The Upanishads

Shuklayadurveda
Vaishnava group of Upanishads

CHAPTER I

1. Hari Om. Brihaspati asked Yajnavalkya: "That which is called Kurukshetra is the place of sacrifice of the gods (devas) and the spiritual seat of all beings. Where, therefore, should one go in order to understand Kurukshetra, the place of sacrifice of the gods and the spiritual seat of all beings?" (To this Yajnavalkya replied): “Avimukta is Kurukshetra, the place of sacrifice of the gods and the realization of Brahman, for it is there that Rudra performs initiation into Taraka-Brahman, when prana (life) leaves (the body). Through this, one becomes immortal and enjoys moksha. Therefore, one should always be in the midst of that place – avimukta – and one should never leave avimukta, O venerable one,” thus said Yajnavalkya.

2. Then Bharadvaja asked Yajnavalkya: “What is taraka? What causes one to cross (this worldly existence)?” To this Yajnavalkya replied, “Om Namo Narayana is taraka. This should be worshipped as Chidatma. ‘Om’ consists of one syllable and is of the nature of Atman. ‘Namah’ consists of two syllables and is of the nature of prakriti (matter). ‘Narayana’ consists of five syllables and is of the nature of Parabrahman. He who knows this becomes immortal. Through ‘Om’ Brahma is generated; through ‘Na’, Vishnu; through ‘ma’, Rudra; through ‘Na’, Ishvara; through ‘ra’, Anda-Virat (or Virat of the universe); through ‘ya’, Purusha (the supreme universal Self, the supreme Soul); through ‘na’, Bhagavan (Lord); and through ‘ya’, Paramatman (the supreme Self of man). This ashtakshara (eight syllables) of Narayana is the supreme and the highest Purusha. This is the Rig Veda—the first foot (or half).

CHAPTER II

That Om is indestructible, supreme, and Brahman. He alone should be worshipped. He alone is composed of eight subtle syllables. And he becomes eight by having eight forms. "A" is the first letter; "U" is the second; "M" is the third; bindu (the point-fading of sound) is the fourth; nada (subtle sound) is the fifth; kala (time-emptiness) is the sixth; kalatita (that which is beyond kala) is the seventh; and that which is beyond (all) is the eighth. It is called taraka, for it enables one to cross this mundane existence. Know that this taraka alone is Brahman, and that this taraka alone should be worshipped." The following verses may be quoted here:

1. From the letter "A" appeared Brahma, known as Jambavan (the bear). From the letter "U" appeared Upendra (Upa-Indra), known as Hari.

2. From the letter "M" appeared Shiva, known as Hanuman. The name of the bindu is Ishvara, and this is Shatrughna, the Lord of discussion himself.

3. Nadu should be known as the great Lord named Bharata and the very sound of the conch shell. From kala appeared Purusha himself as Lakshmana, the carrier of the Earth.

4. Kalatitha is known as the goddess Sita herself. That which is beyond is the Paramatman named Sri Rama, the Supreme Purusha.

All this is an explanation of the letter Om, which is past, present, and future, and which is distinct from these (other) tattva, mantra, varna (color), devata (deity), chandasa (measure), Rika, Kala, Shakti, and srishti (creation). He who understands this becomes immortal. (Such is) the Yajurveda—the second foot."

CHAPTER III

Then Bharadvaja asked Yajnavalkya: "By what mantra is Paramatman propitiated and reveals His own Atman (to people)?" Please say so." Yajnavalkya replied:

1. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, described by (the letter) "A", Jambavan (the bear) and "Bhuh (the earthly world), Bhuvah (the world above the earthly) and Svaha (the world after the previous one)"; all glories and worship to Him!

2. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, described by (the letter) "U", Upendra (or) Hari and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; all glories and worship to Him!

3. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, described by (the letter) "M" and having the form of Shiva (or) Hanuman and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; All glory and worship to Him!

4. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, Shatrughna in the form of bindu and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; all glory and worship to Him!

5. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, Bharata in the form of nada and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; all glory and worship to Him!

6. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, Lakshmana in the form of kala and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; all glory and worship to Him!

7. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and Lord, kalatita, goddess Sita in the form of Chit and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; glory and worship to Him!

8. Om. He who is Sri Paramatman, Narayana and the Lord, beyond (kalathitas), the supreme Purusha and the ancient Purushottama, eternal, flawless, enlightened, free, true, the highest bliss, infinite, non-dual and complete (whole) – this Brahman is I myself. I am Rama and "Bhuh, Bhuvah and Svaha"; glory and worship to Him!

He who has mastered this eightfold mantra is purified by the god Agni (fire); he is purified by the god Vayu (wind); he is purified by the Sun; he is purified by Shiva; he is known to all the devas. He obtains the fruit of reading the itihasas (sacred epics), the puranas, (the mantras) of Rudra a hundred thousand times. He who regularly remembers (or repeats) this The ashta-akshara (eight-syllable mantra) of Narayana, attains the fruit of repeating the Gayatri a hundred thousand times (when reading these lines, one should not forget the incessant clan struggle for supremacy among the various sects and schools of Hinduism, in which the Vaishnavas were the most successful, translator's note ;) or pranava (Om) countless times. He purifies (his ancestors) ten (generations) back and (his descendants) ten (generations) later. He attains the state of Narayana. He who realizes this (attains) the state of Narayana.

Just as the eye (which unobstructedly sees) everything around (in the sky), the wise always behold this supreme throne of Vishnu. Spiritually awakened Brahmins in every way praise and explain the supreme abode of Vishnu. Such is the Upanishad. (Such is) the Samaveda – the third foot. Hari Om Tat Sat!

Thus ends the Tarasara Upanishad of the Shuklayajurveda.