Isa Upanishad by Naithrupan
Chapter 5: Truth, Mind and Deeds
In this essay, the last four verses of Isa Upanishad from 15th to 18th are being dealt with.
In these verses, the Sun, Air and Fire are being prayed to have a truthful, fruitful and fulfilling life. In the process, the powerful forces of Sun, Air and Fire are described. Sun is described in two verses, while air and fire in one verse each.
The descriptions are being made by a seer who is a seeker of truth like Sun God with all its splendors, illuminations, brightness and golden rays.
A seer speaks to the Sun:
O, Sun! You are the face of truth. You have veiled your face with a golden shining disc which prevents the humans to view your face. I am a seer and am a seeker of truth. Please remove the disc so that I may see the Truth.
O, Sun! You are the source of all life and source of everything. You are the son of Prajapathi. You are the solitary traveler. Your dazzling rays prevent me from viewing your form which is the most benign. I am also the seeker of truth like you.
The seer now switches over to the descriptions of Immortal Air or Vayu or the Cosmic life force.
O, Vayu! My last breath is coming out of me. The vital force of the individual soul is ready to mix with the all pervading immortal Universal Air force which is Brahman. The body left behind is consigned to fire and is reduced to ashes. O, Mind! Remember all my deeds!
While the verse here enjoining the Mind to remember the deeds during the one’s life time, the poet repeats the word ‘Remember’ four times.
What is its significance?
As per Hindu dharma, the life is divided into four ashrams – viz. bramacharya, grahastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa. That is: celibate life, married life, forest life and ascetic life. Hence the mind is directed to remember all these four lives every Hindu is supposed to practice. It is precisely for this reason the word ‘Remember’ is repeated four times!
In the last verse, the salutations to Fire are sung.
‘O, Fire God! You know all our deeds and also our thoughts. Please lead us by the good path so that the fruits of our deeds can make us happy and that we can enjoy our life in this world. Please remove from us all crooked sins. We offer thee many words of salutation.’
For all our karma, Fire is lit and offerings are made into the fire. Hence, Fire is the witness and guide for all our karmas.
Let me end the essay with the invocation verse of Isa Upanishad once again:
Om.
That is full; this is full.This fullness has been projected from that fullness.When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
(This is the final essay of Isa Upanishad.)
In this essay, the last four verses of Isa Upanishad from 15th to 18th are being dealt with.
In these verses, the Sun, Air and Fire are being prayed to have a truthful, fruitful and fulfilling life. In the process, the powerful forces of Sun, Air and Fire are described. Sun is described in two verses, while air and fire in one verse each.
The descriptions are being made by a seer who is a seeker of truth like Sun God with all its splendors, illuminations, brightness and golden rays.
A seer speaks to the Sun:
O, Sun! You are the face of truth. You have veiled your face with a golden shining disc which prevents the humans to view your face. I am a seer and am a seeker of truth. Please remove the disc so that I may see the Truth.
O, Sun! You are the source of all life and source of everything. You are the son of Prajapathi. You are the solitary traveler. Your dazzling rays prevent me from viewing your form which is the most benign. I am also the seeker of truth like you.
The seer now switches over to the descriptions of Immortal Air or Vayu or the Cosmic life force.
O, Vayu! My last breath is coming out of me. The vital force of the individual soul is ready to mix with the all pervading immortal Universal Air force which is Brahman. The body left behind is consigned to fire and is reduced to ashes. O, Mind! Remember all my deeds!
While the verse here enjoining the Mind to remember the deeds during the one’s life time, the poet repeats the word ‘Remember’ four times.
What is its significance?
As per Hindu dharma, the life is divided into four ashrams – viz. bramacharya, grahastha, vanaprastha and sanyasa. That is: celibate life, married life, forest life and ascetic life. Hence the mind is directed to remember all these four lives every Hindu is supposed to practice. It is precisely for this reason the word ‘Remember’ is repeated four times!
In the last verse, the salutations to Fire are sung.
‘O, Fire God! You know all our deeds and also our thoughts. Please lead us by the good path so that the fruits of our deeds can make us happy and that we can enjoy our life in this world. Please remove from us all crooked sins. We offer thee many words of salutation.’
For all our karma, Fire is lit and offerings are made into the fire. Hence, Fire is the witness and guide for all our karmas.
Let me end the essay with the invocation verse of Isa Upanishad once again:
Om.
That is full; this is full.This fullness has been projected from that fullness.When this fullness merges in that fullness, all that remains is fullness.
Om. Peace! Peace! Peace!
(This is the final essay of Isa Upanishad.)
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