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Brhadharanyaka Upanishad - Sloka 1.4.16 and 1.4.17

Background

The Sloka 1.4 of Brhadharanyaka Upanishad traces the evolution (ati-sRsti) from Atma's ichha to split Purusha to the evolution of manuSya.

This evolution is a series of 'Pancha mahA yajnA' which I talked about earlier (1).

Brahma Yajna, which is the Cosmic inflation epoch, Deva Yajna which is upto Quark Epoch, Bhuta Yajna which is upto Matter domination epoch, Pitr Yajna which is upto evolution of macromolecules that have desire to have offspring (and hence called Pitr) and manuSya yajna which is upto evolution of Human beings (who can reside in a place and grow food).

The pancha mahA yajnA

In each of the Yajna, there is a Purusha which is 'dark', 'invisible', 'witnessing', 'catalytic' and not taking part. There is a pazu, which is the visible part. The visible part undergoes the sacrifice. The result of the Yajna (sacrifice), the Havis, is newer forms that did not exist before.

In Brahma Yajna, Purusha is dark energy that does not manifest in Universe, Pazu (Stri) is the energy that manifests and which is sacrificed and evolves further. Havis is given to Brahman or evolution is the result.

In Deva Yajna, Purusha is vacuum energy that invokes the dark energy to interact with force-fields, Pazu is the energy that manifests in eleven different force-fields (Rudras), which is sacrificed and evolves further. Havis is given to Devas or Devas like Rudra, Adityas, Vasus are the result of this Yajna.

In Bhuta Yajna, Purusha is dark matter, Pazu is the Visible matter which is sacrificed and evolves further. Havis is given to different bhutAs or matter forms like elements and molecules that evolve.

In Pitr Yajna, Purusha is skanda, the heat or vibrational movement possessed by all forms of matter, Pazu is the devasena which is energy that can be transacted and hence the troops of atoms interact with each other and evolve.  Havis is given to  Pitrs, the macro-molecules that have 'iccha/desire' for 'praja/offspring'. These are the replicating RNA/DNA.

In manuSya Yajna, Purusha is prajApati, the DNA that has large bits of molecules that do not take part if genetic transfer, Pazu is those part of DNA that take part in genetic transfer. Havis is given to manuSya as manuSya evolves out of that.

Then there is one more sacrifice or Yajna which manuSya undergoes. This is symbolized Yajna-upavita. This is the process of structured learning, in which manuSya sacrifices to evolve himself/herself further.

The virtual binding Atman

The Atman manifests as Izvara, the virtual binding between all the manifestations, make them interact and evolve. But for evolution, this binding has to be between independent 'self'.

In science domain, one example of this virtual bindings is  the EM binding in an atom.

The EM binding mediated by virtual  photons between proton and electron enables them to retain the 'self' (their identity), interact and evolve.  Protons remain protons, Electrons remain electrons. Yet they are virtually bound. They interact and evolve into larger and complex forms of matter.

Hence this type of binding in EM is Izvara, the 'priyam' or 'attraction/repulsion' that governs the Universal evolution.

Summary of Sloka 1.4.16 till now


atho ayaṃ vā ātmā sarveṣām bhūtānāṃ lokaḥ;
sa yaj juhoti,
yad yajate, tena devānāṃ lokaḥ.
atha yad anubrūte tena rṣiṇām,
atha yat pitṛbhyo nipṛṇāti,
yat prajām icchate, tena pitṛṇām;
atha yan manuṣyānvāsayate,
yadebhyo’śanaṃ dadāti, tena manuṣyāṇām

As those worlds (of atoms) that remain on Atma/Izvara/virtual bindings evolved further, the world remained was of 'bhutA'.

bhutA are 'matter'forms made of atoms. This bhutA, the matter forms made of atoms, became the oblation in sacrifice. Then the RSi's (which are Symmetry breaking events) declare the devas (energy and matter of Classical world).

In this evolutionary sacrifice, those matter forms made of atoms (bhutA) that desired offspring became the 'Pitrs'.  The difference between bhuta (non-living matter) and Pitr (living being) is Pitr desires praja. bhutA does not. Both are made of atoms.

Those matter forms that ‘desire’ offspring, right from the replicating RNA are our Pitrs.

Bhutas exist. They don’t have iccha for praja. Pitrs Survive. They have iccha for praja. This iccha for praja is the survival instinct.

From the 'Pitrs' comes the manuSya. Who are manuSya..? They are the ones who reside in a place and grow food.

This is how evolution occurs from Bhuta to manuSya, through Pitrs.

The remaining part of Sloka 1.4.16

atha yat paśubhya stṛṇodakaṃ vindati, tena paśūnām;

Then which finds food/water 'by the pazu'/domestication, those are pasu/domesticated animals

yadasya gṛheṣu śvāpadā vayāṃsyā pipīlikābhya upajīvanti, tena teṣāṃ lokaḥ;

Of which home (grheSu) wild animals (zvApada) , by the birds/reptile animals (for eg. sarvAni vayAmsi means all types of birds/reptiles) , by insects (pipilikabhya), they live upa-jivanti), by themselves (tena) in their worlds (tesam lokah)

There are the worlds of manuSya, domesticated animals, Wild animals, birds/reptiles and insects. manuSya grow food. Domesticated animals find food by domestication. Wild animals, birds/reptiles, insectes live by themselves in their worlds.

yathā ha vai svāya lokāya ariṣṭim icchet, 
evaṃ ha evaṃ vide sarvāṇi bhūtāny ariṣṭim icchanti; 
tad vā etad viditam mīmāṃsitam

As worlds themselves desire safety/security, thus certainly thus is known all the bhutAs desire safety/security. That these are all known and discussed.

These five types of beings mentioned here (manuSya, pazu, zvApada, vayAm, pipilika) desire security for their 'self'. Thus certainly it is known that all bhutA (all non-living matter too) desire security/safety. These are known and discussed.

Summary of Sloka 1.4.16

A Yajna is a 'sacrifice'.  A sacrifice is a process under high temperature (and densities) in which an existing matter form is given up to evolve something more beneficial. 

The evolution of Universe matter forms is like a 'Yajna'.  In the Universal Yajna, non-living matter are sacrificed in several high temperature/density processes to evolve higher order matter forms.


There are stellar nucleo-synthesis processes like alpha, triple-alpha, CNO cycle to form heavier and heavier elements, in which lighter elements are sacrificed. These are processes that evolve molecular clouds, compounds, planets and chains of molecules, giving up lower order of elements.

Thus bhutA, the non-living matter becomes the 'oblation' in the Universal Yajna, as it evolves higher and higher order matter forms.

From this Yajna, in which bhutA are the oblation, those matter forms that ‘desire’ offspring evolve. They are the Pitrs.  Bhutas exist. They don’t have iccha for praja. Pitrs Survive. They have iccha for praja. This iccha for praja is the survival instinct.



From the replicating RNA, that replicates itself, various life forms are our 'Pitrs' or ancestors.

From the 'Pitrs' comes the manuSya. Who are manuSya..? They are the ones who reside in a place and grow food.

Then there are pazu, domesticated animals. They are those that find food/water by domestication. Then there are wild animals, birds, insects that live in their own worlds.  All the matter forms desire the safety/security.

Sloka 1.4.17

ātmaivedamagra āsīteka eva; so'kāmayata—jāyā me syāt, 
atha prajāyeya; atha vittam me syāt, atha karma kurvīyeti;

Atma alone manifested at first. It excited. Let me born; Then series of births. Then let me be the 'wealth'. Then actions get done.

 etāvān vai kāmaḥ, na icchaṃścanāto bhūyo vindet; 
tasmād apye tarhy ekākī kāmayate—jāyā me syāt, 
atha prajāyeya; atha vittaṃ me syāt, 
atha karma kurvīyeti; 

Thus that excitation/kAmah, not desires, repeatedly find/get these. Therefore instantly solitary/all alone Atma excites. Let me be born; Then series of births;  Let me be wealth, then actions get done.

So the births, wealth of matter, actions are excitations of the Atman, the virtual. No desire/iccha (of ours) can get that repeatedly.

sa yāvad apye teṣām ekaikam na prāpnoti, akṛtsna eva tāvan manyate;

As long as that Atman does not experience each one of those, incomplete so long it is considered. Anything is incomplete without the Atman experiencing it.

tasyo kṛtsnatā—mana evāsyātmā, 

Unto Atma completeness, Atma is of mind. Atma manifests as 'mind' to complete anything.

vāgjāyā, 
prāṇaḥ prajā, 
cakṣur mānuṣaṃ vittam,
cakṣuṣā hi tadvindate;

vAg (the four-fold expression) is the one bringing forth (jAyA is one that brings forth and hence called wife).

vAg, the four-fold expression has Manas, Hrdaya,  prAna, CakSu/Zrotram (2). Manas is the Virtual. Hrdaya are the vacuum energy. prAna are the quantum force-fields. cakSu/Zrotram are the classical manifestations (2).

prAna (the force-fields) are the prajA (offspring).

cakSur are the Electromagnetic Radiation/Light (and hence called Sight)  is the wealth (of mAnusam).  cak means that makes it visible and hence light.

With Electromagnetic radiation/light (cakSusa) that wealth is found. The wealth of matter is found by EM radiation or Light.

śrotraṃ daivam, 
śrotreṇa hi tacchṛṇoti;

Zrotram is 'daivam'. By zrotram, that hears.

Zrotram are the mechanical energy propagation, the pressure changes (and hence called hearing, as hearing is based on pressure changes). The mechanical energy propagation in the matter are daivam. By mechanical energy propagation, the matter 'hears'.

EM Radiation/Light finds wealth of matter. Mechanical energy propagation in the matter are the daivam. It is by these mechanical energy propagation, the matter 'hears'.

atmaivāsya karma, 
ātmanā hi karma karoti;


Of the Atma only  (atma iva asya) is the action (Karma), beings with Atma (AtmAnA) only does the actions (karma karoti)

sa eṣa pāṅkto yajñaḥ, pāṅktaḥ paśuḥ, pāṅktaḥ puruṣaḥ, pāṅktamidaṃ
sarvaṃ yadidaṃ kiñca; 
tadidaṃ sarvamāpnoti 
ya evaṃ veda 


These Five Yajnas, Five Pasu,  Five Purusha, Here everything is of these Five,  That here obtains this that has the knowledge/realization.

Summary of Sloka 1.4.17

Atma alone manifested at first. It excited. Let me born; Then series of births. Then let me be the 'wealth'. Then actions get done.  Thus that excitation/kAmah, not desires, repeatedly find/get these. 

So the births, wealth of matter, actions are excitations of the Atman, the virtual. No desire/iccha (of ours) can get that repeatedly.

As long as that Atman does not experience each one of those, incomplete so long it is considered. Anything is incomplete without the Atman experiencing it.  Atma manifests as 'mind' to complete anything.

vAg (the four-fold expression) is the one bringing forth (jAyA is one that brings forth and hence called wife).  prAna (the force-fields) are the prajA, cakSur (the Electromagnetic radiation) (2) are the wealth (of mAnusam). Zrotram, the mechanical energy propagation are the daivam.

All actions are that of Atma. Atma only does the actions.  These Five Yajnas, Five Pasu,  Five Purusha, Here everything is of Five types. That here obtains this,  that has the knowledge/realization.

-TBT

References

1. https://vedabhasya.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-pancha-maha-yajnas.html
2. https://vedabhasya.blogspot.com/2018/10/an-analysis-of-sabda-and-vak-part-6.html

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