Shikshavalli of the Taittiriya Upanishad: Exploring Further Verses (Part II)
Continuing our exploration of the Shikshavalli, the first section of the Taittiriya Upanishad, we delve deeper into its teachings. The Shikshavalli not only emphasizes the importance of phonetics but also offers profound guidance on living a righteous and fulfilling life. In this blog, we will examine the subsequent verses, understanding their significance through the original Sanskrit, transliterations, and detailed meanings.
Commitment to Truth
and Duty
सत्यं वद। धर्मं चर। स्वाध्यायान्मा
प्रमदः।
आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा
व्यवच्छेत्सीः।
सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम्। धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
Transliteration:
Satyam vada. Dharmam chara.
Svaadhyaayaan maa pramadaḥ.
Aacharyaaya priyam dhanamaahṛitya
prajaatantum maa vyavachchhetsiiḥ.
Satyaan na pramaditavyam.
Dharmaann na pramaditavyam.
Meaning:
Speak the truth. Practice
righteousness.
Do not neglect the study of the
Vedas.
After bringing dear wealth to the
teacher, do not cut off the line of progeny.
Do not swerve from truth. Do not
swerve from duty.
Elaboration
This verse continues to emphasize
the core values of Vedic education and living:
- Truthfulness: The foundational principle of
speaking the truth.
- Righteous Conduct: Living a life in
accordance with dharma (moral and ethical principles).
- Continued Study: The importance of never
abandoning Vedic studies.
- Respect for Teachers: Offering valuable
gifts to teachers as a sign of respect and gratitude.
- Preserving Lineage: Ensuring the
continuation of knowledge and family traditions.
The Essence of
Gratitude and Responsibility
कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम्।
स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्।
Transliteration:
Kushalaan na pramaditavyam.
Bhootyai na pramaditavyam.
Svaadhyaaya-pravachanaabhyaam na
pramaditavyam.
Meaning:
Do not neglect personal welfare.
Do not neglect prosperity.
Do not neglect the study and teaching
of the Vedas.
Elaboration
In this verse, the Upanishad
highlights the balance between personal and societal responsibilities:
- Personal Welfare: Ensuring one's own
well-being and health.
- Prosperity: Striving for material success
and security.
- Educational Commitment: Maintaining a
lifelong commitment to learning and teaching the Vedas.
Honoring
Relationships
देवपितृकार्याभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्।
मातृदेवो भव। पितृदेवो भव।
आचार्यदेवो भव। अतिथिदेवो भव।
Transliteration:
Devapitṛkaaryaa-bhyaam na
pramaditavyam.
Maatṛ-devo bhava. Pitṛ-devo
bhava.
Aachaarya-devo bhava. Atithi-devo
bhava.
Meaning:
Do not neglect your duties to the
gods and ancestors.
Revere your mother as a god.
Revere your father as a god.
Revere your teacher as a god.
Revere your guest as a god.
Elaboration
This verse emphasizes the
importance of honoring and respecting significant relationships in life:
- Duties to Gods and Ancestors: Performing
religious and ancestral rites diligently.
- Reverence for Parents: Treating mother and
father with utmost respect, recognizing their divine role.
- Respect for Teachers: Valuing teachers as
divine guides and sources of wisdom.
- Hospitality: Treating guests with reverence
and generosity, considering them as manifestations of the divine.
Principles of Conduct
यथाह वै तदाचरितव्यम्। एष आदेशः। एष
उपदेशः। एषा वेदोपनिषत्।
एतदनुशासनम्। एवमुपासितव्यम्। एवमुपास्यं।
Transliteration:
Yathaa-h vaai tadaacharitavyam. Eṣha
aadeshah. Eṣha upadeshah. Eṣhaa vedopaniṣat.
Etadanushaasanam. Evam-upaasitavyam.Evam-upaasyaṁ.
Meaning:
As is the command, so indeed one
should conduct oneself.
This is the injunction. This is
the teaching.
This is the secret of the Vedas.
This is the instruction.
Thus should one meditate.
Thus should one act.
Elaboration
This verse encapsulates the
essence of the teachings and the importance of adhering to them:
- Command and Conduct: Following the commands
as a way of life.
- Injunction and Teaching: Emphasizing that
these are the core teachings of the Vedas.
- Meditation and Action: Integrating
contemplation and righteous action into daily life.
- Revealing Secrets: Understanding that these
teachings reveal the profound truths of the Vedas.
Unity of Knowledge
and Action
आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य।
प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः।
सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम्।
Transliteration:
Aacharyaaya priyam dhanamaahṛitya.
Prajaatantum maa vyavachchhetsiiḥ.
Satyaan na pramaditavyam.
Dharmaan na pramaditavyam.
Kushalaan na pramaditavyam.
Meaning:
After bringing dear wealth to the
teacher,
do not cut off the line of
progeny.
Do not swerve from truth.
Do not swerve from duty.
Do not neglect personal welfare.
Elaboration
This verse reinforces the
principles outlined earlier, stressing:
- Respect for Teachers: Offering valuable
gifts to teachers.
- Preservation of Lineage: Ensuring the
continuation of family and tradition.
- Adherence to Truth and Duty: Maintaining
integrity and fulfilling one's responsibilities.
- Personal Welfare: Ensuring one's own
well-being.
The Shikshavalli of the
Taittiriya Upanishad offers a comprehensive guide to living a life grounded in
truth, duty, and respect. It emphasizes the importance of phonetics in
preserving Vedic wisdom, while also providing profound teachings on personal
and societal responsibilities.
By studying these verses, we gain
insights into the holistic approach of Vedic education, which integrates
spiritual, moral, and practical aspects of life. These teachings remain
timeless, offering valuable guidance for leading a balanced and fulfilling life
in harmony with oneself, society, and the divine.
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