Paramahamsa Upanishad - and the goal of evolution

A beautiful line from one translation of the Paramahamsa Upanishad caught my eye.

It goes:
He attains the goal of evolution.
Truly he attains the goal of evolution.


"He" refers to the paramahamsa, the liberated, the avadhoota. The full portion is (source):

The aspirant who is seeking the Lord
Must free himself from selfish attachments
To people, money, and possessions.
When his mind sheds every selfish desire,
He becomes free from the duality
Of pleasure and pain and rules his senses.
No more is he capable of ill will;
No more is he subject to elation,
For his senses come to rest in the Self.
Entering into the unitive state,
He attains the goal of evolution.
Truly he attains the goal of evolution.
(Translated by Eknath Easwaran, 1987)

Looking up the original, to our surprise not only is most of this not present, but quite a lot of what is there in the final two verses is not present in this beautiful translation. Here's the original (final section) with a closer translation alongside:

सर्वे कामा मनोगता व्यावर्तन्ते दुःखे नोद्विग्नः सुखे न स्पृहा त्यागो रागे सर्वत्र शुभाशुभयोरनभिस्नेहो न द्वेष्टि न मोदं च सर्वेषामिन्द्रियाणां गतिरुपरमते य आत्मन्येवावस्थीयते यत्पूर्णानन्दैकबोधस्तदब्रह्माहमस्मीति कृतकृत्यो भवति कृतकृत्यो भवति

All desires of the mind cease to exist, (and consequently) he is not agitated by grief, and has no longing for happiness; renunciation of attachment to sense-pleasures comes, and he is everywhere unattached in good or evil, (consequently) he neither hates nor is elated. The outgoing tendency of all the sense-organs subsides in him who rests in the Atman alone. Realising “I am that Brahman who is the One Infinite Knowledge-Bliss” , he reaches the end of his desires, verily he reaches the end of his desires. (Translated by Swami Madhavananda)

However, i still like the way Sri Easwaran translated (or interpreted) the last line "कृतकृत्यो भवति" to mean "attaining the goal of evolution". "कृतकृत्य" usually is translated as "being fulfilled" or having accomplished what one was supposed to do. He brings this out as the culmination of innumerable lives. Interestingly, on some forum i found a long discussion about whether the Vedic rishis knew about evolution. Someone took this translation very literally!

Another portion which caught my eye as being changed in translation was:
"For he knows he is neither body nor mind". The original is: स्ववपुः कुणपमिव दृष्यते which means, he sees his body (sva-vapu) as a corpse (kuNapam iv). A good interpretation, I would say.

See: http://www.geocities.com/advaitavedant/paramahamsaup.htm
and http://myweb.cableone.net/subru/Vedanta.html

Isha Upanishad

The Lord is enshrined in the hearts of all


Background*

This Upanishad starts with the phrase: ‘Ishavaasyam idam sarvam’. Hence it is also known as *Ishavaasya Upanishad*. It is called the ‘*Ishopanishad*’. This forms the fortieth chapter in the vajaneya samhita of *Sukla-Yajur Veda*. Because of this reason, it is also called as the ‘*Sukla Yajur vediya samhita Upanishad*’ and as the ‘*vajasaneyi samhita Upanishad*’.

The rishi or the sage of this Upanishad is ‘*Datyang aadarvanar*’. His son, who is leading a normal worldly life (and not a monastic one) approaches the sage for advices on knowledge of the self. The sage, observing that his son has complete control over all the desires and that he is following all the duties and dharmas cast on him by the religious doctrines and also that he is a true aspirant of liberation and dedicated to the cause by complete surrender, teaches his son about the knowledge of the Self.
(intro provided by http://www.vedarahasya.net/isha.htm)

The first verse is praised by Mahatma Gandhi as being the most important in all the Upanishads.

"If all the Upanishads and all the other Scriptures happened all of a sudden to be reduced to ashes, and if only the first verse in the Ishopanishad were left in the memory of the Hindus, Hinduism would live forever" -- Mahatma Gandhi

This verse seems to be translated in many different ways, some beautiful and inspiring but seemingly inaccurate, some accurate and seemingly dry.

Thus this piece brings together various translations of this first verse, and also provides a word-by-word translation.


îsHâ vâsyamidaM sarvaM yat kiñca jagatyâM jagat,
tena tyaktena bhuñjîthâ mâ gRidhaH kasya sviddhanam. 1.

ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ।। १ ।।


ishaa - God, the Lord
vaasyam - clothed, enveloped, pervaded, dwelling
idam - this
sarvam - all

yatkincha (yat kim cha)- whatsoever ?
jagatyaam - in this world, on earth
jagat - world, moving, movable, earth
tena tyaktena -renouncing this, it
bhunjitha - enjoy
ma - dont
gridha - covet
kasya - whose
svid - indeed, i wonder, do you think
dhanam - wealth

By the Lord is enveloped all that moves in the moving world.
By renouncing this, find your enjoyment.
Do not covet the possessions of others.
(http://www.san.beck.org/Upan3-Isha.html)

All this should be covered by the Lord, whatsoever moves on the earth. By such a renunciation protect (thyself). Covet not the wealth of others.
(http://geocities.com/advaitavedant/isavasya.htm)

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one must not accept other things, knowing well to Whom they belong.
http://www.stephen-knapp.com/sri_isha_upanishad.htm

All this, whatever moves on the earth, should be covered by the Lord. Protect your Self through that detachment. Do not covet anybody's wealth. Or - Do not covet, for whose is wealth?
http://www.boloji.com/hinduism/025.htm

Om ! In this material world full of things that appear and disappear (now and then), one should perceive and understand that even such worldly transitory things are filled in with the presence of Lord. (iisavaasyam itham sarvam – God pervades everything in this world). By so perceiving and feeling that, one can protect him from the (otherwise never-relieving) bond of karma. One should also convince him that he has been provided by the Lord with all the things necessary for his existence. With that sort of contentment, one should try to avoid being greedy or jealous about others or others’ riches.
http://www.vedarahasya.net/isha.htm

1. All this is for habitation[1] by the Lord, whatsoever is individual universe of movement in the universal motion. By that renounced thou shouldst enjoy; lust not after any man's possession.
http://intyoga.online.fr/isha.htm#_ftn1

1. The Lord is enshrined in the hearts of all.
The Lord is the supreme Reality.
Rejoice in him through renunciation.
Covet nothing. All belongs to the Lord.
(http://home.wxs.nl/~brouw724/Ishopanishad.html)
(http://myweb.cableone.net/subru/Vedanta.html)

Ananda Valli of Taittiriya Upanishad

The Taittiriya Upanishad forms the seventh, eighth and ninth chapters of the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajur Veda. These chapters are known as Siksha Valli, Ananda Valli and Bhrigu Valli, respectively.

The following is the Ananda Valli chapter. The English translation is by Alladi Mahadeva Sastry taken from realization.org


भीषाऽस्माद्वातः पवते
1. From fear of Him does Wind blow,

भीषोदेति सूर्यः
from fear of Him does Sun rise,

भीषाऽस्मादग्निश्चेन्द्रश्च
from fear of Him Agni and Indra (act)

मृत्युर्धावति पञ्चम इति
and Death the fifth does run.

सौषाऽऽनन्दस्य मीमाँसा भवति
2. This is the enquiry (mimamsa) concerning bliss.

युवा स्यात्साधुयुवाऽध्यायकः
आशिष्ठो दृढिष्ठो बलिष्ठः
तस्येयं पृथिवी सर्वा वित्तस्य पूर्णा स्यात्
3. Suppose a youth, a good youth, learned in the sacred lore, promptest in action, steadiest in heart, strongest in body, -- suppose his is all this earth of wealth.

स एको मानुष आनन्दः
This is one human bliss.

ते ये शतं मानुषा आनन्दाः
4. What is a hundred times the human bliss,

स एको मनुष्यगन्धर्वाणामानन्दः
that is one bliss of human fairies (gandharvas),
श्रोत्रियस्य
as also of the man versed in the Vedas (one who has heard),
चाकामहतस्य
not smitten by passion.

ते ये शतं मनुष्यगन्धर्वाणामानन्दाः
5. What is a hundred times the bliss of human fairies,


स एको देवगन्धर्वाणामानन्दः श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य
that is one bliss of celestial fairies(deva-gandharvas), as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं देवगन्धर्वाणामानन्दाः
स एकः पितृणां चिरलोकलोकानामानन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य
6. What is a hundred times the bliss of the celestial fairies, that is one bliss of the Pitris (forefathers, ancestors) who dwell in the long-enduring world, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

ते ये शतं पितृणां चिरलोकलोकानामानन्दाः
स एक आजानजानां देवानामानन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य

7. What is a hundred times the bliss of the Pitris (ancestors) who dwell in the long-enduring world, that is one bliss of the Devas born in the Ajana, as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं आजानजानां देवानामानन्दाः
स एकः कर्मदेवानां देवानामानन्दः
ये कर्मणा देवानपियन्ति
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य
8. What is a hundred times the bliss of the Devas born in the Ajana,
that is one bliss of the Devas (known as) Karma-Devas,
those who have reached Devas by work,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं कर्मदेवानां देवानामानन्दाः
स एको देवानामानन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य

9. What is a hundred times the bliss of the Devas (known as) Karma-Devas,
that is one bliss of Devas,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं देवानामानन्दाः
स एक इन्द्रस्याऽऽनन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य
10. What is a hundred times the bliss of Devas,
that is one bliss of Indra,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतमिन्द्रस्याऽऽनन्दाः
स एको बृहस्पतेरानन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य

11. What is a hundred times the bliss of Indra,
that is one bliss of Brihaspati,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं बृहस्पतेरानन्दाः
स एकः प्रजापतेरानन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य

12. What is a hundred times the bliss of Brihaspati,
that is one bliss of the Prajapati,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.


ते ये शतं प्रजापतेरानन्दाः
स एको ब्रह्मण आनन्दः
श्रोत्रियस्य चाकामहतस्य

13. What is a hundred times the bliss of Prajapati,
that is one bliss of Brahma,
as also of the man versed in the Vedas, not smitten by passion.

स यश्चायं पुरुषे . यश्चासावादित्ये । स एकः ।

14. And this one who is in the man, and that one who is in the sun, He is one.


स य एवंवित्
15. He who thus knows,
अस्माल्लोकात्प्रेत्य
departing from this world,

एतमन्नमयमात्मानमुपसङ्क्रामति
एतं प्राणमयमात्मानमुपसङ्क्रामति
एतं मनोमयमात्मानमुपसङ्क्रामति
एतं विज्ञानमयमात्मानमुपसङ्क्रामति
एतमानन्दमयमात्मानमुपसङ्क्रामति

attains this Annamaya self,
this Pranamaya self does he attain,
this Manomaya self he attains,
this Vijnanamaya self he attains,
he attains this Anandamaya self.



तदप्येष श्लोको भवति
16. On that, too, there is this verse.


यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते
अप्राप्य मनसा सह
आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान्
न बिभेति कुतश्चनेति

1. He who knows the bliss of Brahman, (आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् )
whence (all) words recede, (यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते )
as well as mind, without reaching, (अप्राप्य मनसा सह )
he is not afraid of anyone whatsoever. (न बिभेति कुतश्चनेति)


एतँ ह वाव न तपति
किमहँ साधु नाकरवम्
किमहं पापमकरवमिति

2. Him, verily, burns not the thought,
"Why have I not done the right?
Why have I done sin?"


स य एवं विद्वानेते आत्मानँ स्पृणुते .

3. Whoso knows thus, these two as the Self does he cherish.

उभे ह्येवैष एते आत्मानँ स्पृणुते

4. Both these, verily, as the Self does he cherish who thus knows.

य एवं वेद
5. Such is the Sacred Wisdom.

The Shanti (peace) mantra

ॐ सह नाववतु । सह नौभुनक्तु ।
सहवीर्यम् करवावहै ।
तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु । मा विद्विषावहै ।।
ॐ शांतिः शांतिः शांतिः ।।


Om sahanaavavatu
Sahanau bhunaktu
Saha viiryan karavaavahai
Tejasvi naavadhiitamastu
Maa vidvishhaavahai

May we be protected together.
May we be nourished together.
May we work together with great vigor.
May our study be enlightening
May no obstacle arise between us.

ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः
Om shaantih shaantih shaantih
Om peace, peace, peace.

Also refer:
Ananda Valli mp3 6.2 MB mpeg 4 audio, very uplifting piece.

and Intro to Taittiriya

Introduction

This blog will contain some important Sanskrit texts in UTF-8 format, typically some Upanishads or other works. This is a sister site to http://upadesha-saram.blogspot.com which contains some sanskrit works of Sri Bhagavan Ramana Maharshi, and http://ashtaavakra.blogspot.com which contains the extraordinary work, Ashtavakra Gita.

There are no copyrights to the works on this site, you may freely copy the reuse the material without credit.

This site is dedicated to all the sages who have given us spiritual knowledge such as the Vedas, the Upanishads and various Gitas and samhitas. My humblest pranams (obeisances) to them all. My deepest gratitude and pranams to Guru Ramana and Arunachala Siva for His limitless grace and love.