Second Chapter of Part Six
The Second Chapter of Part Six of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the process of rebirth explained by Pravahana, the son of Jivala to Svetaketu, the grandson of Aruna.
|
|
Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is known as a commentary on Purusha Sukta of the Vedas. It is the ancient and elementary or 'Mukhya' part of Upanishad. The Brhdaranyaka Upanishad is the secondary extraction of the Brahamana text. Brhadaranyaka Upanishad is related to the Shukla Yajur Veda. The Second Chapter of Part Six of Brhadaranyaka Upanishad deals with the process of rebirth. According to it, Svetaketu, the grandson of Aruna, approached the assembly of the Panchalas. He approached Pravahana, the son of Jivala. The king upon seeing him asked whether his father had taught him. He then questioned him whether he knew how people, after departing from their life, proceed on various paths; whether he knew how they again returned to this world; if he was aware as why the other world is never filled up even though so many people go there again and again; if he knew after how many offerings of oblations the water i.e. the liquid oblation gets a human voice, rises up and speaks. He also asked him if he knew the means of take the path that leads to the gods or to that leading to the Manes, through what deed can a man attain the path leading to the gods or that leading to the Manes. Svetaketu was not aware of any of these answers. The king then invited him to stay with him but he went to his father. He told his father the complete incident. The father told him that he had taught him whatever knowledge he possessed. The father then decided to go to the king for the answers and live with him as his students. The son's father approached King Pravahana for the answers to the questions. The king offered him a seat. He then began explaining him the answers.
King Pravahana told him that the world is the sacrificial fire, the sun works as its fuel, the rays its smoke, the day its flame, the four quarters its cinders and the intermediate quarters its sparks. It is in this fire that the gods offer faith. King Moon is born out of this offering. The god of rain, Parjanya is the fire, the year is its fuel, the clouds its smoke, lightning its flame, the thunderbolt its cinders, the rumbling its sparks. It is in this fire that the gods offer King Moon as libation. The rain is produced out of the offering. He next explains that the world is the fire and the earth is its fuel. The moon are its cinders and the stars its sparks. The gods offer rain as libation in this fire and out of that offering food is produced.
|
|
|
|