An inquiry - Mandukya

[Santosh Gairola]

Hi friends,
I am sure you might have done this before, but let me take a look as well.

I was tryin to look into these wonderful texts of Upanishad without getting into any particular explanation or interpretation. I hope it might interest you as well.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-1.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 1

ओमित्येतदक्षरमिदंसर्वं तस्योपव्याख्यानं ।
भुतं भवद् भविष्यदिति सर्वमोंकार एव ।
यच्चान्यत् त्रिकालातीतं तदप्योंकार एव ॥ 1 ॥

omityetadaksharamidam sarvam tasyopavyaakhyaanam,
bhutam bhavad-bhavishhyaditi sarvamonkaara eva
yachchaanyat-trikaalaateetam tadapyonkaara eva

Translation:

aum (ओम/ॐ) - AUM
iti (इति) - Thus/So/Like that
etad (एतद्) - This here/This
aksharam (अक्षरम्) - Imperishable
idam (इदम्) - This
sarvam (सर्वम्) - Whole/All
tasya (तस्य) - It's
vyakhyanam (व्याख्यानम्) - Explanation
bhutam (भुतम्) - Created - 'Past'
bhavat (भवद्) - Become (becoming) - 'Present'
bhavishyad (भविष्यद्) - Of future
iti (इति) - Like that
sarvam (सर्वम्) - Whole/All
omkar (ओंकार) - Sound of AUM
eva (एव) - Verily/'Used to put emphasis'
yatha (यथा) - Just as
anyat (अन्यत्) - Others
trikal (त्रिकाल) - Tree dimensions of time
atitam (अतीतम्) - Beyond/Surpassed
tadabhyo (तदभ्यो) - That too
omkar (ओंकार) - Sound of AUM
eva (एव) - Verily/'Used to put emphasis'

Composite words:

ityetad (इत्येतद्) - Composed by two word: iti + etad (इति + एतद्); means, So this/Thus here/"right this"/"right here".

Fragmented verse:

ओम/ॐ इति एतद् अक्षरम् इदम् सर्वम् तस्योप व्याख्यानम् ।
भुतं भवद् भविष्यद् इति सर्वम् ओंकार एव ।
यथा अन्यत् त्रिकाल अतीतम् तदभ्यो ओंकार एव ॥ 1 ॥
om iti etad aksharam idam sarvam tasyopa vyaakhyaanam,
bhutam bhavad bhavishhyad iti sarvam omkaara eva
yatha anyat trikaala ateetam tadabhyo omkaara eva

Simple meaning:

AUM is, right this-here, imperishable, all this; its explanation:
What has became (past), becoming (present) and will become (future), verily is the sound of AUM; just as others too, beyond the three dimensions of time, verily is the sound of AUM.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-2.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 2

सर्वं ह्येतद् ब्रह्मायमात्मा ब्रह्म सोयमात्मा चतुष्पात् ॥ 2 ॥
sarvam hyetad brahmaayamaatmaa brahm soyamaatmaa chatushpaat

Translation:

sarvam (सर्वम्) - Whole/All/Everything
hi (हि) - Really/Just/Surely/Indeed
etad (एतद्) - This here/This
brahm (ब्रह्म) - Brahm
ayam (अयम्) - This/Here
aatmaa (आत्मा) - Atma/Self/"roughly translated as Soul/Spirit"
sah (सः) - He
ayam (अयम्) - This/Here
chatus (चतुस्) - Four/Quadruple/Four times
paat (पात्) - Step/Foot/Quarter

Fragmented verse:

सर्वम् हि एतद् ब्रह्म अयम्आत्मा ब्रह्म सः अयम् आत्मा चतुस पात्
sarvam hi etad brahm ayama aatmaa brahm sah ayam aatmaa chatus paat

Simple meaning:

All, just-this is Brahm / All is just-this Brahm. This self (Atma) is Brahm. He, this-self has four steps/quarters.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-3.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 3

जागरितस्थानो बहिष्प्रज्ञः सप्तान्ग एकोनविंशतिमुखः स्थूल भुग्वैश्वानरः प्रथमः पादः ॥ 3 ॥
jaagaritasthaano bahishhpragyah saptaanga ekonavinshatimukhah sthool bhugvaishvaanarah prathamah paadah

Translation:

jaagarit (जागरित) - Awake/Conscious
sthaano (स्थानो) - Place
bahis (बहिस्) - Outside/Outward/Outer/Excluded/External
pragya (प्रज्ञ) - Knower/Acquainted/Intelligent
sapt (सप्त) - Seven
anga (अन्ग) - Limb/Part
ekonavinsha (एकोनविंश) - ekon (एकोन) + vinsha (विंश) - Lacking one + Twenty = Nineteen
mukhah (मुखः) - Mouth/Face/Aspect
sthoola (स्थूल) - Big/Large/Bulky/Massive
bhuk (भुक्) - Enjoying/Entertaining - derived from bhukti (भुक्ति) - Enjoyment/Fruition
vaishva (वैश्वा) - Earthly/Worldly - derived from vishvam (विश्वम्) - Universe
narah (नरः) - Man/Person (People)
prathamah (प्रथमः) - First
paadah (पादः) - Foot/Step/Aspect

Composite words:

jaagaritasthaano (जागरितस्थानो) - Composed by two words: jaagarit + sthaano (जागरित + स्थानो); means, Placed at conscious/Placed as conscious.
bahishhpragyah (बहिष्प्रज्ञः) - Composed by two words: bahis + pragya (बहिस् + प्रज्ञ); means, Outward knower/Acquainted to outer.
saptaanga (सप्तान्ग) - Composed by two words: sapt + anga (सप्त + अन्ग); means, Seven limbs/Seven parts.
ekonavinshatimukhah (एकोनविंशतिमुखः) - Composed by three words: ekon + vinsha + mukhah (एकोन + विंश + मुखः); means, Nineteen faced/Having nineteen mouths.
sthoola bhuk (स्थूल भुक्) - Two words meant to be used together; means, Enjoying big things/Entertaining (experiencing) larger (sensible) things.
vaishvaanarah (वैश्वानरः) - Composed by two words: vaishva + narah (वैश्वा + नरः); means, Worldly person/"Common man".

Fragmented verse:

जागरित स्थानो बहिस प्रज्ञः सप्त अन्ग एकोनविंशति मुखः स्थूल भुक् वैश्वानरः प्रथमः पादः
jaagarita sthaano bahis pragyah sapta anga ekonavinshati mukhah sthool bhuk vaishvaanarah prathamah paadah

Simple meaning:

Placed as conscious, outward knower, with seven limbs and nineteen mouth; entertaining large things, worldly person (Vaishvaanarah), is first aspect.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-4.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 4

स्वप्नस्थानोन्तः प्रज्ञाः सप्तान्ग एकोनविंशतिमुखः प्रविविक्तभुक्तैजसो द्वितीयः पादः ॥ 4 ॥
swapnasthaanontah pragyaah saptaanga ekonavinshatimukhah praviviktabhuktaijaso dviteeyah paadah

Translation:

swapna (स्वप्न) - Dream
sthaano (स्थानो) - Place
antah (अन्तः) - Inside/Inner/Internal
pragyaah (प्रज्ञाः) - Wisdom/Knowledge/Intelligence
sapt (सप्त) - Seven
anga (अन्ग) - Limb/Part
ekonavinsha (एकोनविंश) - ekon (एकोन) + vinsha (विंश) - Lacking one + Twenty = Nineteen
mukhah (मुखः) - Mouth/Face/Aspect
pra (प्र) - To/"used as prefix"
vivikta (विविक्त) - Solitude/Lone/Pureness/Isolation
bhuk (भुक्) - Enjoying/Entertaining - derived from bhukti (भुक्ति) - Enjoyment/Fruition
taijaso (तैजसो) - Consisting of light/Bright
dviteeyah (द्वितीयः) - Second
paadah (पादः) - Foot/Step/Aspect

Composite words:

swapnasthaano (स्वप्नस्थानो) - Composed by two words: swapna + sthaano (स्वप्न + स्थानो); means, Placed at dream/Placed as dream.
antah pragyah (अन्तः प्रज्ञाः) - Two words meant to be used together; means, Inner knowledge.
praviviktabhuk (प्रविविक्तभुक्) - Composed by three words: pra + vivikta + bhuk (प्र + विविक्त + भुक्); means, Enjoying to solitude/Experiencing to pureness.

Fragmented verse:

स्वप्न स्थानो अन्तः प्रज्ञाः सप्त अन्ग एकोनविंशति मुखः प्रविविक्त भुक् तैजसो द्वितीयः पादः
swapna sthaano antah pragyaah sapta anga ekonavinshati mukhah pravivikta bhuk taijaso dviteeyah paadah

Simple meaning:

Placed as dream, inner knowledge, with seven limbs and nineteen mouth; entertaining to solitude, bright (taijaso), is second aspect/is second step.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-5.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 5

यत्र सुप्तो न कञ्चन कामं कामयते न कञ्चन स्वप्नं पश्यति तत् सुषुप्तम् ।
सुषुप्तस्थान एकीभूतः प्रज्ञानघन एवानन्दमयो ह्यानन्दभुक् चेतो मुखः प्रज्ञस्तृतीयः पादः ॥ 5 ॥
yatra supto na kanchan kaamam kaamayate na kanchana swapnam pashyati tat sushhuptam,
sushhuptasthana ekibhootah pragyaanaghana evaanandamayo hyanandabhuk cheto mukhah pragyastriteeyah paadah

Translation:

yatra (यत्र) - Whither/On which occasion/In which case
supto (स्थानो) - Sleep
na (अन्तः) - No/Not
kanchan (कञ्चन) - Very small/Very little
kaamam (कामम्) - Wish/Desire
kaamayate (कामयते) - Is wished/Is desired
swapnam (स्वप्नम्) - Dream
pashyati (पश्यति) - Sees/Views
tat/tad (तत्/तद्) - There/Thither/So/Thus/Then
sushhuptam (सुषुप्तम्) - Deep sleep

sthaano (स्थानो) - Place
ekah (एकः) - One/Single
bhootah (भूतः) - Became
pragyaan (प्रज्ञान) - Cognisance/Knowing
ghana (घन) - Dense/Dark/Solid/Hard
eva (एव) - Just so/Exactly/Precisely
aananda (आनन्द) - Joy/Bliss
mayo (मयो) - Formed/Made - derived from maya (मय)
hi (हि) - Really/Just/Surely/Indeed
bhuk (भुक्) - Enjoying/Entertaining - derived from bhukti (भुक्ति) - Enjoyment/Fruition
cheto (चेतो) - Conscious/Self-Realised
mukhah (मुखः) - Mouth/Face/Aspect
pragya (प्रज्ञ) - Knower/Acquainted/Intelligent
triteeyah (तृतीय - Third
paadah (पादः) - Foot/Step/Aspect

Composite words:

na kanchan (न कञ्चन) - Two words meant to be used together; means, Not at all.
sushhuptasthana (सुषुप्तस्थान) - Composed by two words: sushhupta + sthaana (सुषुप्त + स्थान); means, Placed at deep sleep/Placed as deep sleep.
ekibhootah (एकीभूतः) - Composed by two words: ekah + bhootah (एकः + भूतः); means, Became one/Merged/Integrated.
pragyaanaghana (प्रज्ञानघन) - Composed by two words: pragyaan + ghana (प्रज्ञान + घन); means, Dark to cognition/Unrecognised/Unknown.
aanandamayo (आनन्दमयो) - Composed by two words: aananda + mayo (आनन्द + मयो); means, Joyful/Blissful.
aanandabhuk (आनन्दभुक्) - Composed by two words: aananda + bhuk (आनन्द + भुक्); means, Enjoying to joy/Experiencing to bliss.
cheto mukhah pragya (चेतो मुखः प्रज्ञ) - Three words meant to be used together; means, Knower of the face of conscious.

Fragmented verse:

यत्र सुप्तो न कञ्चन कामं कामयते न कञ्चन स्वप्नं पश्यति तत् सुषुप्तम् ।
सुषुप्त स्थान एकीभूतः प्रज्ञानघन एव आनन्दमयो हि आनन्द भुक् चेतो मुखः प्रज्ञ तृतीयः पादः
yatra supto na kanchan kaamam kaamayate na kanchana swapnam pashyati tat sushhuptam,
sushhupta sthana ekibhootah pragyaanaghana eva aanandamayo hi aananda bhuk cheto mukhah pragya triteeyah paadah

Simple meaning:

In that sleep where there are no any desires are desired, no any dreams are dreamt, so deep sleep;
Placed as deep sleep, merged, unknown, just blissful, entertaining to just bliss, knower of the face of conscious, is third aspect/is third step.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-6.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 6

एष सर्वेश्वरः एष सर्वज्ञ एषोन्तर्याम्येष योनिः सर्वस्य प्रभवाप्ययौ हि भूतानाम् ॥ 6 ॥
eshha sarveshvarah eshha sarvagya eshhontaryaamyeshha yonih sarvasya prabhavaapyayau hi bhootaanaam

Translation:

eshha (एष) - This
sarvah (सर्वेश्वरः) - God of all
sarvagya (सर्वज्ञ) - All knowing
antar (अन्तर) - Inner/Internal
aayaama (आयाम) - Dimension
yonih (योनिः) - Source (of birth/origin)
sarvasya (सर्वस्य) - Of all
pra (प्र) - To/"used as prefix"
bhavah (भवः) - Birth/Becoming
api (अपि) - Also/Likewise/Even
yayau (ययौ) - Went
hi (हि) - Really/Just/Surely/Indeed
bhootaanaam (भूतानाम्) - Of existing/Of living

Composite words:

antaryaamee (अन्तर्यामी) - Composed by two words: antar + aayami (अन्तर + आयामी); means, Inner dimensional.
prabhavaapyayau (प्रभवाप्ययौ) - Composed by four words: pra + bhavah + api + yayau (प्र + भवः + अपि + ययौ); means, To born also went/Future also past/Start also end/Will exist also existed.

Fragmented verse:

एष सर्वेश्वरः एष सर्वज्ञ एष अन्तर्यामी एष योनिः सर्वस्य प्र भव अपि ययौ हि भूतानाम्
eshha sarveshvarah eshha sarvagya eshha antaryaami eshha yonih sarvasya pra bhava api yayau hi bhootaanaam

Simple meaning:

This God of all, this all knowing, this inner dimensional, this source of origin, of all existed also will exist, and surely existing.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-7.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 7

नान्तःप्रज्ञं न बहिष्प्रज्ञं नोभयतःप्रज्ञं न प्रज्ञानघनं न प्रज्ञं नाप्रज्ञम् ।
अदृष्टमव्यवहार्यमग्राह्यमलक्षणं अचिन्त्यमव्यपदेश्यमेकात्मप्रत्ययसारं प्रपञ्चोपशमं शान्तं शिवमद्वैतं चतुर्थं मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः ॥ 7 ॥
naantahpragyam na bahishhpragyam nobhayatahpragyam na pragyaanaghanam na pragyam naapragyam,
adrishhtamavyavahaaryamagraahyamalakshanam achintyamavyapadeshyamekaatmapratyayasaaram prapanchopashamam shaantam shivamadvaitam chaturtham manyante sa aatamaa sa vigyeyah

Translation:

na (न) - No/Not
antah (अन्तः) - Inside/Inner/Internal
pragyam (प्रज्ञम्) - Knowable/Acquaint able/Knowing
bahis (बहिस्) - Outside/Outward/Outer/Excluded/External
ubhayatah (उभयतः) - On both side/In both cases
pragyaan (प्रज्ञान) - Cognisance/Knowing
ghanam/ghana (घनम्/घन) - Dense/Dark/Solid/Hard
apragyam (अप्रज्ञम्) - a (अ) + pragyam (प्रज्ञम्) - Non-knowable/Non-knowing - Unknowable
adrishhtam (अदृष्टम्) - a (अ) + drishhtam (दृष्टम्) - Non-seeable/Non-viewable - Invisible
avyavahaaryam (अव्यवहार्यम्) - a (अ) + vyavahaaryam (व्यवहार्यम्) - Non-actionable/Non-interact-able.
agraahyam (अग्राह्यम्) - a (अ) + graahyam (ग्राह्यम्) - Non-grasp-able/Non-comprehensible - Imperceptible/Incomprehensible
alakshanam (अलक्षणम्) - a (अ) + lakshanam (लक्षणम्) - Non-characteristic - Not having any characteristics.
achintyam (अचिन्त्यम्) - a (अ) + chintyam (चिन्त्यम्) - Non-reflection-able/Non-thinkable - Inconceivable
avyapadeshyam (अव्यपदेश्यम्) - a (अ) + vyapadeshyam (व्यपदेश्यम्) - Non-mentionable
ekaatma (एकात्म) - eka (एक) + aatma (आत्म) - Single self
pratyaya (प्रत्यय) - Conception/Conviction/Notion/Idea
saaram (सारम्) - Substance/Quintessence
pra (प्र) - To/"used as prefix"
pancha (पञ्च) - Five
upashamam (उपशमम्) - Cessation/Abatement/Extinction/Calmness
shaantam (शान्तम्) - Peaceful
shivam (शिवम्) - Auspicious/Kind/Friendly/Gracious/Happy
advaitam (अद्वैतम्) - a (अ) + dvaitam (द्वैतम्) - Non-dual
chaturtham (चतुर्थम्) - Fourth
manyante (मन्यन्ते) - Deem/View as
sah (सः) - He
aatmaa (आत्मा) - Self/Soul/Spirit
vigyeyah (विज्ञेयः) - To be known

Composite words:

naantahpragyam (नान्तःप्रज्ञम्) - na + antah + pragyam (न + अन्तः + प्रज्ञम्); means, Not inward knowable.
na bahishhpragyam (न बहिष्प्रज्ञम्) - na + bahis + pragyam (न + बहिस् + प्रज्ञम्); means, Not outward knowable.
nobhayatahpragyam (नोभयतःप्रज्ञम्) - na + ubhayatah + pragyam (न + उभयतः + प्रज्ञम्); means, Not both side knowable.
na pragyanaghanam (न प्रज्ञानघनम्) - na + pragyaan + ghanam (न + प्रज्ञान + घनम्); means, Not unknown/Not unrecognised.
na pragyam (न प्रज्ञम्) - na + pragyam (न + प्रज्ञम्); means, Not knowable.
naapragyam (नाप्रज्ञम्) - na + a + pragyam (न + अ + प्रज्ञम्); means, Not unknowable.
ekaatmapratyayasaaram (एकात्मप्रत्ययसारम्) - eka +aatma + pratyaya + saaram (एक +आत्म + प्रत्यय + सारम्); means, Substance of the conception of the single self.
prapanchopashamam (प्रपञ्चोपशमम्) - pra + pancha + upashamam (प्र + पञ्च + उपशमम्); means, To extinction to five, where five are the elements of life; air, water, earth, fire and ether - End point.

Fragmented verse:

न अन्तः प्रज्ञम् न बहिस् प्रज्ञम् न उभयतः प्रज्ञम् न प्रज्ञानघनम् न प्रज्ञम् न अप्रज्ञम् ।
अदृष्टम् अव्यवहार्यम् अग्राह्यम् अलक्षणम् अचिन्त्यम् अव्यपदेश्यम् एक आत्म प्रत्यय सारम् प्र पञ्च उपशमम् शान्तम् शिवम् अद्वैतम् चतुर्थम् मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः
na antah pragyam na bahis pragyam na ubhayatah pragyam na pragyaanaghanam na pragyam na apragyam,
adrishhtam avyavahaaryam agraahyam alakshanam achintyam avyapadeshyam eka atma pratyaya saaram pra panch upashamam shaantam shivam advaitam chaturtham manyante sa aatamaa sa vigyeyah

Simple meaning:

Neither inward knowable, nor outward; not knowable from both ways. Neither unknown, nor knowable, nor unknowable. Invisible, non-interact-able, incomprehensible, not having any characteristics, inconceivable, non-mentionable, the substance of the conception of the single self, end point (of all), peaceful, auspicious, non-dual, deemed as fourth, he is self (Atma), he is to be known.

[Santosh Gairola]

http://santoshg.blogspot.com/2006/12...d-verse-8.html

माण्डुक्योपनिषद (Mandukya Upanishad) - Verse 8

सोयमात्माध्यक्षरमोंकारोधिमात्रं पादा मात्रा मात्राश्च पादा अकार उकारो मकार इति ॥ 8 ॥
soyamaatmaadhyaksharamonkaarodhimaatram paadaa maatraa maatraashcha paadaa akaara ukaaro makaara iti

Translation:

sah (सः) - He
ayam (अयम्) - This/Here
aatmaa (आत्मा) - Atma/Self/"roughly translated as Soul/Spirit"
adhya (अध्य) - Half
aksharam (अक्षरम्) - Syllable/Character (also means, Imperishable)
omkar (ओंकार) - Sound of AUM
adhimaatram (अधिमात्रम्) - Excessive/Superior
paadaa/paadah (पादा/पादः) - Foot/Step/Aspect
maatraa (मात्रा) - Unit/Quantity/Measure
cha (च) - And
akaara (अकार) - Sound of A (अ)
ukaara (उकार) - Sound of U (उ)
makaara (मकार) - Sound of M (म)
iti (इति) - So/Thus/Like that

Composite words:

adhyaksharam (अध्यक्षरम्) - adhya + aksharam (अध्य + अक्षरम्); means, Half-syllable.

Fragmented verse:

सः अयम आत्मा अध्यक्षरम् ओंकार अधिमात्रम् पादा मात्रा मात्रा च पादा अकार उकारो मकार इति
sah ayam aatmaa adhyaksharam omkaar adhimaatram paadaa maatraa maatraa cha paadaa akaara ukaaro makaara iti.

Simple meaning:

He, this self (Atma), excessive half-syllable aspect units of omkaar (the sound of AUM); units and aspects are sound of A, sound of U, sound of M.

[yajvan]

Hari Om
~~~~~

Hi friends,
I was tryin to look into these wonderful texts of Upanishad without getting into any particular explanation or interpretation. I hope it might interest you as well.

Namaste Santosh,
thank you for your posts... this is one of my favorites!

Can you give any insights as to why Varuna ( the rshi of this Upanishad) takes the form of a frog ( manduka) to praise Om? Any thoughts?

On other posts we have discussed Vaisvarnara and the 19 mouths e.g. 5 jnana indriyas, 5 karama indriyas, 5 prana's and the 4 fold antahkarana.

We did not point out the 7 limbs ( Heaven, sun and moon, air ( vayu) as breath, etc). Care to take a stab at this and the significance?

.... it is He (Vaishvanara) who eats the food. ( Chhandogya Upanishad 5.18.1)