51. When the knowledge which is of the form of the knowable, which is beneficent and which is untouched by any modifications arises in one and is known as OM only and no other, then the fluctuations of Prana cease.
52. By the contemplation for a long time of the Akasa which is in the heart and by the contemplation of the mind free from Vasanas, then the fluctuations of Prana cease.
53. By these methods and various others suggested by (one’s) thought and by means of the contact of the many (spiritual) guides, the fluctuations cease.
54. Having by contraction opened the door of Kundalini, one should force open the door of Moksha. Closing with her mouth the door through which one ought to go, the Kundalini sleeps spiral in form and coiled up like a serpent. He who causes this Kundalini to move – he is an emancipated person. If this Kundalini were to sleep in the upper part of the neck of any Yogin, it goes towards his emancipation. (If it were to sleep) in the lower part (of the body), it is for the bondage of the ignorant. Leaving the two Nadis, Ida and the other (Paingala), it (Prana) should move in the Susumna. That is the supreme seat of Vishnu. One should practise control of breath with the concentration of the mind. The mind should not be allowed by a clever man to rest on any other thing.
55. One should not worship Vishnu during the day alone. One should not worship Vishnu during the night alone; but should always worship Him and should not worship Him merely during day and night.
56. The wisdom-producing opening (near Uvula) has five passages. O Sandilya, this is the Khechari-mudra; practise it.
57. With one who sits in the Khechari-mudra, the Vayu which was flowing before through the left and right Nadis now flows through the middle one (Susumna. There is no doubt about it.
58. You should swallow the air through the void (Susumna) between Ida and Pingala. In that place is Khechari-mudra situated and that is the seat of Truth.
59. Again that is Khechari-mudra which is situated in the Akasa-Chakra (in the head) in the Niralamba (supportless) seat between the sun and moon (viz., Ida and Pingala).
60-61. When the tongue has been lengthened to the length of a Kala (digit) by the incision (of the fraenum lingum) and by rubbing and milking it (viz., the tongue), fix the gaze between the two eyebrows and close the hole in the skull with the tongue reversed. This is Khechari-mudra. With the tongue and the Chitta (mind) both move in the Akasa (Khechari), then the person with his tongue raised up becomes immortal. Firmly pressing the Yoni (perineum) by the left heel, stretching out the right leg, grasping the feet with both hands and inhaling the air through the nostrils, practise Kantha-Bandha, retaining the air upwards. By that, all afflictions are destroyed; then poison is digested as if it were nectar. Asthma, splenetic disease, the turning up of the anus and the numbness of the skin are removed. This is the means of conquering Prana and destroying death. Pressing the Yoni by the left heel, place the other foot over the left thigh: inhale the air, rest the chin on the chest, contract the Yoni and contemplate, (as far as possible), your Atman as situated within your mind. Thus is the direct perception (of truth) attained. Inhaling the Prana from outside and filling the
stomach with it, centre the Prana with the mind in the middle of the navel at the tip of the nose and at the toes during the Sandhyas (sunset and sunrise) or at all times. (Thus) the Yogin is freed from all diseases and fatigue.
62. By centring his Prana at the tip of his nose, he obtains mastery over the element of air; by centring it at the middle of his navel, all diseases are destroyed; by centring it at the toes, his body becomes light. He who drinks the air (drawn) through the tongue destroys fatigue, thirst and diseases.
63. He who drinks the air with his mouth during the two Sandhyas and the last two hours of the night, within three months the auspicious Sarasvati (goddess of speech) is present in his Vak (speech) (viz., he becomes eloquent and learned in his speech).
64. In six months, he is free from all diseases. Drawing the air by the tongue, retain the air at the root of the tongue. The wise man thus drinking nectar enjoys all prosperity.
65. Fixing the Atman in the Atman itself in the middle of the eyebrows, (having inhaled) through Ida and breaking through that (centre) thirty times, even a sick man is freed from disease.
66. He who draws the air through the Nadis and retains it for twenty-four minutes in the navel and in the sides of the stomach becomes freed from disease.
67-69(a). He who for the space of a month during the three Sandhyas (sunset, sunrise and midnight or noon) draws the air through the tongue, pierces thirty times and retains his breath in the middle of his navel, becomes freed from all fevers and poisons. He who retains the Prana together with the mind at the tip of his nose even for the space of a Muhurta (forty-eight minutes), destroys all sins that were committed by him during one hundred births.
69(b). Through the Samyama of Tara (Om), he knows all things. By retaining the mind at the tip of his nose, he acquires a knowledge of Indra-world; below that, he acquires a knowledge of Agni (fire) world. Through the Samyama of Chitta in the eye, he gets a knowledge of all worlds; in the ear, a knowledge of Yama (the god of death) world); in the sides of the ear, a knowledge of Nrriti-world; in the back of it (the ear), a knowledge of Varuna-world; in the left ear, a knowledge of Vayu-world; in the throat, a
knowledge of Soma (moon) world; in the left eye, a knowledge of Shiva-world; in the head, a knowledge of Atala world; in the feet, a knowledge of Vitala world; in the ankles, a knowledge of Nitala (rather Sutala) world; in the calves, a knowledge of Sutala (rather Talatala) world; in the knees, a knowledge of Mahatala world; in the thighs, a knowledge of Rasatala world; in the loins, a knowledge of Talatala (rather Patala) world; in the navel, a knowledge of Bhur (earth) world; in the stomach, a knowledge of Bhuvar world; in the heart, a knowledge of Suvar world; in the place above the heart, a knowledge of Mahar world; in the throat, a knowledge of Jana world; in the middle of the brows, a knowledge of Tapa world; in the head, a knowledge of Satya world.
By conquering Dharma and Adharma, one knows the past and the future. By centring it on the sound of every creature, a knowledge of the cry (or language) of the animal is produced. By centring it on the Sanchita-Karma (past Karma yet to be enjoyed), a
knowledge of one’s previous births arises in him. By centring it on the mind of another, a knowledge of the mind (or thoughts) of others is induced. By centring it on the Kaya-Rupa (or form of the body), other forms are seen. By fixing it on the Bala (strength).
The strength of persons like Hanuman is obtained. By fixing it on the sun, a knowledge of the worlds arises. By fixing it on the moon, a knowledge of the constellation is produced. By fixing it on the Dhruva (Polar star) a perception of its motion is induced. By fixing it on his own (Self), one acquires the knowledge of Purusha; on the navel, he attains a knowledge of the Kaya-Vyuha (mystical arrangement of all the particles of the body so as to enable a person to wear out his whole Karma in one life); on the well of the throat, freedom from hunger and thirst arises; on the Kurma Nadi (which is situated in the well of the throat), a firmness (of concentration) takes place. By fixing it on the Tara (pupil of the eye), he obtains the sight of the Siddhas (spiritual personages). By conquering the Akasa in the body, he is able to soar in the Akasa; (in short) by centring the mind in any place, he conquers the Siddhis appertaining to that place.
Then comes Pratyahara, which is of five kinds. It is the drawing away of the organs from attaching themselves to the objects of senses. Contemplating upon everything that one sees as Atman is Pratyahara. Renouncing the fruits of one’s daily actions is
Pratyahara. Turning away from all objects of sense is Pratyahara. Dharana in the eighteen important places (mentioned below) is Pratyahara, (viz.,) the feet, the toes, the ankles, the calves, the knees, the thighs, the anus, the penis, the navel, the heart, the well of the throat, the palate, the nose, the eyes, the middle of the brows, the forehead and the head in ascending and descending orders.
70. Then (comes) Dharana. It is of three kinds, (viz.,) fixing the mind in the Atman, bringing the external Akasa into the Akasa of the heart and contemplating the five Murtis (forms of Devatas) in the five elements – earth, Apas, fire, Vayu and Akasa.
71. Then comes Dhyana. It is of two kinds, Saguna (with Gunas or quality) and Nirguna (without quality). Saguna is the meditation of a Murti. Nirguna is on the reality of Self.
72. Samadhi is the union of the Jivatma (individual self) and the Paramatman (higher Self) without the threefold state (viz., the knower, the known and the knowledge). It is of the nature of extreme bliss and pure consciousness.
Thus ends the first chapter.
CHAPTER – II
Then the Brahma-Rishi Sandilya not obtaining the knowledge of Brahman in the four Vedas, approached the Lord Atharvan and asked him: “What is it ? Teach me the science of Brahman by which I shall obtain that which is most excellent.”
Atharvan replied: “O Sandilya, Brahman is Satya, Vijnana and Ananta in which all this (world) is interwoven, warp-wise and woof-wise, from which all originated and into which all are absorbed and which being known makes everything else known. It is without hands and feet, without eyes and ears, without tongue or without body and is unreachable and undefinable. From which, Vak (speech) and mind return, being unable to obtain (or reach) It. It is to be cognised by Jnana and Yoga. From which, Prajna of old sprang. That which is one and non-dual, that which pervades everything like Akasa, which is extremely subtle, without a blemish, actionless, Sat (be-ness) only, the essence, of the bliss of consciousness, beneficent, calm and immortal and which is beyond. That is Brahman. Thou art That. Know That by wisdom. He who is the one, the shining, the giver of the power of Atman, the omniscient, the Lord of all and the inner Soul of all beings, who lives in all beings, who is hidden in all beings and the source of all beings, who is reachable only through Yoga and who creates, supports and destroys everything – He is Atman. Know the several worlds in the Atman. Do not grieve, O knower of Atman, thou shalt reach the end of pains.”
Thus ends the second chapter.
CHAPTER – III
Then Sandilya questioned Atharvan thus: “From the Brahman that is OM, imperishable, actionless, beneficial, Sat (be-ness) only and supreme, how dissolution this universe arise ? How does it exist in It ? And how is it absorbed in It ? Please solve me this doubt.”
Atharvan replied: “The Supreme Brahman, the Truth, is the imperishable and the actionless. Then from the formless Brahman, three forms (or aspects) arose, (viz.,) Nishkala (partless), Sakala (with parts) and Sakala-Nishkala (with and without parts). That which is Satya, Vijnana and Ananda; That which is actionless, without any impurity, omnipresent, extremely subtle, having faces in every direction, undefinable and immortal – that is His Nishkala aspect. Maheshvara (the great Lord) who is black and yellow rules with Avidya, Mula-Prakriti or Maya that is red, white and black and that is co-existent with him. This is his Sakala-Nishkala aspect. Then the Lord desired (or willed) by his spiritual wisdom (thus): May I become many ? May I bring forth ? Then from this Person who was contemplating and whose desires are fulfilled, three letters sprang up. Three Vyahritis, the three-footed Gayatri, the three Vedas, the three Devas, the three Varnas (colours or castes) and the three fires sprang. That Supreme Lord who is endowed with all kinds of wealth, who is all pervading, who is situated in the hearts of all beings, who is the Lord of Maya and whose form is Maya; He is Brahma; He is Vishnu; He is Rudra; He is Indra; He is all the Devas; He is all the Bhutas (elements or beings); He only is before; He only is behind; He only is on our left; He only is on our right; He only is below; He only is above; He only is the all. That form of him as Dattatreya, who sports with his Sakti, who is kind to his devotees, who is brilliant as fire, resembling the petals or a red lotus and is of four hands, who is mild and shines sinlessly – this is His Sakala form.”
Then Sandilya questioned Atharvan, “O Lord, that which is Sat only and the essence of the bliss of consciousness – why is He called Parabrahman ?”
Atharvan replied: “Because He increases Brihati and causes to increase everything (Brimhayati); so he is called Parabrahman.
Why is He called Atman ?
Since He obtains (Apnoti) everything, since He takes back everything and since He is everything, so he is called Atman.
Who is He called Maheshvara (the great Lord) ?
Since by the sound of the words Mahat-Isha (the great Lord) and by His own power, the great Lord governs everything.
Why is He called Dattatreya ?
Because the Lord being extremely pleased with Atri (Rishi) who was performing a most difficult penance and who had expressed his desire to see Him who is light itself, offered Himself (Datta) as their son and because the woman Anasuya was his mother and Atri was his father.
Therefore he who knows the (secret) meaning knows everything. He who always contemplates on the supreme that It is himself becomes a knower of Brahman. Here these Shlokas (stanzas) occur (to memory):
1-4: He who contemplates always the Lord of Lords and the ancient thus – as Dattatreya, the beneficent, the calm, of the colour of sapphire, one who delights in his own Maya and the Lord who has shaken off everything, as naked and as one whose whole body is besmeared with the holy ashes, who has matted hair, who is the Lord of all, who has four arms, who is bliss in appearance, whose eyes are like full-blown lotus, who is the store of Jnana and Yoga, who is the spiritual instructor of all the worlds and who is dear to all the Yogins and one who is merciful towards His devotees, who is the witness of all and who is worshipped by all the Siddhas is freed from all sins and will attain (the Spirit).”
Om Satyam (Truth).
Thus ends the third chapter.
Om ! O Devas, may we hear with our ears what is auspicious;
May we see with our eyes what is auspicious, O ye worthy of worship !
May we enjoy the term of life allotted by the Devas,
Praising them with our body and limbs steady !
May the glorious Indra bless us !
May the all-knowing Sun bless us !
May Garuda, the thunderbolt for evil, bless us !
May Brihaspati grant us well-being !
Om ! Let there be Peace in me !
Let there be Peace in my environment !
Let there be Peace in the forces that act on me !
Here ends the Sandilya Upanishad, included in the Atharva-Veda.
