Chandogya upanishad (ch. 6,7 & 8) – 17

 Chapter 7, Sections 8 & 9

Mantras 7-8-1&2

balaṃ vava vijnanadbhuyo'pi ha satam vijnanavatameko balavanakampayate sa yada bali bhavatyathotthata bhavatyuttishthanparicharita bhavati paricharannupasatta bhavatyupasidandrashta bhavati srota bhavati manta bhavati boddha bhavati karta bhavati vijnata bhavati balena vai prthivi tishthati balenantariksham balena dyaurbalena parvata balena devamanushya balena pasavascha vayamsi cha trnavanaspatayah svapadanyakitapatangapipilakam balena lokastishthati balamupassveti || 7.8.1 ||

sa yo balam brahmetyupaste yavadbalasya gatam tatrasya yathakamacharo bhavati yo balam brahmetyupaste'hsti bhagavo baladbhuya iti baladvava bhuyo'stiti tanme bhagavanbravitviti || 7.8.2 || iti ashtamah khandah ||

Strength is certainly superior to understanding. One strong person can make even a hundred people of understanding shake with fear. If a person is strong, he will be enthusiastic and up and about. He will then start serving his teacher, and while serving his teacher he will be close to him. While sitting close to the teacher, he will watch him and listen to what he says. Then he will think it over and try to understand. He will then act on it, and finally he will grasp the inner meaning. Strength supports the earth. It also supports the interspace, heaven, the mountains, Devas and human beings, cattle, birds, creepers, and trees. It supports animals of prey as well as worms, fleas, and ants. It supports the whole world. Worship strength. (1) ‘One who worships strength as Brahman can do what he pleases in the sphere within the reach of strength.’ Narada asked, ‘Revered sir, is there anything higher than Balam?’ ‘Of course there is something higher than Balam,’ replied Sanatkumara.  Narada then said, ‘Revered sir, please explain that to me’. (2) End of eighth section.

            Balam (strength) is higher than Vijnanam. Balam does not mean physical strength alone.  It is strength at all levels; physical, mental and intellectual.  Mundaka Upanishad (3-2-4) states, “Nayamathma balaheenena labhyah---- (This Athma cannot be known by the weak--)”.  Strong muscles and sound health helps one to understand the scriptures better as one can concentrate on studies more than with poor health and weak muscles.  To emphasise this point only Swami Vivekananda once observed “You will reach heaven quicker by playing foot-ball than by reading the Gita”.  In Gurukula system of studies the student serves the guru as well besides learning from him.  With strength the student will be able to serve the guru well, which in turn encourages the guru to share his knowledge happily with the student with love and care.  This earth is an example of what strength can do. The earth sustains everything through its own strength. In fact, everything in nature is sustained by its own inherent strength. It is not strength borrowed from something else.  Similarly, one must support oneself by one’s own strength. So Sanathkumara advises Narada to meditate on Balam as Brahman i.e. Bala Brahma Upasana.  Mantra 7-8-2 is similar to Mantras 7-7-2 and 7-6-2 and similar Mantras quoted in them, with Sanathkumara giving the benefit of sakama upasana as gaining punyam to act freely as he chooses in any Loka within the reach of the Alambanam, Balam, and Narada wanting to know whether there is anything higher than Balam.  Sanathkumara replies in the affirmative and Narada wants to know it.  Sanathkumara agrees and the section ends.

Mantras 7-9-1&2

annaṃ vava baladbhuyastasmadyadyapi dasa ratrirnasniyadyadyu ha jivedathavadrastasrotamantaboddhakartavijnata bhavatyathannasyayai drashta bhavati srota bhavati manta bhavati boddha bhavati karta bhavati vijnata bhavatyannamupassveti || 7.9.1 ||

sa yo'nnam brahmetyupaste'nnavato vai sa lokanpanavato'bhisidhyati yavadannasya gatam tatrasya yathakamacharo bhavati yo'nnam brahmetyupaste'sti bhagavo'nnadbhuya ityannadvava bhuyo'stiti tanme bhagavanbravitviti || 7.9.2 || iti navamah khandah ||

Annam (food) is certainly superior to Balam. This is why if a person fasts for ten days and nights, he may survive but he will not be able to see, hear, think, understand, work, or fully grasp the meaning of what he is taught. But if he eats food, he can then see, hear, think, understand, work, and fully grasp the meaning of the teachings. Therefore, worship Annam. (1) ‘One who worships Annam as Brahman attains worlds full of food and drink. One who worships Annam as Brahman can do what he pleases in the sphere within the reach of Annam.’ Narada asked, ‘Sir, is there anything higher than Annam?’ ‘Of course there is something higher than Annam,’ replied Sanatkumara. Narada then said, ‘Sir, please explain that to me’. (2) End of ninth section.

            Annam (food) is greater than Balam (strength), as the latter depends upon the former.  From consumption of food, comes activation of the five organs of perception, the mental faculties, as well as the five organs of action. Without their support, it is not possible to realize Athma. We saw in section 7 of chapter 6 how Svetaketu could not remember the Vedas when he fasted for fifteen days and could recollect what he learnt after he took food breaking the fast.  Here Sanathkumara gives the example of a person fasting for ten days.  It is possible he may die, but even if he doesn’t, his sense organs will not function. He won’t be able to see, hear, or think properly. If he went to a teacher during this period, he would not be able to learn or retain anything learnt.  But when he resumes eating, his organs and mind would again start functioning and then he could then study and learn from the teacher.  So Sanathkumara advises Narada to meditate on Annam as Brahman i.e. Anna Brahma Upasana.  Mantra 7-9-2 is similar to Mantras 7-8-2, 7-7-2 and 7-6-2 and similar Mantras quoted in them, with Sanathkumara giving the benefit of sakama upasana as gaining punyam to act freely as he chooses in any Loka within the reach of the Alambanam, Annam, and Narada wanting to know whether there is anything higher than Annam.  Sanathkumara replies in the affirmative and Narada wants to know it.  Sanathkumara agrees and the section ends.

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