Prashnopanishad - Question 5 - Samskritam

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

This question belongs to the Atharva Veda's deep प्रणव teaching. ॐ 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.

पञ्चमः प्रश्नः

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

अथ हैनं सैब्यः सत्यकामः पप्रच्छ।
स यो ह वै तद् वगवन्मनुष्येषु प्रायणान्तमोङ्कारमभिध्यायीत कतमं वाव स तेन लोकं जयतीति ॥1॥

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

तस्मै स होवाच एतद् वै सत्यकाम परं चापरं च ब्रह्म यदोङ्कारः।
तस्माद् विद्वानेतेनैवायतनेनैकतरमन्वेति ॥2॥

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

स यध्येकमात्रमभिध्यायीत स तेनैव संवेदितस्तूर्णमेव जगत्याभिसम्पध्यते।
तमृचो मनुष्यलोकमुपनयन्ते स तत्र तपसा ब्रह्मचर्येण श्रद्धया सम्पन्नो महिमानमनुभवति ॥3॥

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

अथ यदि द्विमात्रेण मनसि सम्पद्यते सोऽन्तरिक्षं यजुर्भिरुन्नीयते सोमलोकम्।
स सोमलोके विभुतिमनुभूय पुनरावर्तते ॥4॥

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

यः पुनरेतं त्रिमात्रेणोमित्येतेनैवाक्षरेण परं पुरुषमभिध्यायीत स तेजसि सूर्ये सम्पन्नः।
यथा पादोदरस्त्वचा विनिर्भुच्यत एवं ह वै स पाप्मना विनिर्भुक्तः स सामभिरुन्नीयते ब्रह्मलोकं स एतस्माज्जीवघनात्परात्परं पुरिशयं पुरुषमीक्षते तदेतौ श्लोकौ भवतः ॥5॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
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.

तिस्रो मात्रा मृत्युमत्यः प्रयुक्ता अन्योन्यसक्ताः अनविप्रयुक्ताः।
क्रियासु बाह्यान्तरमध्यमासु सम्यक्प्रयुक्तासु न कम्पते ज्ञः ॥6॥

Translation (भावार्थ):
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.

ऋग्भिरेतं यजुर्भिरन्तरिक्षं सामभिर्यत्तत्कवयो वेदयन्ते।
तमोङ्कारेणैवायतनेनान्वेति विद्वान् यत्तच्छान्तमजरममृतमभयं परं चेति ॥7॥

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

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