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मुंडक उपनिषद् - तृतीय मुंडक, प्रथम कांडः

॥ तृतीय मुंडके प्रथमः खंडः ॥

Description of the Immutable Brahman (Nirguna) as per Mundaka Upanishad

द्वा सुपर्णा सयुजा सखाया समानं वृक्षं परिषस्वजाते ।
तयोरन्यः पिप्पलं स्वाद्वत्त्यनश्नन्नन्यो अभिचाकशीति ॥ 1॥

Two birds, friends of each other sit on the same tree. One eats the fruits while other looks on without eating.

समाने वृक्षे पुरुषो निमग्नोऽनिशया शोचति मुह्यमानः ।
जुष्टं यदा पश्यत्यन्यमीशमस्य
महिमानमिति वीतशोकः ॥ 2॥

Seated by the same tree, the deluded Jiva (who is enjoying the fruit) grieves over his helplessness. But the moment he sees the glorious worship-worthy God,(the one who is simple watching) he is freed of all grief.

In short, when Jiva realizes his Atman Self he becomes free of misery and helplessness. He starts living in eternal bliss.

यदा पश्यः पश्यते रुक्मवर्णं
कर्तारमीशं पुरुषं ब्रह्मयोनिम् ।
तदा विद्वान् पुण्यपापे विधूय
निरंजनः परमं साम्यमुपैति ॥ 3॥

When the wise one sees the Brahman, the luminous (golden-hued) Lord, the creator, then he shakes off all good and evil (virtue and vice) and becomes flawless and becomes one with the Supreme.

प्रणो ह्येष यः सर्वभूतैर्विभाति
विजानन् विद्वान् भवते नातिवादी ।
आत्मक्रीड आत्मरतिः क्रियावा-
नेष ब्रह्मविदां वरिष्ठः ॥ 4॥

He is the force of all vital forces (the Prana of all Pranas) that pervades all being. After knowing him, the wise have no need to babble anymore. He revels in the Self, he delights in the Self, executing all actions (devotional practices like meditation, acquiring knowledge etc) he is the chief among knowers of Brahman.

सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा
सम्यग्ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्येण नित्यम् ।
अंतःशरीरे ज्योतिर्मयो हि शुभ्रो
यं पश्यंति यतयः क्षीणदोषाः ॥ 5॥

The austere ones see the luminous and pure Atman residing within them through the continuous practice of truth, penance (concentration), right knowledge and continence.

Satmev Jayante means Truth alone triumphs.

Above all, Truth means truthfulness of thought, action and deed. Further, this is a primary virtue required for achieving Realization.

In addition, the virtue of Penance (concentration/ withdrawing Self from the mind/senses concentrate on the Atman) is a must.

Also Right knowledge in understanding the correct import of scriptural teachings. Lastly, continence as in a chaste body and a chaste mind.

सत्यमेव जयते नानृतं
सत्येन पंथा विततो देवयानः ।
येनाऽऽक्रमंत्यृषयो ह्याप्तकामा
यत्र तत् सत्यस्य परमं निधानम् ॥ 6॥

Satyamev Jayate as in truth alone succeeds, and not falsehood. Only truth can pave the way for Devayana (the road to God) Ascending this the desire-free sages ascend the highest treasure of truth

बृहच्च तद् दिव्यमचिंत्यरूपं
सूक्ष्माच्च तत् सूक्ष्मतरं विभाति ।
दूरात् सुदूरे तदिहांतिके च
पश्यंत्विहैव निहितं गुहायाम् ॥ 7॥

It is vast and luminous. Its form is beyond thought. It is subtler than the subtlest. He is farther than the farthest and yet near at hand. The Seers realize Him in the cavity of the heart.

न चक्षुषा गृह्यते नापि वाचा
नान्यैर्देवैस्तपसा कर्मण वा ।
ज्ञानप्रसादेन विशुद्धसत्त्व-
स्ततस्तु तं पश्यते निष्कलं
ध्यायमानः ॥ 8॥

It cannot be perceived by the eyes, the speech, the senses nor by austerity or sacrificial works (rites). When the mind purified through the right knowledge, meditates on it, he realizes the Indivisible Self.

एषोऽणुरात्मा चेतसा वेदितव्यो
यस्मिन् प्राणः पंचधा संविवेश ।
प्राणैश्चित्तं सर्वमोतं प्रजानां
यस्मिन् विशुद्धे विभवत्येष आत्मा ॥ 9॥

To know the subtle Atman and let it shine forth, that (place as in the mind) where the five-fold aspect of Prana has entered has to be purified. The Prana completely pervades the mind and the senses of all beings.

To clarify, the five-fold aspect of Prana mentioned here is prana, apana, vyana, udana and samana. Now, a pure mind and a pure intellect is to perceive Atman clearly.

यं यं लोकं मनसा संविभाति
विशुद्धसत्त्वः कामयते यांश्च कामान् ।
तं तं लोकं जयते तांश्च कामां-
स्तस्मादात्मज्ञं ह्यर्चयेत् भूतिकामः ॥ 10॥

Whichever world a man of pure mind desires and whatever objects he wishes for, he conquers those worlds and desires. Therefore, all those seeking prosperity should worship such Knowers of Self.

A knower of Self has realized Brahman and embodies It. Therefore, prayer to such a realized Soul is literally paying obeisance to God.

॥ इति मुंडकोपनिषदि तृतीयमुंडके प्रथमः खंडः ॥




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