Brhadaranyaka-Upanisad: Text in Sanskrit and Translation with Notes in English from the Commentaries of Sankaracarya

by Yājñavalkya, Edward Röer, Madhavananda

La Brhadaranyaka è una delle Upanisad più antiche e appartiene allo Yajur Veda “bianco” (sukla), essa è composta di tre sezioni (Kanda), ogni Kanda si compone di due capitoli (Adhyaya), per un totale di sei, e ognuno di questi contiene un numero variabile di parti dedicate alla spiegazione dottrinaria (Brahmana).

La prima sezione. Madhukanda, contiene la spiegazione simbolica del rito dell'Asvamedha preso come supporto di meditazione, la descrizione dell’origine dell’universo come proiezione-scissione del Purusa o Uomo primordiale e una sintesi dell’insegnamento fondamentale della dottrina advaita. Viene enunciato uno dei mahavakya più importanti; ‘‘aham brahmasmi”.

La seconda sezione, Yajnavalkyakanda, è così denominata per via dei dialoghi filosofici del saggio Yajnavalkya sia con il re Janaka di Videha sia con la moglie Maitreyi, nei quali si espone la dottrina dell'atman e la sua natura di identità con il Brahman e si fornisce l’approccio logico alla dottrina advaita.

La terza sezione, Khilakada, il cui nome (khila) indica che è una “parte aggiuntiva”, tratta di certe forme particolari di meditazione (upasana) e raccoglie elementi in apparenza eterogenei che però rivelano la loro coerenza alla luce di quanto detto prima.

Il commento di Sankara alla Brhadaranyaka è il più esteso e minuzioso dei suoi commentari alle Upanisad e uno di quelli che approfondiscono maggiormente alcune tematiche filosofiche. Esso si rivela prezioso e indispensabile in quanto la vastità degli argomenti trattati nell'Upanisad, l’apparente eterogeneità e la singolare forma espressiva possono offrire una certa difficoltà di interpretazione.

Genres: Hinduism, Spirituality

452 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 800

About the author

Yajnavalkya (Sanskrit: याज्ञवल्क्य, Yājñavalkya) of Videha (fl. c. 7th century BCE) was a sage and philosopher of Vedic India. He was one of the first philosophers in recorded history, alongside Uddalaka Aruni. In the court of King Janaka of Mithila, he was renowned for his expertise in Vedic ritual and his unrivaled talent in theological debate. He expounded a doctrine of neti neti to describe the universal Self or Ātman. He later became a wandering ascetic. His teachings are recorded in the Shatapatha Brahmana and the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad.

He is traditionally credited with the authorship of the Shatapatha Brahmana (including the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad]l), besides the Yoga Yajnavalkya and the Yājñavalkya Smṛti. He is also a major figure in the Upanishads.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yajnavalkya

Reviews

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are some of Shankar's best paragraphs and clearest ideas communicated in this work.

[Nityananda Chandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

interesting but some passages are hard to follow

This is expected of the passages, but I was hoping for at least a little bit more commentary, or perhaps just an overview of sections to make more sense of it.

[Venkat Krishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Upanishads, being the original and unparalleled texts on non-physical science, cannot be compared or grouped with anything else. This makes them sometimes difficult to understand without some explanation. The commentaries by Adi Shankaracarya on the ten major Upanishads provide the most logical explanation of the Upanishads. This book is the best translation of Adi Shankaracarya's commentary on Brhadaranyaka, the largest and possibly the greatest of the ten major Upanishads.

[Anuj · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to read only one Upanishad than I will recommend, Brihadaranyak Upanishad - Shankara Bhashya. The essence of this Upanishad is to experience oneself as a Soul.

The wisdom of this upanishad (and Chandogya) is endless, with every iteration I have learnt a new and surprising facts about human nature. That is why I have decided to sip it like a cup of tea. And now learning and incorporating the bits of knowledge everyday.

To understand upnishada truely, one needs to develop the skill of counter questioning. And you can ask all questions with yourself because it's ultimetly you who have manifested this knowledge in ancient human. That's what you are going to experience - the source of all knowledge is within us, and it's known as soul or true self.

It's one of the biggest, deepest and first upanishad (out of 108) from ancient indian civilizations, hence its language and context is not easy. That's why I've used 'hindi to sanskrit' dictionary, while focusing more on understanding context than vocabularies. This is my 11th Upanishad, and third Shankara Bhashya literature. All my questions ended here.

Because complex topic and tough language, I've decided to share my learning with fellow readers via my personal blog at www.anuj.live/awakening/

[Cristina Chițu · Rating 4 out of 5]

They [i.e. the devils] knew: ‘Verily, by this singer they will overcome us.’ They rushed upon him and pierced him with evil. That evil was the improper thing that one imagines. This, truly, was that evil.

So whoever worships another divinity [than his Self], thinking ‘He is one and I another,‘ he knows not.

This, verily, is That.

O Nourisher (Pūshan), the sole Seer, O Controller (Yama), O Sun, offspring of Prajāpati, spread forth thy rays! Gather thy brilliance! What is thy fairest form—that of thee I see. He who is yonder, yonder Person (Purusha)—I myself am he!

[Pankaj Gautam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brhadaranyaka Upanisad--the brief commentary of the Vajasaneyi Brahma