃ prāṇa tējasā rudrō'si parirakṣitā।
tvamantarikṣē charasi sūryastvaṃ jyōtiṣāṃ patiḥ ॥9॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana is identified with Indra, Rudra, protector, sun, and lord of light.

yadā tvamabhivarṣasyathēmāḥ prāṇa tē prajāḥ।
ānandarūpāstiṣṭhanti kāmāyānnaṃ bhaviṣyatīti ॥10॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
When prana rains, beings rejoice, knowing food will be abundant.

vrātyastvaṃ prāṇaikarṣarattā viśvasya satpatiḥ।
vayamādyasya dātāraḥ pitā tvaṃ mātariśva naḥ ॥11॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Prana is praised as pure, eater, lord of what exists, and father, to whom offerings are made.

yā tē tanūrvāchi pratiṣṭhitā yā śrōtrē yā cha chakṣuṣi।
yā cha manasi santatā śivāṃ tāṃ kurū mōtkramīḥ ॥12॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The prayer asks prana to make speech, hearing, sight, and mind auspicious and not to depart from the body.

prāṇasyēdaṃ vaśē sarvaṃ tridivē yat pratiṣṭhitam।
mātēva putrān rakṣasva śrīścha prajñāṃ cha vidhēhi na iti ॥13॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
All beings in the three worlds are under prana's control, so the seekers ask him to protect them like a mother and grant prosperity and wisdom.

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