{"collection":"Hinduism","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/hin/tmu/tmu16.htm","path":"hin/tmu/tmu16.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/hin/tmu/tmu16.htm","text":"Thirty Minor Upanishads, tr. by K. Narayanasvami Aiyar, [1914]\nI now proceed to declare the vajras\u016bchi\u2014the weapon that is the destroyer of ignorance\u2014which condemns the ignorant and praises the man of divine vision.\nThere are four castes\u2014the br\u0101hma\u1e47a, the ksha\u1e6driya, the vai\u015bya, and the \u015b\u016b\u1e0dra. Even the sm\u1e5b\u1e6dis declare in accordance with the words of the ve\u1e0das that the br\u0101hma\u1e47a alone is the most important of them.\nThen this remains to be examined. What is meant by the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? Is it a j\u012bva? Is it a body? Is it a class? Is it j\u00f1\u0101na? Is it karma? Or is it a doer of \u1e0dharma?\nTo begin with: is j\u012bva the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since the j\u012bva is the same in the many past and future bodies (of all persons), and since the j\u012bva is the same in all of the many bodies obtained through the force of karma, therefore j\u012bva is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nThen is the body the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since the body, as it is made up of the five elements, is the same for all people down to cha\u1e47d\u0101las, 2 etc., since old age and death, \u1e0dharma and a\u1e0dharma are found to be common to them all, since there is no absolute distinction that the br\u0101hma\u1e47as are white-coloured, the ksha\u1e6driyas red, the vai\u015byas yellow, and the \u015b\u016b\u1e0dras dark, and since in burning the corpse of his father, etc., the stain of the murder of a br\u0101hma\u1e47a, etc., will accrue to the son, etc., therefore the body is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nThen is a class the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since many great \u1e5ashis have sprung from other castes and orders of creation\u2014\u1e5ashya\u015b\u1e5b\u1e45ga was born of deer; Kau\u015bika, of Ku\u015ba grass; J\u0101mbuka of a jackal; V\u0101lm\u012bki of valm\u012bka (an ant-hill); Vy\u0101sa of a fisherman's daughter; Gau\u1e6dama, of the posteriors of a hare; Vasishtha of \u016arva\u015bi 1; and Agas\u1e6dya of a water-pot; thus have we heard. Of these, many \u1e5ashis outside the caste even have stood first among the teachers of divine Wisdom; therefore a class is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nIs j\u00f1\u0101na the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since there were many ksha\u1e6driyas and others well versed in the cognition of divine Truth, therefore j\u00f1\u0101na is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nThen is karma the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since the pr\u0101rab\u1e0dha 2, sa\u00f1chi\u1e6da 3, and \u0101gami 4 karmas are the same for all beings, and since all people perform their actions as impelled by karma, therefore karma is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nThen is a doer of \u1e0dharma (virtuous actions) the br\u0101hma\u1e47a? No. Since there are many ksha\u1e6driyas, etc., who are givers of gold, therefore a doer of virtuous actions is not the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nWho indeed then is br\u0101hma\u1e47a? Whoever he may be, he who has directly realised his \u0100\u1e6dm\u0101 and who is directly cognizant, like the myrobalan in his palm, of his \u0100\u1e6dma that is without a second, that is devoid of class and actions, that is free from the faults of the six stains 5 and the six changes, 6 that is of the nature of truth, knowledge, bliss, and eternity, that is without any change in itself, that is the substratum of all the kalpas, that exists penetrating all things that pervades everything within and without as \u0101k\u0101\u015b, that is of nature of undivided bliss, that cannot be reasoned about and that is known only by direct cognition. He who by the reason of having obtained his wishes is devoid of the faults of thirst after worldly objects and passions, who is the possessor of the qualifications beginning\nwith \u015bama 1, who is free from emotion, malice, thirst after worldly objects, desire, delusion, etc., whose mind is untouched by pride, egoism, etc., who possesses all these qualities and means\u2014he only is the br\u0101hma\u1e47a.\nSuch is the opinion of the ve\u1e0das, the sm\u1e5b\u1e6dis, the i\u1e6dih\u0101sa and the pur\u0101\u1e47as. Otherwise one cannot obtain the status of a br\u0101hma\u1e47a. One should meditate on his \u0100\u1e6dm\u0101 as Sachchi\u1e0d\u0101nan\u1e0da, and the non-dual Brahman. Yea, one should meditate on his \u0100\u1e6dm\u0101 as the Sachchi\u1e0d\u0101nan\u1e0da Brahman. Such is the Upanisha\u1e0d.\n110:1 Lit., the diamond-needle-Upanisha\u1e0d.\n110:2 The lowest class of persons among the Hin\u1e0d\u016bs.\n111:1 One of the celestial nymphs dancing in the court of In\u1e0dra.\n111:2 The karmic affinities generated by us in our former lives, the fruit of which is being enjoyed in our present life.\n111:3 The karmic affinities generated by us in our former lives and collected together to be enjoyed in our future lives.\n111:4 The affinities generated by us in our present life to be enjoyed hereafter.\n111:5 The six stains\u2014hunger, thirst, grief, confusion, old age, and death.\n111:6 Birth, existence, etc.\n112:1 Sama, \u1e0dama, upara\u1e6di, \u1e6di\u1e6d\u012bksh\u0101, sam\u0101\u1e0dh\u0101na, and sra\u1e0d\u1e0dh\u0101.","title":"Thirty Minor Upanishads: 14. Vajras\u016bchi-UpanishaL...","type":"page"}