> VERSE 3; ISHAVASYA UPANISHAD WITH ŚAṄKARA’S COMMENTARY.

ॐ

श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः

VERSE 3; ISHAVASYA UPANISHAD WITH ŚAṄKARA’S COMMENTARY. 

अथेदानीमविद्वन्निन्दार्थोऽयं मन्त्र आरभ्यते —

Now, in this (following) next verse, the censure of ignorant (of Self knowledge) man will be discussed.

असुर्या नाम ते लोका अन्धेन तमसा वृताः । 

तांस्ते प्रेत्याभिगच्छन्ति ये के चात्महनो जनाः ॥ ३ ॥

Those people who obliterate (disregard) the Self, they will, after their demise, enter such worlds that are fit for ‘Asuryas’ and are covered by blinding darkness.

भाष्यम्

असुर्याः परमात्मभावमद्वयमपेक्ष्य देवादयोऽप्यसुराः । तेषां च स्वभूता लोका असुर्याः नाम । नामशब्दोऽनर्थको निपातः । ते लोकाः कर्मफलानि लोक्यन्ते दृश्यन्ते भुज्यन्त इति जन्मानि । अन्धेन अदर्शनात्मकेनाज्ञानेन तमसा आवृताः आच्छादिताः । तान् स्थावरान्तान् , प्रेत्य त्यक्त्वेमं देहम् अभिगच्छन्ति यथाकर्म यथाश्रुतम् । ये के च आत्महनः आत्मानं घ्नन्तीत्यात्महनः ।

The supreme Self is non dual, not divided, to which ‘Asuryas’, are compared, therefore, even Devas and other (Gods) belong to the world of ‘Asuryas’. ‘Nama’ word is of no specific meaning. Into those worlds, to enjoy fruits of action, (‘Asuryas’) are born. Those worlds are covered by blinding darkness, thereby  masking perception of Self knowledge. Into those worlds, which extends upto inanimate creatures (like trees etc), after leaving the mortal coil, they* enter in accordance with the ‘karmas’ (they’ve performed) and kind of thought pattern (they've entertained). * They who have obliterate the Self.

के ?

ते जनाः येऽविद्वांसः ।

Who are those ?

Those people who remain ignorant (of the Self)

 कथं ते आत्मानं नित्यं हिंसन्ति ?

अविद्यादोषेण विद्यमानस्यात्मनस्तिरस्करणात् । विद्यमानस्यात्मनो यत्कार्यं फलमजरामरत्वादिसंवेदनादिलक्षणम् , तत् हतस्येव तिरोभूतं भवतीति प्राकृता अविद्वांसो जना आत्महन इत्युच्यन्ते । तेन ह्यात्महननदोषेण संसरन्ति ते ॥

How can they obliterate the eternal Self ?

By (remaining in) ignorance of the Self, the (ever) existing Self is (as though) abandoned. The fruits of the consequence of (the knowledge) of existing Self is indicated by understanding (of oneself being) ageless and deathless.  Obliteration of Self, as stated, would  imply that this understanding is veiled, by ignorant masses. And they, because of this lack of understanding, undergo grinding cycle of successive, births and deaths.

NOTES