Namaskaar. Continuing with our series on Mundaka Upanishad commentary :
QUOTE
The muNDakopaniShat – Part 15
Mantra 3.1.9
एषोऽणुरात्मा चेतसा वेदितव्यो यस्मिन्प्राणः पञ्चधा संविवेश ।
प्राणैश्चित्तं सर्वमोतं प्रजानां यस्मिन्विशुद्धे विभवत्येष आत्मा ॥ ९ ॥
एषः this अणुः subtle आत्मा self चेतसा by intellect वेदितव्यः to be realized यस्मिन् in which प्राणः prāṇa पञ्चधा fivefold संविवेश entered प्राणैः by senses चित्तं the intellect सर्वम् completely ओतं pervaded प्रजानां of people यस्मिन् in which विशुद्धे pure विभवति shines एष this आत्मा Self
That subtle Ātman is to be known by the intellect here in the body where the prāṇa has entered fivefold. By the Ātman the intellects of men are pervaded, together with the senses. When the intellect is purified, the Ātman shines forth.
The Ātman that is taught to be realized as stated in the previous mantra (3.1.8), is to be known by the intellect, which is the instrument, by which knowledge of the Self takes place. For the right knowledge to arise, the means, that is the intellect, must be extremely pure. Where is the Self to be realized? To this question we get the reply in the mantra thus: In that body where the prāṇa is available in its five forms such as prāṇa and apāna. The pure intellect is the abode where the Ātman is available for recognition. This is the ‘area’, the mind, where the Self shines forth, and is the location where it is to be realized. What is the kind of intellect that is required for such realization? The reply is: That mind which is pervaded by the senses, just as milk is pervaded by clarified butter and wood is pervaded by fire. It is well known that all minds are endowed with sentiency. In the matured intellect which is freed from the impurities the Self shines forth happily, in its pure mode, without the admixture of any limitation accompanying. The Self reveals itself especially in this locus, the mind that is thus rendered pure. Continue reading