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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailashsagarsuri Gyanmandir
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Atman and Moksa
and hold that He gives eternal solace, rest, peace and joy to His devotees. The state in heaven is described in the following hymn of the Vedas : Like the Sun's glance, like wealth of varied sort,
like breath which is the life, like one's own son, like a swift bird, a cow who yields her milk, pure
and refulgent to the wood he speeds He offers safety like a pleasant home, like ripeped corn,
the conqueror of men. Like a seer landing, famed among the folk; like a steed
i friendly he vouchsafes us power. With flame insatiate, like eternal might; caring for each one
like a dame at home; Bright when he shines forth, whitish mid the folk,
like a car, gold-decked, thundering to the fight. He strikes with terror like a dart shot forth,
e'en like an archer's arrow tipped with flame; Master of present and future life, the maiden's lover
and the matron's Lord. To him lead all your ways; may we attain the kindled God
as cows their home at eve. He drives the flames below as floods their swell the rays
rise up to the fair place of heaven.1 The Aranyakas and Brāhmaṇas belong to the post-Vedic period. The Upanișads are still later works than the Araṇyakas. The Aranyakas and Brāhmaṇas stand midway between the Vedas and Upanişads.
The Upanișads are mainly speculative and philosophical compositions; they are more philosophical in character, while the Aranyakas and Brāhmaṇas deal mainly with the details of the performances of
1 Griffith R. T. H. (Tr.): The Hymns of the RgVeda. R.V.-1, 66.1, Tr. Vol. I, pp. 90, 91.
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