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 Upanishad

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Ken Upanishad

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Ken Upanishad

This Upanishad belongs to Tandya or Jaimini Braahman of Saam Ved) and shows Umaa revealing the knowledge of Brahm to the gods, thus is about knowing Brahm.

First Khand, 1
 (1) The Pupil asks: "At whose wish does the mind sent forth proceed on its errand? At whose command does the first breath go forth? At whose wish do we utter this speech? What god directs the eye, or the ear?"
 [By whose command does the mind think? By whose command this breath is present in our body? At whose behest does the tongue speak, the eyes see, the ears hear? Who indeed is that super power that drives us?]

(2) The Teacher replies: "It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of speech, the breath of breath, and the eye of the eye. When freed (from the senses) the wise, on departing from this world, become immortal.
 [The Supreme being is the controller of the physical senses. He is mind of the mind, ear of the ear, eye of the eye,  and breath of the breath. Upon realizing this the wise become immortal.]

(3) The eye does not go thither, nor speech, nor mind. We do not know, we do not understand, how anyone can teach it.
 [Eyes do not see Him, Speech cannot describe Him, Mind cannot comprehend Him. Him we do not know, nor is anyone able to teach us about Him. He is different from all that is known to us. This is what has been handed down to us about Him by our ancestors.]

(4) It is different from the known, it is also above the unknown, thus we have heard from those of old, who taught us this.

(5) That which is not expressed by speech and by which speech is expressed, that alone know as Brahman, not that which people here adore.

(6) That which does not think by mind, and by which, they say, mind is thought, that alone know as Brahman, not that which people here adore.

(7) That which does not see by the eye, and by which one sees (the work of) the eyes, that alone know as Brahman, not that which people here adore.

(8) That which does not hear by the ear, and by which the ear is heard, that alone know as Brahman, not that which people here adore.

(9) That which does not breathe by breath, and by which breath is drawn, that alone know as Brahman, not that which people here adore."

Second Khand
 (1). The Teacher says: "If thou thinkest I know it well, then thou knowest surely but little, what is that form of Brahm known, it may be, to thee?"

(2) The Pupil says: "I do not think I know it well, nor do I know that I do not know it. He among us who knows this, he knows it, nor does he know that he does not know it.

(3) He by whom it (Brahm) is not thought, by him it is thought; he by whom it is thought, knows it not. It is not understood by those who understand it, it is understood by those who do not understand it.

(4) It is thought to be known (as if) by awakening, and (then) we obtain immortality indeed. By the Self we obtain strength, by knowledge we obtain immortality.

(5) If a man knows this here, that is the true (end of life); if he does not know this here, then there is a great destruction (new births). The wise who have thought on all things (and recognized the Self in them) become immortal, when they have departed from this world."

Third Khand
 Read this Khand in pure prose as a story on Next Page
(1) Brahm obtained the victory for the Devtaa. The Devtaa became elated by the victory of Brahm, and they thought, this victory is ours only, this greatness is ours only.

(2) Brahm perceived this and appeared to them. But they did not know it, and said: "What sprite (Yaksh or Yakshya) is this?"

(3) They said to Agni (fire): "O Jaatavedaa, find out what sprite this is." "Yes," he said.

(4). He ran toward it, and Brahman said to him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I am Agni, I am Jaatavedaa."

(5) Brahm said: "What power is in you?" Agni replied: "I could burn all whatever there is on earth."

(6) Brahm put a straw before him, saying: "Burn this." He went towards it with all his might, but he could not burn it. Then he returned thence and said: "I could not find out what sprite this is."

(7) Then they said to Vaayu (air): 'O Vaayu, find out what sprite this is." "Yes," he said.

(8) He ran toward it, and Brahman said to him: "Who are you?" He replied: "I am Vaayu, I am Matariswan."

(9) Brahm said: "What power is in you?" Vaayu replied: "I could take up all whatever there is on earth."

(10) Brahm put a straw before him, saying: "Take it up." He went towards it with all his might, but he could not take it up. Then he returned thence and said: "I could not find out what sprite this is."

(11) Then they said to Indra: "O Maghavaan, find out what sprite this is." He went towards it, but it disappeared from before him.

(12) Then in the same space (ether) he came towards a woman, highly adorned: it was Umaa, the daughter of Himavant. He said to her: "Who is that sprite?"

Fourth Khand
 (1) She replied: "It is Brahm. It is through the victory of Brahm that you have thus become great." After that he knew that it was Brahm.

(2) Therefore these Devtaa, viz. Agni, Vayu, and Indra, are, as it were, above the other gods, for they touched it (the Brahm) nearest.

(3) And therefore Indra is, as it were, above the other gods, for he touched it nearest, he first knew it.

(4) This is the teaching of Brahm, with regard to the gods (mythological) : It is that which now flashes forth in the lightning, and now vanishes again.

(5) And this is the teaching of Brahm, with regard to the body (psychological) : It is that which seems to move as mind, and by it imagination remembers again and again.

(6) That Brahm is called Tadvana, by the name of Tadvana it is to be meditated on. All beings have a desire for him who knows this.

(7) The Teacher said: "As you have asked me to tell you the Upanishad, the Upanishad has now been told you. We have told you the Braahmee Upanishad.

(8) The feet on which that Upanishad stands are penance, restraint, sacrifice; the Ved are all its limbs, the Truth is its abode.

(9) He who knows this Upanishad, and has shaken off all evil, stands in the endless, unconquerable world of Heaven, yeah, in the world of Heaven."
 [The Disciple said - "Sir, teach me more about God."
Teacher said - "Dedication to self-control and performance of duty are the feet, the study of scriptures is the body, and truthfulness is the soul is the knowledge of God. He who has come to understand this, his relationship with God has shaken off sinful activity, reaches the boundless, the most blissful kingdom of God.]

THE END OF THE KEN UPANISHAD

 
 

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Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/05
Contact:  sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 12/06/12