Prashnopanishad - Question 5 - English

The fifth question of praśnōpaniṣad asks about the fruit of meditating on ōṃ until the end of life. Pippalada answers by distinguishing meditation on one, two, and three matras, and by showing how complete contemplation of ōṃ leads toward the supreme Person.

This question belongs to the Atharva Veda's deep praṇava teaching. ōṃ is described as both lower and higher Brahman, a support by which the seeker reaches the appropriate result according to the completeness of meditation. Partial meditation gives limited results; integrated meditation leads beyond fear.

pañchamaḥ praśnaḥ

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

atha hainaṃ saibyaḥ satyakāmaḥ paprachCha।
sa yō ha vai tad vagavanmanuṣyēṣu prāyaṇāntamōṅkāramabhidhyāyīta katamaṃ vāva sa tēna lōkaṃ jayatīti ॥1॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Satyakama asks what world is won by meditating on Om until the end of life.

tasmai sa hōvācha ētad vai satyakāma paraṃ chāparaṃ cha brahma yadōṅkāraḥ।
tasmād vidvānētēnaivāyatanēnaikataramanvēti ॥2॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Pippalada says Om is both the higher and lower Brahman, and the knower reaches either through this support.

sa yadhyēkamātramabhidhyāyīta sa tēnaiva saṃvēditastūrṇamēva jagatyābhisampadhyatē।
tamṛchō manuṣyalōkamupanayantē sa tatra tapasā brahmacharyēṇa śraddhayā sampannō mahimānamanubhavati ॥3॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Meditating on one matra leads quickly back to the human world, where one gains greatness through austerity, celibacy, and faith.

atha yadi dvimātrēṇa manasi sampadyatē sō'ntarikṣaṃ yajurbhirunnīyatē sōmalōkam।
sa sōmalōkē vibhutimanubhūya punarāvartatē ॥4॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Meditating on two matras reaches the mind and the lunar world through the Yajurveda, enjoys glory there, and returns.

yaḥ punarētaṃ trimātrēṇōmityētēnaivākṣarēṇa paraṃ puruṣamabhidhyāyīta sa tējasi sūryē sampannaḥ।
yathā pādōdarastvachā vinirbhuchyata ēvaṃ ha vai sa pāpmanā vinirbhuktaḥ sa sāmabhirunnīyatē brahmalōkaṃ sa ētasmājjīvaghanātparātparaṃ puriśayaṃ puruṣamīkṣatē tadētau ślōkau bhavataḥ ॥5॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Meditating on the three-matra Om as the supreme purusha leads through the sun, sheds sin like a snake's skin, and reaches Brahmaloka to behold the higher purusha.

tisrō mātrā mṛtyumatyaḥ prayuktā anyōnyasaktāḥ anaviprayuktāḥ।
kriyāsu bāhyāntaramadhyamāsu samyakprayuktāsu na kampatē jñaḥ ॥6॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The verse teaches that the three mortal matras must be used together and properly in outer, inner, and middle actions; then the knower does not tremble.

ṛgbhirētaṃ yajurbhirantarikṣaṃ sāmabhiryattatkavayō vēdayantē।
tamōṅkārēṇaivāyatanēnānvēti vidvān yattachChāntamajaramamṛtamabhayaṃ paraṃ chēti ॥7॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through Om as the support, the wise reach what the Vedas indicate: the peaceful, undecaying, immortal, fearless, supreme reality.

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