ॐ ॥ अथ ईशोपनिषद् ॥🔗

aum || atha īṣopaniṣad ||

۞ The Whole, the Cosmos, the Universe, comes from the Whole. Even when It comes, It does not get separated; It continues to be established in the Whole. When It goes back, It goes back to the same Whole.

۞ Completion is Completion. This is Completion. That is Completion. From Completion this and that happens. Whether this becomes that, or that becomes this, it is only Completion moving into Completion, and Completion becoming Completion.

auṁ: auṁ, primeval, eternal vibration of cosmos; pūrṇam: whole, completion, fullness; adaḥ: that, or thing to be known; pūrṇaṁ: whole, completion, fullness; idaṁ: this, here and now, immediately available; something directly known or knowable; pūrṇāt: from the whole, from completion, from fullness; pūrṇaṁ: this whole, this completion, this fullness; udacyate: comes forth, comes out; pūrṇasya: from this whole, from this completion; pūrṇa; whole, completion, fullness; ādāya: taking way, removing, separating (or also adding); pūrṇa: whole, completion; eva: alone, certainly, always; avaśiṣyate: remains, stays.

۞ By Īśā, the Consciousness, enveloped must this all be, whatever moving, changing thing there exists in the ever moving and changing world. With this renounced, you may enjoy everything wholly. Covet not the wealth of anyone at all.

verse ۞ Whatsoever changeful there is in this ever-changing ephemeral world — all that is verily enveloped [vāsyam] by Īśā, Consciousness, all that is 1 personification of Īśā, Consciousness. By this renounced [i.e. the changing world], you may enjoy everything. Covet or desire not the wealth of anyone. Whatever you perceive as changeful inside and outside you, even when you perceive it as changeful inside and outside you, It is God, Consciousness, which is beyond any change.

verse 1 īśā: consciousness, god; āvāsyam: is enveloped, pervaded or filled, idam: this, must this be; sarvam: all this, yat kiñca: whatever, jagatyām: by the moving thing or changing, ephemeral world, jagat: universe, ever-moving world; tena: by It, with this, tyaktena: by renouncing, bhuñjīthāḥ: may you enjoy [everything], mā: do not, gṛdhaḥ: have greed or covet, desire, kasya svit: of anybody or anything; dhanam: wealth

Decide to Live for hundreds of years, Decide For Life - Be Free from Karma

verse 2

❂ One should decide to live in this world for hundreds of years, all the while constantly doing his actions dispassionately, without any attachment [to the work or verse the results thereof], as ordained by the scriptures alone. In this way, the actions done by a man shall not cling to him [na karma lipyate nare]. There is no other way 2 by which a man can free himself from the adhering bondages created by the actions.

verse 2 kurvan: by constantly doing, performing; eva: thus alone; iha: in this life, in this world; karmāṇi: work (as per sutras), being active; jijīviṣet: one should desire to live; śatam: one hundred; samāḥ: years; evam: so living; tvayi: onto you; na: not; anyathā: other alternative, any other way; itaḥ: than this path [unattached work]; asti: there is; na: not; karma: work, lipyate: can be bondage that clings or adheres; nare: onto or by a man

Saying ‘no’ to Life or You, kills the Consciousness or Self

۞ The various famous abodes of the Asuras (demons or unconscious beings) are in the form of lower grade worlds, which are like hells coerced by blinding darkness, representing all the negative and unconscious qualities, collectively called tamas i.e. inaction or ignorance. Those who literally kill the consciousness (ātmā) become ghosts who inhabit such horrible abodes, and this, they continue to do repeatedly.

☸ People who say 'no' to life, literally kill the Self or consciousness [ātma-hanaḥ], they become ghosts who inhabit horrible abodes, lower grade worlds, which are like hells, coerced by blinding darkness, representing all the negative and unconscious qualities. And this, they continue to do repeatedly.

verse 3 asuryāḥ: meant for asuras or demons; nāma: famous by name; te: those; lokāḥ: planets; andhena: by ignorance (lit. blindness); tamasā: by inertness, darkness; āvṛtāḥ: covered, coerced; tān: those planets; te: they; pretya: after death; abhigacchati: do enter into, inhabit; ye: anyone; ke: everyone; ca: and; ātma-hanaḥ: killers of the Self or consciousness, ātman; janāḥ: persons

Iśā, Pure Consciousness that Becomes Īśvara, Consciousness with Qualified Attributes

❂ Truth that Consciousness moves, and, at the same time, truth that Consciousness does not move. Truth that Consciousness is far off from the verse farthest space, the truth that Consciousness is also nearer than the nearest space. Truth is the inner space of the whole Cosmos. Truth is also the 5 outer space of the whole Cosmos; pervading and uniformly ever-present inside and encompassing this Cosmos from the outside.

verse 6

verse 6

❂ One who indeed lives by seeing as it is, the whole Existence (with all unmanifest and manifest beings) existing in the Self (Consciousness) itself and the Self existing in the whole Existence, thus, does not feel violated by anything existing, by virtue of not seeing one’s self as separate from Consciousness.

verse 6 yaḥ: one who; tu: indeed, but; sarvāṇi: all, whole; bhūtāni: existence, all beings; ātmani: existing in the Self (or consciousness); eva: itself; anupaśyati: living by seeing as it is; sarvabhūteṣu: in the whole existence, all beings; ca: and; ātmānam: the self (consciousness); tataḥ: thus, therefore; na: (does) not; vijugupsate: feeling violated, because of separating one's self

What Delusion can there be for the Seer of Reality living in Ekatvam, the Space of Oneness?

verse 7

yasmin sarvāṇi bhūtany ātmaivābhūd vijānataḥ । tatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śoka ekatvam anupaśyataḥ ॥ 7 ॥

verse 7

۞ In one, who has cognized the reality of Consciousness, all existing beings become the very Self, Consciousness, then what delusion of incompletion, what suffering, sorrow of incompletion can there be for that seer of Reality, living in the space of oneness [ekatvam], Living Advaita? yasmin: in one; sarvāṇi: all, everything; bhūtani: existing beings; ātma: consciousness, self; eva: very, only; abhūd: become, exist as; vijānataḥ: one who has cognized the reality; tatra: then, therein; kaḥ: what; mohaḥ: delusion; kaḥ: what; śokaḥ: suffering, sorrow of incompletion; ekatvam: space of oneness; anupaśyataḥ: seer of reality who is living (according to) [anu+paśyataḥ: the seer who follows or lives the reality]

۞ Pure Consciousness is all-pervasive (like space) beyond the coming and going, absolute radiant and self-effulgent, unembodied boundaryless whole (beyond the subtle body), woundless, muscleless having no incompletion with the body (beyond the gross body); Consciousness is the ever pure space devoid of the dirt of ignorance (beyond the causal body), and is untouched by the delusion of incompletion; Consciousness is the all-knowing seer of all (past, present, future) [kaviḥ], the lord of all minds [manīṣī], Consciousness transcends all beings [paribhuḥ], Consciousness is self-existent by Itself [svayambhū] with Its independent will and intelligence, having no cause for Its verse happening; it is Pure Consciousness, that from time eternal, has enriched the ages and each being, by ordaining desirable responsibilities [artha] 8 onto them, as per their nature and space, and their actions and results thereof.

verse 8

saḥ: truth, pure consciousness; paryagāt: all-pervasive, gone/beyond coming and going; śukram: radiant, effulgent, splendorous; akāyam: unembodied (beyond the subtle body); avraṇam: woundless, without any fault (beyond the gross body); asnāviram: without muscles (snāvā) and network of veins (beyond the gross body); śuddham: pure, untainted (beyond the causal body); apāpa-viddhim: untouched by delusion, incompletion (sin); kaviḥ: seer of all, all knowing; manīṣī: lord of the mind; paribhūḥ: who transcends all beings; svayambhūḥ: self-existent by himself [svayam eva bhavati iti svambhū - as says Adi Shankara]; yathātathyataḥ: as it should be, as per nature and space, accordingly in reality [yathā-tathā]; arthān- desirables, responsibilities; verse 8 vyadadhāc: has ordained, allotted, given; śāśvatībhyaḥ: from time eternal; samābhyaḥ: ages and beings in the ages.

Seek and Worship the Pure Truth and not Avidyā, the Ignorance that veils the True Knowledge of Truth

Those who worship avidyā, the ignorance that veils the true knowledge of Truth, Consciousness, enter into blinding darkness characterized by verse the absence of perception; but into greater darkness of ignorance than that, enter they who, considering themselves as scholarly and learned, are 9 engaged in vidyā, the incomplete knowledge acquired for vested interests characterized by the impure perception of Truth, Consciousness. verse 9 andham: blinding; tamaḥ: darkness; praviśanti: enter into; ye: those who; avidyām: ignorance, delusion (of unconsciousness); upāsate: worship; tataḥ: than that; bhūyaḥ: still more, greater; iva: like; te: they; tamaḥ: darkness, ignorance; ye: those who; u: also; vidyāyām: the delusory, or superficial knowledge; ratāḥ: engaged, absorbed.

The essence of this verse is – do not stop seeking. Anything can be given up, not the seeking! Never, stop searching for the truth, higher and higher. Universe is happening and expanding constantly. Even all the Enlightened Beings continue to seek. Seeking means continuous expansion. So, when even Enlightened Beings verse are expanding, seeking, happening, then, you should be seeking. Kill all parts of you trying to become stagnant! Seeking should become your 9 very being. Mumukśatva means constantly looking for Reality. At any cost, don't stop seeking! The moment you stop seeking, you start worshipping avidyā; you start worshipping ignorance.

verse 10

✺ It is said that by vidyā, the knowledge cognized from the right context of grasping the Truth, Consciousness and the superficial knowledge acquired from the wrong context of grabbing (without cognizing the subtle Truth), certainly a different result is achieved. Similarly, it is said that by avidyā, the authentic actions and/or the ignorant actions, a very different result is achieved. Thus have we listened from those wise beings who have explained that absolute principle to us.

verse 10 This verse journeys deep and describes the spiritual difficulties an advanced seeker of truth befaces. Knowing a little more than others does not make one a seeker. Seeker is a person whose very bonemarrow is after the Truths of life. Such a seeker never loses focus on life or from what he wants. The previous Upaniṣhadic verse 8, describes the two major problems of an initial seeker - boredom and cunningness that comes with the ignorance, avidyā and incomplete, impure version of knowledge or vidyā. This verse animates the subtle problem of an advanced seeker, who, takes his enlightenment as the very goal of his/her life very seriously. Only when the seeking matures and intensifies, when your whole body and mind boils with seeking, the brain develops the subtle grooves to reflect the Pure Consciousness, Iśā. The enquiry then, lies for a seeker to look-in and see – 'All the understandings, cognitions that I have arrived at, have I made them as part of my day-to-day lifestyle and practice? Have I made the Truth that I have understood, as part of my life?" Look into that.

verse 10

anyat: different; eva: certainly; āhuḥ: said, declared; vidyayā: by knowledge; anyat: different; āhuḥ: said, declare; avidyayā: by actions, ignorance; iti: thus; śuśruma: I/we heard; dhīrānāṁ: from wise, courageous beings; ye: who; naḥ: to us; tat: that; vicacakṣire: explained

Experience the Nectar of Immortality through Pure Knowledge of Truth, Vidyā

verse 11

✺ One who cognizes the pure essence of these two, vidyā and avidyā, simultaneously, that is knowing the true and complete knowledge of Consciousness [vidyā] and doing actions from the sacred cognition of Consciousness; thereby through the knowledge of avidyā, crosses over and transcends death, and through vidyā, experiences and celebrates the nectar of immortality and bliss—the eternal space of oneness with Consciousness.

۞ Those who worship and cherish the Unmanifest entities that are perishable, non-eternal, non-infinite and subject to destruction [asambhūta], enter into the blinding dark realm of ignorance; and into greater realm of darkness enter those, who are absorbed in only worshipping and cherishing the imperishable Consciousness, which is all-pervading, eternal, truth, infinite, and the cause of manifestation [sambhūta].

verse 12 andhaṁ: blinding; tamaḥ: ignorance, darkness; praviśanti: enter into; ye: those who; asambhūtim: manifested, perishable entities; upāsate: worship; tataḥ: than that; bhūyaḥ: still more, greater; iva: like that, undoubtedly; te: those; tamaḥ: darkness, ignorance; ye: who; u: also; sambhūtyām: in worshipping the imperishable consciousness; ratāḥ: engaged, absorbed.

verse 13

verse 13

verse anyat: different; eva: certainly; āhuḥ: it is said; sambhavāt: by worshipping the imperishable, cause of manifest; anyat: different; āhuḥ: it is said; asambhāvāt: 13 by worshipping the unmanifest, perishable entity; iti: thus; śuśruma: I/we heard it; dhīrāṇāṁ: from the wise beings; ye: who; naḥ: onto us; tat: about that subject matter or absolute principle; ● vicacakṣire: explained ●

☸ One who simultaneously cognizes the pure essence of these both—the imperishable Consciousness, the cause of manifestation [sambhavāt] verse and the destructible [vināśaṁ], the perishable, manifested entities—such a person completes with the fear of death and transcends death by 14 worshipping or by knowledge of the perishable entities; and reaches the imperishable Consciousness and celebrates the nectar of immortality and bliss, the eternal space of oneness. verse 14 sambhūtim: imperishable consciousness, cause of manifestation; ca: and; vināśam: destructible; ca: and; yaḥ: one who; tat: that; veda: knows or cognizes; ubhayam: both; saḥ: along with; vināśena: with destruction or perishable entity; mṛtyum: death; tīrtvā: transcends, crosses over; sambhūtya: in the eternal, imperishable consciousness; āmṛtam: immortality, deathlessness; aśnute: enjoys, celebrates

O Truthful, Glowing Effulgent Being, Do Reveal your Divine Face of Truth

verse 15

❂ The Truthful, Effulgent, Eternal Being is the ultimate sustainer, nourisher and protector of all that exists! You are the embodiment of the imperishable Truth and Reality. Your Divine face of Truth is concealed by the blinding dazzling upturned pot, which has golden orb of effulgence. This radiant golden pot (symbolized by the Sun) conceals your glorious face of Truth from my view. O Pūṣan, O Sun, O Complete One, do reveal Yourself by removing that glaring veil, for I, on the path of Truth, am eager to have your Divine vision.

hiraṇmayena: golden or by a golden effulgence; pātreṇa: by the splendorous, dazzling vessel or pot; satyasya: of the truth; aphitam: concealed, veiled; mukham: face; tat: that convering; tvam: yourself; pūṣan: O sustainer, O nourisher; apāvṛṇu: kindly do open or remove, reveal; satya: truth; dharmāya: onto the path of righteousness or truth; dṛṣṭaye: for the divine vision

verse 15

Even when I pray to you, I am You – So'ham Asmi

verse 16

۞ O Pūṣan, Consciousness, who is the nourisher, sustainer of all, the primeval solitary traveller, the disciplining principle of all, is like the bright, effulgent Sun, and is the Lord of entire creation, which is His subject. Please remove all Your rays of this radiating, brilliant golden light, which had blinded me; so that by Your grace, ⬤ I can have the Divine vision of that most auspicious, graceful, ⬤ beautiful form of Yours. That which is there, the glorious Sun, is the mirror of the Supreme Being, who is all-pervading, pure Consciousness of the Cosmos. Indeed, I am He (that Puruṣa) – So’ham Asmi.

verse 16 pūṣann: O nourisher, sustainer; ekarṣe: primeval solitary traveller; yama: the disciplining principle; sūrya: sun; prājāptya: of the prajapati or lord of creation; vyūha: remove; raśmin: rays; samūha: withdraw, remove; tejo: effulgent; radiating; yat: so that; te: your; rūpam: form; kalyāṇa-tamam: most auspicious, graceful, beautiful form; tat: that; te: your; paśyami: I may see; have divine vision; yaḥ: one who is, that which is; asau: like the sun; asau: that; puruṣaḥ: supreme being or pure consciousness; so-aham: he I; asmi: am

Aum, I Remember the Supreme Consciousness, Īśā and Offer me and my actions onto You

verse 17

۞ Let the vital life-energy ‘Wind’ [vāyu] present in the body now be offered into the all-pervading, eternal cosmic life-energy ‘Air’ [anilam]; and now let this gross body (along with subtle body) be offered into the sacrificial fire and be reduced to the sacred ashes [bhasmāntam]. Auṁ, the Supreme Consciousness (Īśā), the Supreme Deity of the enriching sacrifice, I remember and offer all my actions into this fire sacrifice to experience oneness with You. O mind, remember the Supreme Consciousness, whom you have always been remembering in your actions. verse 17 vāyuḥ: vital life-energy, wind; anilam: cosmic life-energy, air; amṛtam: immortality, eternal; atha: now; idam: this; bhasmāntam: reduced to the sacred ashes; śarīram: body; auṁ: vibration of consciousness; krato: O lord of enriching sacrifices; or actions; smara: remember; kṛtam: all that has been done or actions; smara: remember; krato: O mind; 🔴 smara: remember; kṛtam: all that has been done by me; smara: 🔴 remember

O Fire God! O Consciousness, Take us along the Righteous Path of Completion leading to Iśā

۞ O Agne, Fire God! Knower of all our actions and all that is worth knowing, You must take us along the righteous and auspicious path of completion, leading us to experience the Supreme Consciousness, the original space of Complete Completion. O Deva (God, Consciousness)! May you remove all our incompletions that are obstacles on our good path of completion (beyond coming and going, birth and death). Onto You we surrender with many reverential words, bowing down again and again. verse 18 agne: O fire god; naya: kindly lead; supathā: the good path of completion; rāye: for experiencing, for reaching; asmān: us; viśvāni: all, universe; deva: o god; vayunāni: actions; vidvān: the knower; yuyodhi: kindly remove; asmat: from us; juhurāṇam: all obstacles or hindrances on the path; enaḥ: all incompletions; bhūyiṣṭhāṁ: many many, most numerous; te: onto you; namaḥ-uktim: surrender with reverential words; vidhema: I/we do