Upanishads

Aruneya Upanishad

(Aruni Upanishad)

Samaveda
group of Upanishads – sannyasa

[This Upanishad, which is the sixteenth of the one hundred and eight Upanishads and forms part of the Samaveda, describes the position of asceticism, the duties of one who has renounced worldly life, his paraphernalia such as the water-pot, the symbolic staff, etc., and concludes with the principles prescribed for alms-gatherers]

Description of Asceticism.

1. The son of Aruna, belonging to the gotra (family) of Prajapati, was going to the world of the Creator (Prajapati). Arriving there, he asked him: “Reverend Sir, how can I renounce work perfectly?” The Creator answered him: “Renounce your sons, brothers, relatives, the topknot (Vaishnava), the sacred thread, sacrifices (rites), principles, the study of the Vedas, the worlds [called] bhu, bhuvar, svar, mahar, janas, tapas and satya [as well as] atala, vitala, sutala, patala, rasatala, talatala, mahatala; and indeed the entire Universe. Keep only a staff and a loincloth to accompany the body. Leave everything else.

Duties of one who has renounced.

2. He who is the head of a family, a student or a recluse (solitary, retired) should transform the ritual fires into the internal (soul) fire, and the Gayatri [– mantra] into the fire of his own speech. He should leave the sacred thread on the ground or in the water. The hermit who confines himself (secludes himself) for the study (of the scriptures) should renounce his family; should leave the vessel (for water); should leave the tight garment; should leave his threefold possessions – the staff, etc., and the ritual fire. Thus he answered (answered, said, spoke). After this he should (he should) retire (act alone) without any desires (giving up all desires); he should give up the tendencies of the mind; he should take food as (in such quantity) as if it were medicine. Three times a day [i.e. early in the morning, at noon and in the evening] he should perform ablution. His (ritual of) sandhya is the meditation in which the Atman unites (with the Absolute). Of all the scriptures, the Arana-sections must be repeated and [at the end] the Upanishad section must be repeated, the Upanishad section must be repeated. Verily I am the Brahmasutra. [For] that which points [to the One Brahman] is the sutra. Therefore I am the Brahmasutra in so far as I am concerned with Brahman (connected with Brahman). He who does so is a knower and should give up (remove) the triple thread (yajnopavita).

The mantra, symbols (attributes), rules, etc. of renunciation.

3. Having said thrice, “I have renounced, I have renounced, I have renounced”, he should take up a bamboo staff and put on a loincloth, repeating the mantra: “Let all that exists be free from fear. Everything (comes from me) originates in me. You are my friend and you protect me. You are powerful, my friend. You are the vajra of Indra that killed Vritra. Be pleasing to me and remove all my sins.” He should take food as if it were medicine. He should eat as if he were taking medicine. He should eat when the food has been received. “O (disciples), follow with all diligence brahmacarya, non-violence, poverty and Truth.”

Precepts for an Ascetic Regarding Sitting (Abode), etc.

4. [The life of] the wandering mendicants [ Paramahamsa ], who are fixed on Brahman ( brahmacari ), is spent in sitting and sleeping on the ground. Their belongings are a vessel [for drinking] of clay, gourd or wood; he [ Paramahamsa ] should give up passion, anger, greed, illusion, hypocrisy, arrogance, lust, envy, greed and egoism. During the rainy season, being in one place, the mendicant monk should wander (remain) alone for eight months; or [he should remain in one place, motionless] for two months, for two months. He who does so should also, after or before initiation, renounce father, son, [ritual] fire, sacred thread, rites, wife and everything else.

Prescriptions for alms-gatherers.

5. A mendicant monk enters a village to collect alms and also to collect food in a bowl held in his hand or in his mouth.

6. He should pronounce the sacred mantra Om hi, Om hi, Om hi (three times). He who does so is a knower.

Prescriptions for a wise ascetic.

7. He should leave behind a staff made of palasa wood, bilva or audumbara, a belt made of munja grass and the sacred thread. He who does so is courageous.

Conclusion

8. Seers ( rishis ) always contemplate the supreme abode of Vishnu, as the eye sees when it is fully directed to the sky [without obstruction].

Only a few wise men, awakened, uttering special prayers, know of the supreme abode of Vishnu.

Such is the secret instruction for attaining nirvana, the secret instruction of the Scriptures, the secret instruction of the Scriptures.

Thus [ends] the Upanishad. (Such is the Upanishad)