Brahman

praśnopaniṣad - caturthaḥ praśnaḥ

(Prashna Upanishad - Fourth Question in English (IAST))

From Atharva Veda

The Fourth Question of the Prashna Upanishad presents a profound dialogue between the sage Pippalada and Gargya Sauryayani concerning the nature of the human soul during different states of consciousness. It explores the mysteries of sleep, dreams, and the state of deep rest, explaining how all senses merge into the mind during slumber. By contemplating these teachings, the seeker gains insight into the imperishable nature of the Atman. This philosophical inquiry is highly regarded for its ability to dissolve worldly attachments, quiet the restless mind, and lead the practitioner toward the ultimate realization of the Supreme Self.

caturthaḥ praśnaḥ
atha hainaṃ sauryāyaṇī gārgyaḥ papraccha|
bhagavannetasmi-npuruṣe kāni svapanti kānyasmiñjāgrati katara eṣa deva-ssvapnā-npaśyati kasyaitatsukha-mbhavati kasminnu sarve sampratiṣṭhitā bhavantīti ||1||
tasmai sa hovāca| yathā gārgya marīcayo-'rkasyāsta-ṅgacchata-ssarvā etasmiṃstejomaṇḍala ekībhavanti|
tāḥ punaḥ punarudayataḥ pracarantyevaṃ ha vai ta-thsarva-mpare deve manasyekībhavati|
tena tar​hyeṣa puruṣo na śṛṇoti na paśyati na jighrati na rasayate na spṛśate nābhivadate nādatte nānandayate na visṛjate neyāyate svapitītyācakṣate ||2||
prāṇāgnaya evaitasmi-npure jāgrati|
gār​hapatyo ha vā eṣo-'pāno vyāno-'nvāhāryapacano yad gār​hapatyā-tpraṇīyate praṇayanādāhavanīyaḥ prāṇaḥ ||3||
yaducchvāsanisśvāsāvetāvāhutī sama-nnayatīti sa samānaḥ|
mano ha vāva yajamānaḥ iṣṭaphalamevodāna-ssa enaṃ-ya~jamānamaharaharbrahma gamayati ||4||
atraiṣa deva-ssvapne mahimānamanubhavati|
yad dṛṣṭa-ndṛṣṭamanupaśyati śrutaṃ śrutamevārthamanuśṛṇoti deśadigantaraiśca pratyanubhūta-mpunaḥ punaḥ pratyanubhavati dṛṣṭa-ñcādṛṣṭa-ñca śruta-ñcāśruta-ñcānubhūta-ñcānanubhūta-ñca saccāsacca sarva-mpaśyati sarvaḥ paśyati ||5||
sa yadā tejasābhibhūto bhavatyatraiṣa deva-ssvapnā-nna paśyatyatha yadaitasmiñśarīre etatsukha-mbhavati ||6||
sa yathā somya vayāṃsi vāsovṛkṣaṃ sampratiṣṭhante evaṃ ha vai ta-thsarva-mpara ātmani sampratiṣṭhate ||7||
pṛthivī ca pṛthivīmātrā cāpaścāpomātrā ca tejaśca tejomātrā ca vāyuśca vāyumātrā cākāśaścākāśamātrā ca cakṣuśca draṣṭavya-ñca śrotra-ñca śrotavya-ñca ghrāṇa-ñca ghrātavya-ñca rasaśca rasayitavya-ñca tvakca spar​śayitavya-ñca vākca vaktavya-ñca hastau cādātavya-ñcopasthaścānandayitavya-ñca pāyuśca visarjayitavya-ñca pādau ca gantavya-ñca manaśca mantavya-ñca buddhiśca boddhavya-ñcāhaṅkāraścāhaṅkartavya-ñca citta-ñca cetayitavya-ñca tejaśca vidyotayitavya-ñca prāṇaśca vidhārayitavya-ñca ||8||
eṣa hi draṣṭā spraṣṭā śrotā ghrātā rasayitā mantā boddhā kartā vijñānātmā puruṣaḥ|
sa pare-'kṣara ātmani sampratiṣṭhate ||9||
paramevākṣara-mpratipadyate sa yo ha vai tadacchāyamaśarīramalohitaṃ śubhramakṣaraṃ-ve~dayate yastu somya sa sarvajña-ssarvo bhavati tadeṣa ślokaḥ ||10||
vijñānātmā saha devaiśca sarvaiḥ prāṇā bhūtāni sampratiṣṭhanti yatra|
tadakṣaraṃ-ve~dayate yastu somya sa sarvajña-ssarvamevāviveśeti ||11||

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