ॐ
श्री गुरुभ्यो नमः
The
words of Swami Vivekananda in this picture shared by Sandeep Nangia on twitter reminded
me of the Mundaka Mantra 1.2.12. – especially the words नास्ति अकृतः कृतेन
. The Mantra is given below. Some thoughts on the same.
परीक्ष्य
लोकान् कर्मचितान् ब्राह्मणो निर्वेदमायान्नास्त्यकृतः कृतेन ।
तद्विज्ञानार्थं
स गुरुमेवाभिगच्छेत् समित्पाणिः श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम् ॥
Word Meaning: Having examined the worlds which are achieved
through karma, the seeker should come to dispassion. The unproduced (moksha) is
not possible though karma. Therefore, to attain knowledge, he must properly
approach, with samit in hand, a Guru who is learned in the scriptures and
established in Brahman
These words of Swami Vivekananda are
given in many places in the Shastra in various ways. Some thoughts on
these words and on the Mundaka Mantra
Background:
In the Mundaka, the background of
the mantra is that the Upanishad in 1.1 (Chapter 1, section 1) introduces पराविद्या and अपराविद्या .
पराविद्या
refers to self-knowledge, knowledge of अक्षरम् which the word Mundaka uses for Brahman, for the Infinite
and for पूर्णत्वम्.
In general, all other vidyas are अपराविद्या
and the Upanishad specifically mentions Vedic Karma and Upasanas in Mundaka 1.2
नास्ति अकृतः कृतेन
Now coming to the words
- कृतेन
>> through karma - कृतं
refers to that what is produced = karmaphala = produced through action.
Everything that you have, you earn, you enjoy etc is karmaphala - produced by this birth’s karma or previous
karma. Everything IN creation is कृतं; infact Creation itself is total karmaphala
only (see the word लोकान्
used in the Mantra). The Upanishad then says that every karmaphala is सदोषम् - with defects. In various places
in the scriptures we find various Doshas of karma i.e. karmaphala - the main
being that anything being produced out of finite karma can never give you the
Infinite. It will end. It is mixed with sorrow etc etc. In Sanskrit the main
defects are दुखमिश्रितत्वम्
(mixed with sorrow always) , अतृप्तिकरत्वम् (will never satisfy fully), बन्धकत्वम्
(will bind you and keep one in action) . Therefore Swami Vivekananda said - Perfection
(moksha – Infinite - Brahman) can never be attained by work. i.e - नास्ति
अकृतः कृतेन (अकृतः = the
unproduced = मोक्ष
= Infinite = Brahman) . It is said in the Shastra ज्ञानादेव
कैवल्यम्
Swami Vivekananda: Only when
"work" is done as a "yoga" does it become a means to
perfection
We are advised to convert
action कर्म
to कर्मयोग (another topic by itself). Notice the words of the picture
- it becomes a means to perfection = The Upanishad
says that it gives us maturity to examine कर्म and कर्मफलम्
. (Maturity = a learning mind giving viveka and vairagyam). Therefore the
seeker, matured now examines every action and the results of action. परीक्ष्य लोकान् कर्मचितान्
The seeker discovers that
every पुरुषार्थ is सदोषम्
. Perfection can never be attained by work. The seeker now
looks for the Infinite - a दोषरहित
- पुरुषार्थ
which is Brahman. In the BG - “निर्दोषम् हि समम्
ब्रह्म” This is not going to be attained
as the result of any karma, the mature student has found after trying and
trying to get complete fulfillment / पूर्णत्वम्
through karmas. So now his quest is for the Infinite = ब्रह्म = अक्षरम् = अकृत .Question is now - how to get it -
if karma won’t give me complete fulfillment / make me अपरिच्छिन्न
, THEN WHAT WILL?? The Upanishad says that ONLY knowledge will ( विज्ञान
is used in the mantra below- . It is said in the Shastra ज्ञानादेव
कैवल्यम् ) which has to be through Guru who will give you Shastric
teaching.
There for the Upanishad says in
1.2.12 to properly approach a Guru and the next stage of your journey starts.
तद्विज्ञानार्थं
स गुरुमेवाभिगच्छेत्
समित्पाणिः
श्रोत्रियं ब्रह्मनिष्ठम् ॥
ॐ तत् सत्
