Index…

Kathopanisad

Chapter 1 Valli 2 Mantra 17

Lecture

Mantra

Etat ālambanam shreshtham etat ālambanam param;
etat ālambanam jnātvā brahma-loke mahīyate.

Etat aalambanam shreshtham = This (Om) is the best symbol; etat aalambanam param = This (Om) is the symbol for the highest;etat aalambanam jnaatvaa = This (Om) is the symbol worth knowing; brahma-loke maheeyate = For He comes to be adored in the world of Brahma.

Most glorious in this support, this is the supreme support. He who realized  (known) this support comes to revel in the world of Brahma.

1-3 Like most scriptures, the thing that is taken up under discussion is always praised as the best. This is done so as to instill the right faith in the mind of the student. He has to feel that what he is going to engage himself in is going to bring him the results promised most efficiently. Therefore, in this verse OM is given that supreme status.

4 Not only is the symbol praised, but it is also said here that one who does the worship of OM becomes worthy to be adored by all who are familiar with anything to do with the spiritual realm. Among devotees, the worshippers engaged in OM Upasana are recognized to be genuine seekers working towards their legitimate goal. There is a stamp of approval given to them through this verse. This is an important factor in ensuring that a person begins this worship with full confidence that the goal will be reached; that the reward will be received; that the effort will end in success.

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