Skip to main content

Supplementary Doctrines: Prana, Transmigration, and Lineage

(Chapter 6)

षष्ठोऽध्यायः — Adhyāya 6: Khila Kāṇḍa ( The Lineage & Final Rites)

Chapter Quiz

Verse 1

yo ha vai jyeṣṭhaṃ ca śreṣṭhaṃ ca veda jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavati | prāṇo vai jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca | jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavati | api ca yeṣāṃ bubhūṣati | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows that which is the oldest and the best becomes the oldest and the best among his own people. The vital breath (Prana) indeed is the oldest and the best. He who knows this becomes the oldest and the best among his own people, as well as among those whom he wishes to be so.

Verse 2

yo ha vai vasiṣṭhāṃ veda vasiṣṭhaḥ svānāṃ bhavati | vāgvai vasiṣṭhā | vasiṣṭhaḥ svānāṃ bhavati | api ca yeṣāṃ bubhūṣati | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows the richest (the most excellent) becomes the richest among his own people. Speech indeed is the richest. He who knows this becomes the richest among his own people, as well as among those whom he wishes to be so.

Verse 3

yo ha vai pratiṣṭhāṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati same | pratitiṣṭhati durge | cakṣurvai pratiṣṭhā | cakṣuṣā hi same ca durge ca pratitiṣṭhati | pratitiṣṭhati same pratitiṣṭhati durge | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows the firm foundation stands firm on level ground as well as on rough ground. The eye indeed is the firm foundation, for with the eye one stands firm on level as well as on rough ground. He who knows this stands firm on level ground and stands firm on rough ground.

Verse 4

yo ha vai saṃpadaṃ veda saṃ hāsmai padyate yaṃ kāmaṃ kāmayate | śrotraṃ vai saṃpat | śrotre hīme sarve vedā abhisaṃpannāḥ | saṃ hāsmai padyate yaṃ kāmaṃ kāmayate | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows prosperity, whatever desire he desires is fulfilled for him. The ear indeed is prosperity, for in the ear all these Vedas are unified and attained. Whatever desire he desires is fulfilled for him, who knows this.

Verse 5

yo ha vā āyatanaṃ vedāyatanaṃ svānāṃ bhavatyāyatanaṃ janānām | mano vā āyatanam | āyatanaṃ svānāṃ bhavatyāyatanaṃ janānām | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows the abode becomes the abode of his own people and an abode of all people. The mind indeed is the abode. He who knows this becomes the abode of his own people and an abode of all people.

Verse 6

yo ha vai prajātiṃ veda prajāyate ha prajayā paśubhiḥ | reto vai prajātiḥ | prajāyate ha prajayā paśubhiḥ | ya evaṃ veda

AI Translation

He who knows procreation is enriched with offspring and cattle. The seed indeed is procreation. He who knows this is enriched with offspring and cattle.

Verse 7

te heme prāṇā ahaṃśreyase vivadamānā brahma jagmuḥ | taddhocuḥ ko no vasiṣṭha iti | taddhovāca yasmin va utkrānta idaṃ śarīraṃ pāpiyo manyate sa vo vasiṣṭha iti

AI Translation

These organs, contending among themselves for superiority, went to Brahman and asked, 'Which of us is the most excellent?' Brahman replied, 'He upon whose departure this body is considered to be worst off, he is the most excellent among you.'

Verse 8

vāghoccakrāma | sā saṃvatsaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti | te hocuḥ yathākalā avadanto vācā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvāṃso manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti | praviveśa ha vāk

AI Translation

Speech departed. Having stayed away for a year, it returned and said, 'How were you able to live without me?' They replied, 'Like the mute, not speaking with speech, but breathing with the vital breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, and procreating with the seed—thus we lived.' Then speech re-entered.

Verse 9

cakṣurhoccakrāma | tatsaṁvatsaraṁ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti | te hocuḥ yathāndhā apaśyantaścakṣuṣā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvāṁso manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti | praviveśa ha cakṣuḥ

AI Translation

The eye departed. Having stayed away for a year, it returned and asked, "How were you able to live without me?" They replied, "Like blind people, not seeing with the eye, but breathing with the vital breath, speaking with speech, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, and procreating with semen—thus we lived." Then the eye re-entered.

Verse 10

śrotraṁ hoccakrāma | tatsaṁvatsaraṁ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti | te hocuḥ yathā badhirā aśṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā vidvāṁso manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti | praviveśa ha śrotram

AI Translation

The ear departed. Having stayed away for a year, it returned and asked, "How were you able to live without me?" They replied, "Like deaf people, not hearing with the ear, but breathing with the vital breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, knowing with the mind, and procreating with semen—thus we lived." Then the ear re-entered.

Verse 11

mano hoccakrāma | tatsaṁvatsaraṁ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti | te hocuḥ yathā mugdhā avidvāṁso manasā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti | praviveśa ha manaḥ

AI Translation

The mind departed. Having stayed away for a year, it returned and asked, "How were you able to live without me?" They replied, "Like simpletons, not knowing with the mind, but breathing with the vital breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, and procreating with semen—thus we lived." Then the mind re-entered.

Verse 12

reto hoccakrāma | tatsaṁvatsaraṁ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti | te hocuḥ yathā klībā aprajāyamānā retasā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvāṁso manasaivamajīviṣmeti | praviveśa ha retaḥ

AI Translation

The organ of generation departed. Having stayed away for a year, it returned and asked, "How were you able to live without me?" They replied, "Like eunuchs, not procreating with semen, but breathing with the vital breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, and knowing with the mind—thus we lived." Then the organ of generation re-entered.

Verse 13

atha ha prāṇa utkramiṣyan yathā mahāsuhayaḥ saindhavaḥ paḍvīśaśaṅkūntsaṁvṛhedevaṁ haivemān prāṇāntsaṁvavarha | te hocuḥ mā bhagava utkramīḥ | na vai śakṣyāmastvadṛte jīvitumiti | tasyo me baliṁ kuruteti | tatheti

AI Translation

Then, as the vital breath was about to depart, just as a great noble steed from Sindh might tear up the pegs of its tethering ropes, so did it uproot those other organs. They said, "Venerable Sir, do not depart! Truly, we shall not be able to live without you." He said, "If so, pay me tribute." They said, "So be it."

Verse 14

sā ha vāguvāca yadvā ahaṁ vasiṣṭhāsmi tvaṁ tadvasiṣṭho'sīti | yadvā ahaṁ pratiṣṭhāsmi tvaṁ tatpratiṣṭho'sīti cakṣuḥ | yadvā ahaṁ saṁpadasmi tvaṁ tatsaṁpadasīti śrotram | yadvā ahamāyatanamasmi tvaṁ tadāyatanamasīti manaḥ | yadvā ahaṁ prajātirasmi tvaṁ tatprajātirasīti retaḥ | tasyo me kimannaṁ kiṁ vāsa iti | yadidaṁ kiñcā śvabhya ā kṛmibhya ā kīṭapataṅgebhyastatte'nnam | āpo vāsa iti | na ha vā asyānannaṁ jagdhaṁ bhavati nānannaṁ pratigṛhītaṁ ya evametadanasyānnaṁ veda | tadvidvāṁsaḥ śrotriyā aśiṣyanta ācāmantyaśitvācāmanti | etameva tadannamanagnaṁ kurvanto manyante

AI Translation

Then Speech said, "Whatever makes me the richest, that you are." The Eye said, "Whatever makes me the foundation, that you are." The Ear said, "Whatever makes me prosperity, that you are." The Mind said, "Whatever makes me the abode, that you are." The Organ of generation said, "Whatever makes me procreation, that you are." The Vital Breath said, "If so, what is my food and what is my garment?" They replied, "Whatever exists here, down to dogs, worms, insects, and moths—that is your food, and water is your garment." Indeed, nothing eaten by one who knows this food of Prāṇa remains un-eaten as Prāṇa's food, nor is anything accepted as non-food. Therefore, learned scholars versed in the Vedas sip water before and after eating; they consider that they are thereby making the vital breath clothed, not naked.

Verse 15

śvetaketurvā āruṇeyaḥ pañcālānāṁ pariṣadamājagāma | sa ājagāma jaivaliṁ pravāhaṇaṁ paricārayamāṇam | tamudīkṣyābhyuvāda kumārā3 iti | sa bho3 iti pratiśuśrāva | anuśiṣṭo nvasī pitreti | omiti hovāca

AI Translation

Śvetaketu, the grandson of Aruṇa, came to the assembly of the Pañcālas. He approached Pravāhaṇa Jaivali who was being waited upon. Looking up at him, the king said, "Young man!" He replied, "Yes, sir!" The king asked, "Have you been instructed by your father?" He said, "Yes."

Verse 16

vettha yathemāḥ prajāḥ prayatyo vipratipadyantā3 iti | neti hovāca | vettho yathemaṁ lokaṁ punarāpadyantā3 iti | neti haivovāca | vettho yathāsau loka evaṁ bahubhiḥ punaḥ punaḥ prayadbhirna saṁpūryatā3 iti | neti haivovāca | vettho yatithyāmāhutyāṁ hutāyāmāpaḥ puruṣavāco bhūtvā samutthāya vadantī3 iti | neti haivovāca | vettho devayānasya vā pathaḥ pratipadaṁ pitṛyāṇasya vā | yatkṛtvā devayānaṁ vā panthānaṁ pratipadyante pitṛyāṇaṁ vā | api hi na ṛṣervacaḥ śrutaṁ dve sṛtī aśṛṇavaṁ pitṝṇāmahaṁ devānāmuta martyānām | tābhyāmidaṁ viśvamejatsameti yadantarā pitaraṁ mātaraṁ ceti | nāhamata ekaṁ cana vedeti hovāca

AI Translation

"Do you know how these creatures depart in different directions when they die?" "No," he said. "Do you know how they return to this world?" "No," he said. "Do you know why that world does not become filled up, though so many depart there again and again?" "No," he said. "Do you know after how many oblations are offered the water takes on human voice and rises up and speaks?" "No," he said. "Do you know the means of accessing the path of the gods or the path of the ancestors—by doing what people attain the path of the gods or the path of the ancestors? Have you not heard the saying of the seer: 'I have heard of two paths for mortals, one leading to the ancestors and the other to the gods; by these two proceeds everything in this moving universe between the Father (Heaven) and the Mother (Earth)'?" "I do not know even one of these," he said.

Verse 17

athainaṃ vasatyopamantrayāṃ cakre | anādṛtya vasatiṃ kumāraḥ pradudrāva | sa ājagāma pitaram | taṃ hovāca iti vāva kila no bhavān purānuśiṣṭānavoca iti | kathaṃ sumedha iti | pañca mā praśnān rājanyabandhuraprākṣīt | tato naikaṃ cana vedeti | katame ta iti | ima iti ha pratīkānyudājahāra

AI Translation

Then the King invited him to stay. Disregarding the invitation, the boy ran away and came to his father. He said to him, 'Did you not previously claim to have instructed me?' The father replied, 'Why, my wise son?' The boy said, 'That Kshatriya asked me five questions, and I did not know even one of them.' The father asked, 'What were they?' The boy quoted the topics.

Verse 18

sa hovāca tathā nastvaṃ tata jānīthā yathā yadahaṃ kiṃca veda sarvamahaṃ tattubhamavocam | prehi tu tatra | pratītya brahmacaryaṃ vatsyāva iti | bhavāneva gacchatviti | sa ājagāma gautamo yatra pravāhaṇasya jaivalerāsa | tasmā āsanamāhṛtyodakamāhārayāṃ cakāra | atha hāsmā arghyaṃ cakāra | taṃ hovāca varaṃ bhagavate gautamāya dadma iti

AI Translation

The father said, 'My child, know that whatever I knew, I taught it all to you. Come, let us go there and live as students.' The boy replied, 'Go yourself.' Gautama (the father) then went to where Pravahana Jaivali was. The King offered him a seat, had water brought, and presented the respectful offering (Arghya). He then said to him, 'We grant a boon to the revered Gautama.'

Verse 19

sa hovāca pratijñāto ma eṣa varaḥ | yāṃ tu kumārasyānte vācamabhāṣathāstāṃ me brūhīti

AI Translation

Gautama said, 'You have promised me a boon. Speak to me that which you spoke in the presence of the boy.'

Verse 20

sa hovāca daiveṣu vai gautama tadvareṣu | mānuṣāṇāṃ brūhīti

AI Translation

The King said, 'O Gautama, that belongs to divine boons. Ask for a boon concerning human desires.'

Key Takeaways & AI Summary

This chapter explores the profound teachings of Supplementary Doctrines: Prana, Transmigration, and Lineage. It includes 74 verses detailing core themes like "yo ha vai jyeṣṭhaṃ ca śreṣṭhaṃ ca veda jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavati | prāṇo vai jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca | jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavati | api ca yeṣāṃ bubhūṣati | ya evaṃ veda", "yo ha vai vasiṣṭhāṃ veda vasiṣṭhaḥ svānāṃ bhavati | vāgvai vasiṣṭhā | vasiṣṭhaḥ svānāṃ bhavati | api ca yeṣāṃ bubhūṣati | ya evaṃ veda", "yo ha vai pratiṣṭhāṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati same | pratitiṣṭhati durge | cakṣurvai pratiṣṭhā | cakṣuṣā hi same ca durge ca pratitiṣṭhati | pratitiṣṭhati same pratitiṣṭhati durge | ya evaṃ veda".The largest and one of the most ancient Principal Upanishads from the Shukla Yajur Veda — containing the Mahāvākya "Aham Brahmāsmi" (I am Brahman) and the profound dialogues of Sage Yajnavalkya on the nature of the Self, consciousness, and liberation.