![]() A great number of Brahmins and scholars from the surrounding regions had gathered to attend this yagna. There was a king named Janak of a region called Videha. This spiritual discussion between a husband and wife has great philosophical significance. ![]() Maitrayi felt grateful to her husband for having disclosed these precepts to her. ![]() I have resolved to go to the forest so that I may peacefully do manan and nididhyãsan of Paramãtmã. I have explained it to you and am myself eager to attain that realization. Maitrayi! This is the knowledge to attain immortality. There is nothing else for him to see, hear, know, or contemplate. Meaning, O Maitrayi! One who has done shravan, manan, and nididhyãsan on Paramãtmã properly and attained realization has known everything. Yãgnavalkya then explains the priceless benefit gained by one who attains realization in this way, 'मैत्रेय्यात्मनो वा अरे दर्शनेन श्रवणेन मत्या विज्ञानेनेदं सर्वं विदितम्' – ‘Maitreyyãtmano vã are darshanena shravanena matyã vignãnenedam sarvam viditam’ (Bruhadãranyakaa Upanishad: 2/4/5). In this way, Yãgnavalkya has revealed the best way of realizing Paramãtmã. If one does shravan, manan, and nididhyãsan in this way, one attains sãkshãtkãr – realization. Nididhyãsan means to practically imbibe the appropriate thoughts that one has heard or seen and contemplated. Therefore, we should contemplate on whatever first hand experience we have had of Paramãtmã. Then what is to be said of something that is contemplated on repeatedly? Thus, the power of contemplation is not ordinary. However, if something has been seen or heard once and thereafter contemplated on just once, it remains steadfast as if it has been seen or heard a hundred times over. Even if something has been seen or heard repeatedly, if one does not contemplate on it, it is as if it has not been seen or heard at all. Whatever we have heard about Paramãtmã, wherever and in whatever way we have seen or served him, should all be contemplated on. The second step is 'मन्तव्यः' – ‘Mantavyaha’ – ‘Contemplation’. Yet this is not enough for complete realization. In short, we should engage all of our senses in Paramãtmã’s form. ![]() Just like we hear his greatness with our ears, we should see him to be pure with our eyes, we should reveal his greatness with our speech, etc. ![]() Here, shrotavyaha (श्रोतव्यः) not only deals with listening, but also implies using one’s eyes, nose, etc. Meaning, one must endeavour to realize that Paramãtmã and in order to do that, ‘one must listen to his glory, his divine actions and incidents, his divine attributes, his divine powers, etc.’. ![]()
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