Mantra 9
संवत्सरो वै प्रजापतिस्तस्यायने दक्षिणं चोत्तरं च ।
तद्ये ह वै तदिष्टापूर्ते कृतमित्युपासते ते चान्द्रमसमेव
लोकमभिजयन्ते । त एव पुनरावर्तन्ते तस्मादेत ऋषयः
प्रजाकामा दक्षिणं प्रतिपद्यन्ते । एष ह वै रयिर्यः
पितृयाणः ॥ १.९॥
saṃvatsaro vai prajāpatistasyāyane dakṣiṇaṃ cottaraṃ ca .
tadye ha vai tadiṣṭāpūrte kṛtamityupāsate te cāndramasameva
lokamabhijayante . ta eva punarāvartante tasmādeta ṛṣayaḥ
prajākāmā dakṣiṇaṃ pratipadyante . eṣa ha vai rayiryaḥ
pitṛyāṇaḥ .. 1.9..
The year is indeed of Prajapati. There are two paths: the southern and northern. Those who follow the ‘path of karma’ alone, by performing sacrificial and pious acts, obtain only the ‘world of the moon ’, and they do return. Therefore, those sages who desire progeny take the southern course. The matter is verily the path of the forefathers.
The Guru is talking of two paths. The southern is the path of the moon, and the northern is the path of the Sun. The path of the Sun and Moon forms the year, and the year belongs to Prajapati, the creator.
Vedanta classifies all evolutionary actions into two parts:
Istam – actions sanctioned by Srutis
Purtam – actions sanctioned by Smritis (subsidiary text of Dharma)
Mantra 9 is talking of Purtam and Mantra 10 is talking of Istam.
The category of action that falls under Istam lives a life of self-control, satyam, truthfulness, and is involved in the study of the Vedas and their dissemination. They perceive the goal of self-realisation as pronounced by Sruti Shastras.
The path of Purtam, sanctioned by Smritis perform kind and noble deeds. They are involved in various charitable social enabling activities. Eg: Feeding the poor, construction of dharma sthala, restore and construct temples, educate the needy etc. The smritis are a lower form of spiritual textbooks compared to shruti. This mantra is talking about Purtam for performing various charitable activities which are unselfish and evolutionary.
Among all services, the highest service one can render is to impart Atma Vidya. Mantra 10 talks of Istam, which is the highest knowledge of Brahma Vidya. In Istam, you will find men with higher culture, greater discrimination, who have an aversion towards sensual activities, adhere to sense control, men of contemplation, meditation, seeking Atma Vidya, Self-realisation. When they depart, they take the path of Sun, prana, and do not come back.
In Purtam, these people are cultured, pure, and genuine, but deep within they have a desire for wealth, family, glory, and position. These people are victims of their own desire. They seek blessings of elderly, satisfied members of the society. The word upasate means the path of karma. Purtam – lower category perform karma, live a noble life of purity, charity, benevolence, but demand more matter, which is the path of the moon. When they depart, they go to the world of matter. They go to the world of forefathers known as Pitruloka. So you move into heavenly worlds. Having gone to the world of the moon, they return. They enjoy the super sensuous objects of material position, a glorious world, a sojourn world of means and merits you have acquired. Having enjoyed the punya, you come back to the world. These people do not get moksha, self-realisation.
Direct knowledge of the Atman without the karma khanda is Istam. If you are in the domain of this knowledge, you will certainly get Atma Vidya.
Verse 17 from Bhaja Govinda talks of this concept.
कुरुते गङ्गासागरगमनं व्रतपरिपालनमथवा दानम् ।
ज्ञानविहीनः सर्वमतेन मुक्तिं न भजति जन्मशतेन ॥ १७॥
One visits where the Ganges meets the ocean, strictly observes vows, or does charity. Devoid of knowledge (Truth), by all schools of thought, he attains no liberation even in a hundred lives.
If you continue to do Purtam, you will go nowhere near moksha because your path is devoid of jnanam, knowledge. In Istam, there is the purest knowledge without karma khanda, other charitable activities.
In Istam, there is only one desire that is self-realisation. You are seeking Atma Vidya only for self-realisation. Whatever you do is to help you towards the primary goal of self-realisation. In Purtam, you have other hidden motives. People do charity out of fear, or with a hope that they would be blessed. There is an intent of one’s own well-being. They seek the blessing of everybody through various charitable activities.
The time taken to get realisation is as much time as it takes for a needle to pass through a rose petal. What is holding us back is our own inhibition, limitation, self-created prejudices, and attachments. It is easy to let go provided you have picked up something higher. If you perform the ritual with jnanam knowledge, it elevates your sadhana practice. Ensure the knowledge element remains in whatever ritual you are practising. Ritualistic karma khanda depends on your constitutional requirement.
One who is sincerely living a life of renunciation, detachment, a life of contemplation, meditation to seek self-realisation, at the end they get the glory of the Self. One who is employing his thoughts to gain the kingdom of matter, running behind their own demands with motives, they reach the moon.
You get what you seek: either seek the path of the Sun, north, prana, or the Moon, south, matter. The journey is your choice.
