tman_and_moksa

SR No.: 020053
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: G N Joshi
Publisher: Gujarat University
Publication Year: 1965
Total Pages: 901
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 129

Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
The Upanişads
beget offspring, he henceforth becomes like unto them. Those whose conduct has been good, will quickly attain some good birth, the birth of a Brahmaņa, or Kshatriya, or a Vaishya. But those, whose conduct has been evil, will quickly attain an evil birth, the birth of a dog, or a hog, or a chāndāla.' From the above passage it seems that those who do not have the knowledge of the Brahman, have to pass through the extremely complicated passage and have to come even back to the earth to be reborn in the lower species. The description of the various lokas seems to be quite imaginary and fictitious. The above passage gives us a fantastic picture of the individual's destiny after death. A similar depiction of such various worlds is also obtained in the Kausitaki Upanisad?
These passages indicate the destiny of the individual soul after the death of the individual. These passages make it clear that those who do not obtain the knowledge of the Brahman or those who do not attain self-realisation, remain involved in the cycle of births and deaths. They traverse from region (loka) to region and at last come back to the earth again. Unless they possess high merit they do not get access to the higher regions of Prajāpati and Brahmā. But it seems clear that the knowledge and the knowledge of the Brahman alone can redeem the individual soul from the wheel of births and deaths. Actions could not lead to final liberation.
1 Ch. Up, 5.10.1 to 7.
2 Kauşīt. Up. 1.2, 1.6. Tr. Hume, p. 306. A 7
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