Those verses in the Veda that amplify the greatness of man, his soul’s journey, and his ultimate purpose are
termed as Upanishad. Upanishad means essential guiding principle. It is a shrugging off of conflict, frustration, fear, & turmoil. Upanishad means being in sync with Time and Ambience, and Understanding each other’s Viewpoint.
This edition gives a crisp, tight rendering of original thought using words that are relevant and correctly understood in the modern times. It develops the concept of Brahman, a loving compassionate fluid that permeates all beings and the entire Creation. Only the inward senses can glimpse it, only a brave seeker can attempt the discovery. 6. Prashna
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Upanishads are masterly texts, meant for a sincere and serious aspirant. Basic qualifications include a command over language and neatness in attire. Prerequisites most needed to imbibe the knowledge are:
- Respectfulness
- Readiness to serve with cheerfulness
- Discipline for a year with frugal lifestyle
- Truthfulness and candor in communication
Excerpt from Prashna Upanishad Verse 1.1
ॐ
सुकेशा च भारद्वाजः शैब्यश्च सत्यकामः सौर्यायणी च गार्ग्यः कौसल्यश्चाश्वलायनो भार्गवो वैदर्भिः कबन्धी कात्यायनस्ते हैते ब्रह्मपरा ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः परं ब्रह्मान्वेषमाणा एष ह वै तत्सर्वं वक्ष्यतीति ते ह समित्पाणयो भगवन्तं पिप्पलादमुपसन्नाः ॥ १.१
oṃ
sukeśā ca bhāradvājaḥ śaibyaśca satyakāmaḥ sauryāyaṇī ca gārgyaḥ kausalyaścāśvalāyano bhārgavo vaidarbhiḥ kabandhī kātyāyanaste haite brahmaparā brahmaniṣṭhāḥ paraṃ brahmānveṣamāṇā eṣa ha vai tatsarvaṃ vakṣyatīti te ha samitpāṇayo bhagavantaṃ pippalādamupasannāḥ ॥ 1.1
पदच्छेदः
सुकेशा च भारद्वाजः शैब्यः च सत्यकामः सौर्यायणी च गार्ग्यः कौसल्यः च आश्वलायनः भार्गवः वैदर्भिः कबन्धी कात्यायनः ते ह एते ब्रह्मपराः ब्रह्मनिष्ठाः परं ब्रह्म अन्वेषमाणाः एषः ह वै तत् सर्वं वक्ष्यति इति ते ह समित्पाणयः भगवन्तं पिप्पलादम् उपसन्नाः ॥
ते m1/3 ह 0 Verily they;
1.1 The number 6 wants to ascend to 7. Symbolically 7 is the highest state, as the sahasrara chakra. Or 7 is the maximum no of items, objectives or milestones.
A method of quality control is named Six sigma. An earthquake of 6 magnitude is considered very strong. In cricket, a popular sport today, there are 6 balls in an over and 6 runs is the maximum hit off a ball. After 6 days of working we earn a weekend. Similarly 6 players make a team in volleyball. A honeycomb is a hexagon. In IELTS, a score of 6 is the minimum requirement to apply to a top school. Mathematically 6 is a perfect number. And in Yoga, Vedanta and fitness classes, the 6th sense is a prized – to be polished – faculty.
So this Upanishad is in the form of a dialog between 6 disciples and a Master. The 6 disciples do not mean six physical bodies. Rather it points to the fact that only after one has crossed 6 milestones or 6 levels does one possess enough qualification to aspire for the ultimate. In fact it also points to the basic principle in operation in a human socio-economic set-up. To attain to the top rung in any civil or military or spiritual context, advancing 6 levels is needed.
Another quality for the aspirant consists of साधन–चतुष्टय the 4 personality traits:
विवेकः Viveka, वैराग्यं Vairagya, षट् सम्पत्तिः Shat Sampatti, मुमुक्षुत्वं Mumukshutva.
So when an aspirant has cleared 6 stages in life and his personality reflects these 4 traits, he is qualified to enter the pure Brahman space.
6 such seekers got admission to Stanford, or IIT Bombay, or the Art of Living Ashram. They were asked to prove their mettle and display their capabilities by going through a rigorous orientation program for 12 months. The program also tested whether company policy and institute ground rules were properly adhered to by the entrants.
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Prashna Upanishad is attributed to sage Pippalada and is in the Gopatha Brahmana of the Atharva Veda. This Upanishad gets its name from the word Prashna , which means “a Question” in Sanskrit.
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It includes Sanskrit Grammar with padachheda and anvaya with case-vibhakti of each word, and a Latin transliteration of each verse.
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