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Subject Area: Philosophy
Subject Area: Religion

SKANḌA 1 -UPANISHAḌ OF KṚSHṆA-YAJURVEḌA - Misc (Upanishads), Thirty Minor Upanishads [1914]

Edition used:

Thirty Minor Upanishads, trans. K. Narayanasvami Aiyar (Madras: Printed by Annie Besant at the Vasanta Press, 1914).

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SKANḌA1 -UPANISHAḌ OF KṚSHṆA-YAJURVEḌA

Om. O Mahāḍeva (Lord of Ḍevas), I am indestructible through a small portion of Thy grace. I am replete with Vijñāna. I am Śiva (Bliss). What is higher than It? Truth does not shine as such on account of the display of the anṭaḥkaraṇa (internal organs). Through the destruction of the anṭaḥkaraṇa, Hari abides as Samviṭ (Consciousness) alone. As I also am of the form of Samviṭ, I am without birth. What is higher than It? All inert things being other (than Āṭmā) perish like dream. That Achyuṭa (the indestructible or Vishṇu), who is the seer of the conscious and the inert, is of the form of Jñāna. He only is Mahāḍeva. He only is Mahā-Hari (Mahāvishṇu). He only is the Jyoṭis of all Jyoṭis (or Light of all lights). He only is Parameśvara. He only is Parabrahman. That Brahman I am. There is no doubt (about it). Jīva is Śiva. Śiva is Jīva. That Jīva is Śiva alone. Bound by husk, it is paddy; freed from husk, it is rice. In like manner Jīva is bound (by karma). If karma perishes, he (Jīva) is Saḍāśiva. So long as he is bound by the bonds of karma, he is Jīva. If freed from its bonds, then he is Saḍāśiva. Prostrations on account of Śiva who is of the form of Vishṇu, and on account of Vishṇu who is of the form of Śiva. The heart of Vishṇu is Śiva. The heart of Śiva is Vishṇu. As I see no difference2 (between these two), therefore to me are prosperity and life. There is no difference—between Śiva and Keśava (Vishṇu). The body is said to be the divine temple. The Śiva (in the body) is the God Saḍāśiva1 (in the temple).

Having given up the cast-off offerings of ajñāna, one should worship Him with the thought “I am He”. To see (oneself) as not different (from Him) is (jñāna) wisdom. To make the mind free from sensual objects is ḍhyāna (meditation). The giving up of the stains of the mind is snāna (bathing). The subjugation of the senses is śoucha (cleansing). The nectar of Brahman should be drunk. For the upkeep of the body, one should go about for alms and eat. He should dwell alone in a solitary place without a second. He should be with the sole thought of the non-dual One. The wise person who conducts himself thus, attains salvation. Prostrations on account of Śrīmaṭ Param-Jyoṭis (Supreme Light) abode! May prosperity and long life attend (me). O Narasimha!2 O Lord of Ḍevas! through Thy grace, persons cognize the true nature of Brahman that is unthinkable, undifferentiated, endless, and immutable, through the forms of the Gods, Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa, and Śaṅkara.

Like the eye (which sees without any obstacle the things) spread in the ākāś, so the wise always see the supreme abode of Vishṇu. Brāhmans with divine eyes who are always spiritually awake, praise in diverse ways and illuminate the supreme abode of Vishṇu. Thus is the teaching of the Veḍas for salvation.

Thus is the Upanishaḍ.

[1 ]Skanda is the son of Siva and is represented on earth by Sanaṭkumāra.

[2 ]This will give a rude shock to the followers of Siva and Vishṇu in India, who wage useless war as to the supremacy of Vishṇu and Siva.

[1 ]Saḍāsiva, lit., eternal bliss. This is one of the names applied to Siva as also Mahāḍeva.

[2 ]Narasimha, lit., Man-lion. This refers to one of the incarnations of Vishṇu when he killed the evil power Hiraṇyakasipu.