Prashna Upanishad
Encyclopedia
The Prashna Upanishad or the Prashnopanishad is one of the earlier, "primary" Upanishads commented upon by Shankara
. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with the Atharvaveda
. It figures as number 4 in the Muktika
canon of 108 Upanishads.
As narrated in the beginning of this Upanishad
, Six pupils interested in knowing divinity or Brahman
come to sage Pippalada
and request him to clarify their spiritual doubts. Instead of answering immediately, Pippalada asks them to take up penance and Brahmacharya
for one year at his place. Upon completion of one year, pupils ask the sage, then the sage answers their questions.
The pupils who asked the questions were:
Each of them asks one question to Pippalada
and answer(s) to it forms a chapter in the Upanishad.
over other sense organs of human being. The third question asked by Kausalya is concerned with the origin and functioning of Vital Force of Life. The fourth question asked by Sauryayanee of Garga Gotra
is related to Dream
world of the sleeping person. The fifth question is concerned with fruits one gets by meditating on holy syllable OM
. The sixth and last question is concerned with the being by whom all this known and unknown universe got created and who has sixteen vital things (kala) or who is called as Shodashakala Purusha.
What is the root cause of this world? In fact, Kabandhi's question is literally
"From where (which root) these people are born ?"
Pippalada answers as if the question were asked about the root cause of the world.
He says that Prajapati
created a union of Prana
and Rayi in order to
create world and their intermixing or mating produced all the things in the
world. Max Müller
has translated this union as Spirit and Matter.
Term Rayi can be interpreted as all subtle and gross physical Matter and
Prana
can be taken as intangible spirit or active life force.
Pippalada extols the greatness of Prana. Finally explains that Food represents
Rayi (Matter) and from food, Semen
is produced and from semen people are born.
. Question is concerned with relation between senses and Vital Life Force Prana
in the body. Pippalada explains that Prana is the main sustainer of the body through an example. The question is
"how many divine elements hold the body?, which among them makes body living?, who is great among them?"
As an answer, Pippalada says that once space, air, fire (heat), water and earth (gross matter) and speech, mind, eye and ear said in pride that they sustain and hold the body. Then Prana (Life Force) tells "Do not be proud, I hold and sustain the body by dividing myself as five forms".
But other divine elements did not believe this, then Prana tried to stand up in anger, all other divine elements also rose along with Prana automatically, just like pulled up by string, as if when king bee raises all other worker bees also raise along with it. Then other divine elements realized who their master is and from who they derive their strength. They start pacifying Prana by praising. Rest of the answer tells about the greatness of Prana in the form of praise. Different forms of this "Vital Life Energy" ( Prana ) are described in the praise. Fire, Air, Indra
, Rain, Earth etc. are told be different forms Prana and is also told to be supporting outer world in the form of luminous Sun
. Pippalada also tells that both inner and outer worlds are under the control of Prana.
" From whom Prana originates ? How does he comes into body ?, How does he stays by dividing himself? How he leaves the body ? How he supports outer and inner worlds ?"
Pippalada answers that Prana originates from Atman
(soul), the way like shadow of the person originates. Prana comes to body by Atman
s will. He divides himself into five forms called Apana
, Vyana
, Udana
, Samana
etc. and performs various functions in the body. There are Nadi
's (subtle channels of energy) in the heart in which Prana in the form of Udana
circulates. Through one of the Nadi's, Udana carries life to heaven during death, if man has done Punya(Good deeds), and to Naraka
(Hell) if he has done Papa
(sin), and to earth (human world) if both ( Papa and Punya ) are present.
Being in the form of sun, Prana gives light to eye for seeing, thus he supports outer world by assuming form of sun.
Following answer is given.
The way all sun rays go back into sun at the time of sunset, so are all the senses of man go back into their master the Mind
. But still the five Prana's ( Vyana
, Upana
etc..) are awake. The one who sees the dream is mind. During dream less deep sleep this mind merges into Supreme Reality the Akshara
, or Brahman
. It is final refuge of elements, then Self feels bliss and harmonious.
till his/her death ? Is the fifth question of Shaibya Satyakama. Pippalada answers that OM
indicates supreme reality the Para Brahman and one who meditates will merge into Para Brahman.
the Sukesha, is about a vedic divine being called "Shodashakala Purusha" or "Person with sixteen divine attributes".
Pippalada answers that Shodashakala Purusha is within the body and explains its greatness and says "So far do I know this Highest Brahman, there is nothing higher than it".
, within a perspective of great depth. The language and concepts of the answers are often abstruse and esoteric, but one may get from them glimpses that are rational and perceptive. Thus, in answering the question on the origin of life, Pippalada starts with the origin of all existence in terms of matter and energy, and develops the answer step by step, till in the last one, he gives as the most direct and immediate origin of life, the sperm of the species. The answer to the last question is, that the ultimate supreme source of all existence is Brahman
.
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Adi Shankara Adi Shankara (IAST: pronounced , (Sanskrit: , ) (788 CE - 820 CE), also known as ' and ' was an Indian philosopher from Kalady of present day Kerala who consolidated the doctrine of advaita vedānta...
. It is a Mukhya Upanishad, associated with the Atharvaveda
Atharvaveda
The Atharvaveda is a sacred text of Hinduism and one of the four Vedas, often called the "fourth Veda"....
. It figures as number 4 in the Muktika
Muktika
The Muktikā refers to the canon of 108 upaniṣadas of the Advaita school enumerated in the Muktikopaniṣad, the 108th of which is the Muktikopaniṣad itself...
canon of 108 Upanishads.
Contents
In Sanskrit, "Prashna" means question. This text consists of six questions and their answers, hence the name. It is in the form of questions and answers. Except the first and the last questions, all other questions are actually a group of smaller sub-questions.As narrated in the beginning of this Upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
, Six pupils interested in knowing divinity or Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
come to sage Pippalada
Pippalada
Pippalada is an ancient teacher of the Atharva-Veda, and also a school of thought founded by him. He is the son of the sage Dadhichi....
and request him to clarify their spiritual doubts. Instead of answering immediately, Pippalada asks them to take up penance and Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya
Brahmacharya is one of the four stages of life in an age-based social system as laid out in the Manu Smrti and later Classical Sanskrit texts in Hinduism. It refers to an educational period of 14–20 years which starts before the age of puberty. During this time the traditional vedic sciences are...
for one year at his place. Upon completion of one year, pupils ask the sage, then the sage answers their questions.
The pupils who asked the questions were:
- The son of BharadwajaBharadwajaBharadwaja was one of the greatest Hindu Arya sages descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He was one of the Saptarshis in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa.Bhardwaj Rishi was father of...
, Sukesha - The son of Shibi, Satyakama
- The descendant of GargaGargaOne of the greatest sages of the Puranic times. Garga was the son of Rishi Bharadwaja and Susheela.He was better known as Garga Muni. He was the family priest of the family of Nanda . He named Krishna as "Krishna" after receiving the name by meditation...
, Sauryayanee - The son of Ashwala, Kausalya
- Bhargava of the country of VidarbhaVidarbhaVidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar . It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra...
belonging to BhriguBhrigusMaharishi Bhrigu was one of the seven great sages, the Saptarshis, in ancient India, one of the many Prajapatis created by Brahma , the first compiler of predictive astrology, and also the author of Bhrigu Samhita, the astrological classic written during the Vedic period, Treta yuga.Bhrigu is a...
GotraGotraIn the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"... - The son of Katya, Kabandhi
Each of them asks one question to Pippalada
Pippalada
Pippalada is an ancient teacher of the Atharva-Veda, and also a school of thought founded by him. He is the son of the sage Dadhichi....
and answer(s) to it forms a chapter in the Upanishad.
The questions
The first question is asked by Kabandhi concerned with the root cause of the universe. The second question asked by Bhargava is concerned with the supremacy of vital Force of Life or PranaPrana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
over other sense organs of human being. The third question asked by Kausalya is concerned with the origin and functioning of Vital Force of Life. The fourth question asked by Sauryayanee of Garga Gotra
Gotra
In the Hindu society, the term Gotra broadly refers to people who are descendants in an unbroken male line from a common male ancestor. Panini defines gotra for grammatical purposes as apatyam pautraprabhrti gotram , which means "the word gotra denotes the progeny beginning with the son's son"...
is related to Dream
Dream
Dreams are successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. The content and purpose of dreams are not definitively understood, though they have been a topic of scientific speculation, philosophical intrigue and religious...
world of the sleeping person. The fifth question is concerned with fruits one gets by meditating on holy syllable OM
Aum
Om or Aum Om or Aum Om or Aum (also , written in Devanāgari as and as , in Sanskrit known as (lit. "to sound out loudly"), ', or ' (also as ') (lit. "Auṃ form/syllable"), is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharmic or Indian religions, i.e...
. The sixth and last question is concerned with the being by whom all this known and unknown universe got created and who has sixteen vital things (kala) or who is called as Shodashakala Purusha.
First Question
First question asked by Kabandhi puts forth an important issue of spirituality.What is the root cause of this world? In fact, Kabandhi's question is literally
"From where (which root) these people are born ?"
Pippalada answers as if the question were asked about the root cause of the world.
He says that Prajapati
Prajapati
In Hinduism, Prajapati "lord of creatures" is a Hindu deity presiding over procreation, and protector of life. He appears as a creator deity or supreme God Viswakarma Vedic deities in RV 10 and in Brahmana literature...
created a union of Prana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
and Rayi in order to
create world and their intermixing or mating produced all the things in the
world. Max Müller
Max Müller
Friedrich Max Müller , more regularly known as Max Müller, was a German philologist and Orientalist, one of the founders of the western academic field of Indian studies and the discipline of comparative religion...
has translated this union as Spirit and Matter.
Term Rayi can be interpreted as all subtle and gross physical Matter and
Prana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
can be taken as intangible spirit or active life force.
Pippalada extols the greatness of Prana. Finally explains that Food represents
Rayi (Matter) and from food, Semen
Semen
Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
is produced and from semen people are born.
Second Question
Second question is asked by Bhargava of VidarbhaVidarbha
Vidarbha is the eastern region of Maharashtra state made up of Nagpur Division and Amravati Division. Its former name is Berar . It occupies 31.6% of total area and holds 21.3% of total population of Maharashtra...
. Question is concerned with relation between senses and Vital Life Force Prana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
in the body. Pippalada explains that Prana is the main sustainer of the body through an example. The question is
"how many divine elements hold the body?, which among them makes body living?, who is great among them?"
As an answer, Pippalada says that once space, air, fire (heat), water and earth (gross matter) and speech, mind, eye and ear said in pride that they sustain and hold the body. Then Prana (Life Force) tells "Do not be proud, I hold and sustain the body by dividing myself as five forms".
But other divine elements did not believe this, then Prana tried to stand up in anger, all other divine elements also rose along with Prana automatically, just like pulled up by string, as if when king bee raises all other worker bees also raise along with it. Then other divine elements realized who their master is and from who they derive their strength. They start pacifying Prana by praising. Rest of the answer tells about the greatness of Prana in the form of praise. Different forms of this "Vital Life Energy" ( Prana ) are described in the praise. Fire, Air, Indra
Indra
' or is the King of the demi-gods or Devas and Lord of Heaven or Svargaloka in Hindu mythology. He is also the God of War, Storms, and Rainfall.Indra is one of the chief deities in the Rigveda...
, Rain, Earth etc. are told be different forms Prana and is also told to be supporting outer world in the form of luminous Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
. Pippalada also tells that both inner and outer worlds are under the control of Prana.
Third Question
After learning that Prana is the main sustainer of the body and universe, Kausalya the son of Ashvala, asks the third question about origin of Prana. The question is" From whom Prana originates ? How does he comes into body ?, How does he stays by dividing himself? How he leaves the body ? How he supports outer and inner worlds ?"
Pippalada answers that Prana originates from Atman
Atman (Hinduism)
Ātman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena...
(soul), the way like shadow of the person originates. Prana comes to body by Atman
Atman (Hinduism)
Ātman is a Sanskrit word that means 'self'. In Hindu philosophy, especially in the Vedanta school of Hinduism it refers to one's true self beyond identification with phenomena...
s will. He divides himself into five forms called Apana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
, Vyana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
, Udana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
, Samana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
etc. and performs various functions in the body. There are Nadi
Nadi
Nadi is the third-largest conurbation in Fiji. It is located on the western side of the main island of Viti Levu, and had a population of 42,284 at the most recent census, in 2007. Nadi is multiracial with many of its inhabitants Indian or Fijian, along with a large transient population of foreign...
's (subtle channels of energy) in the heart in which Prana in the form of Udana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
circulates. Through one of the Nadi's, Udana carries life to heaven during death, if man has done Punya(Good deeds), and to Naraka
Naraka
Naraka is the Sanskrit word for the underworld; literally, of man. According to Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism and Buddhism, Naraka is a place of torment, or Hell...
(Hell) if he has done Papa
Papa
Papa or PAPA may refer to:*P, in the ICAO spelling alphabet*Papa class submarine*Pāpa, in Hinduism, the Sanskrit word for the concept of sin* Papa is a word used in many languages as an affectionate term for fatherPeople:...
(sin), and to earth (human world) if both ( Papa and Punya ) are present.
Being in the form of sun, Prana gives light to eye for seeing, thus he supports outer world by assuming form of sun.
Fourth Question
Asked by Souryayanee Gargya, this question is concerned with dream world of human being. Exact question is "Which elements in Human being actually sleep? Which are awake at that time (while sleeping) ? Among these who sees the dream, who feels bliss in it? In whom all these elements merge finally as their final destination?"Following answer is given.
The way all sun rays go back into sun at the time of sunset, so are all the senses of man go back into their master the Mind
Mind
The concept of mind is understood in many different ways by many different traditions, ranging from panpsychism and animism to traditional and organized religious views, as well as secular and materialist philosophies. Most agree that minds are constituted by conscious experience and intelligent...
. But still the five Prana's ( Vyana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
, Upana
Prana
Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" .It is one of the five organs of vitality or sensation, viz. prana "breath", vac "speech", chakshus "sight", shrotra "hearing", and manas "thought" Prana is the Sanskrit word for "vital life" (from the root "to fill", cognate to Latin plenus...
etc..) are awake. The one who sees the dream is mind. During dream less deep sleep this mind merges into Supreme Reality the Akshara
Akshara
Akshara may mean:*"letter" in Hindi*"everlasting" or "imperishable"*in Sanskrit grammar, "syllable", see Shiksha*a consonant grapheme, with an inherent vowel, of a script of the Brahmic family....
, or Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
. It is final refuge of elements, then Self feels bliss and harmonious.
Fifth Question
What fruit does one get who regularly meditates on holy syllable OMAum
Om or Aum Om or Aum Om or Aum (also , written in Devanāgari as and as , in Sanskrit known as (lit. "to sound out loudly"), ', or ' (also as ') (lit. "Auṃ form/syllable"), is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharmic or Indian religions, i.e...
till his/her death ? Is the fifth question of Shaibya Satyakama. Pippalada answers that OM
Aum
Om or Aum Om or Aum Om or Aum (also , written in Devanāgari as and as , in Sanskrit known as (lit. "to sound out loudly"), ', or ' (also as ') (lit. "Auṃ form/syllable"), is a sacred/mystical syllable in the Dharmic or Indian religions, i.e...
indicates supreme reality the Para Brahman and one who meditates will merge into Para Brahman.
Sixth Question
Final and last question asked by son of BharadwajaBharadwaja
Bharadwaja was one of the greatest Hindu Arya sages descendant of rishi Angirasa, whose accomplishments are detailed in the Puranas. He was one of the Saptarshis in the present Manvantara; with others being Atri, Vashishtha, Vishvamitra, Gautama, Jamadagni, Kashyapa.Bhardwaj Rishi was father of...
the Sukesha, is about a vedic divine being called "Shodashakala Purusha" or "Person with sixteen divine attributes".
Pippalada answers that Shodashakala Purusha is within the body and explains its greatness and says "So far do I know this Highest Brahman, there is nothing higher than it".
Conclusion
The answers to each of the questions are developed by PippaladaPippalada
Pippalada is an ancient teacher of the Atharva-Veda, and also a school of thought founded by him. He is the son of the sage Dadhichi....
, within a perspective of great depth. The language and concepts of the answers are often abstruse and esoteric, but one may get from them glimpses that are rational and perceptive. Thus, in answering the question on the origin of life, Pippalada starts with the origin of all existence in terms of matter and energy, and develops the answer step by step, till in the last one, he gives as the most direct and immediate origin of life, the sperm of the species. The answer to the last question is, that the ultimate supreme source of all existence is Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
.
External links
- Prashna Upanishad Sanskrit PDF http://sanskritdocuments.org/all_pdf/prashna.pdf
- Sri Aurobindo on Prashna Upanishad http://www.sriaurobindoashram.info/Contents.aspx?ParentCategoryName=_StaticContent/SriAurobindoAshram/-09%20E-Library/-01%20Works%20of%20Sri%20Aurobindo/-12_The%20Upanishad_Volume-12.