Prashnopanishad - Question 2 - Hindi

The second question of प्रश्नोपनिषद् 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 प्राण 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.

द्वितीयः प्रश्नः

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

अथ हैनं भार्गवो वैदर्भिः पप्रच्छ।
भगवन् कत्येव देवाः प्रजां विधारयंते कतर एतत्प्रकाशयंते कः पुनरेषां वरिष्ठः इति ॥1॥

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

तस्मै स होवाचाकाशो ह वा एष देवो वायुरग्निरापः पृथिवी वाङ्मनश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रं च।
ते प्रकाश्याभिवदंति वयमेतद्बाणमवष्टभ्य विधारयामः ॥2॥

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

तान् वरिष्ठः प्राण उवाच।
मा मोहमापद्यथ अहमेवैतत्पंचधात्मानं प्रविभज्यैतद्बाणमवष्टभ्य विधारयामीति तेऽश्रद्दधाना बभूवुः ॥3॥

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

सोऽभिमानादूर्ध्वमुत्क्रामत इव तस्मिन्नुत्क्रामत्यथेतरे सर्व एवोत्क्रामंते तस्मिंश्च प्रतिष्ठमाने सर्व एव प्रतिष्ठंते।
तद्यथा मक्षिका मधुकरराजानमुत्क्रामंतं सर्व एवोत्क्रामंते तस्मिंश्च प्रतिष्ठमाने सर्व एव प्रतिष्टंत एवं वाङ्मनष्चक्षुः श्रोत्रं च ते प्रीताः प्राणं स्तुन्वंति ॥4॥

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

एषोऽग्निस्तपत्येष सूर्य एष पर्जन्यो मघवानेष वायुः।
एष पृथिवी रयिर्देवः सदसच्चामृतं च यत् ॥5॥

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

अरा इव रथनाभौ प्राणे सर्वं प्रतिष्ठितम्।
ऋचो यजूषि सामानि यज्ञः क्षत्रं ब्रह्म च ॥6॥

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

प्रजापतिश्चरसि गर्भे त्वमेव प्रतिजायसे।
तुभ्यं प्राण प्रजास्त्विमा बलिं हरंति यः प्राणैः प्रतितिष्ठसि ॥7॥

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

देवानामसि वह्नितमः पितृणां प्रथमा स्वधा।
ऋषीणां चरितं सत्यमथर्वांगिरसामसि ॥8॥

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

इंद्रस्त्वं प्राण तेजसा रुद्रोऽसि परिरक्षिता।
त्वमंतरिक्षे चरसि सूर्यस्त्वं ज्योतिषां पतिः ॥9॥

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

यदा त्वमभिवर्षस्यथेमाः प्राण ते प्रजाः।
आनंदरूपास्तिष्ठंति कामायान्नं भविष्यतीति ॥10॥

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

व्रात्यस्त्वं प्राणैकर्षरत्ता विश्वस्य सत्पतिः।
वयमाद्यस्य दातारः पिता त्वं मातरिश्व नः ॥11॥

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

या ते तनूर्वाचि प्रतिष्ठिता या श्रोत्रे या च चक्षुषि।
या च मनसि संतता शिवां तां कुरू मोत्क्रमीः ॥12॥

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

प्राणस्येदं वशे सर्वं त्रिदिवे यत् प्रतिष्ठितम्।
मातेव पुत्रान् रक्षस्व श्रीश्च प्रज्ञां च विधेहि न इति ॥13॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
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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