________________
I ADHYAYA, 3 PÂDA, 2.
297
alone is, in all Upanishads, termed the cause of the attainment of Immortality ; cp. e. g. 'Knowing him thus a man becomes immortal; there is no other path to go' (Sve. Up. III, 8). The term 'setu' is derived from si, which means to bind, and therefore means that which binds, i.e. makes one to attain immortality; or else it may be understood to mean that which leads towards immortality that lies beyond the ocean of samsára, in the same way as a bank or bridge (setu) leads to the further side of a river.Moreover the word 'Self' (atman) (which, in the text under discussion, is also applied to that which is the abode of heaven, earth, &c.), without any further qualification, primarily denotes Brahman only; for åtman' comes from åp, to reach, and means that which reaches' all other things in so far as it rules them. And further on (II, 2, 7) there are other terms, all knowing,'' all cognising,' which also specially belong to the highest Brahman only. This Brahman may also be represented as the abode of the arteries; as proved e. g. by Mahânår. Up. (XI, 8-12),
Surrounded by the arteries he hangs ... in the middle of this pointed flame there dwells the highest Self.' Of that Self it may also be said that it is born in many ways; in accordance with texts such as 'not born, he is born in many ways; the wise know the place of his birth.' For in order to fit himself to be a refuge for gods, men, &c. the supreme Person, without however putting aside his true nature, associates himself with the shape, make, qualities and works of the different classes of beings, and thus is born in many ways. Smriti says the same: Though being unborn, of non-perishable nature, the Lord of all beings, yet presiding over my Prakriti I am born by my own mysterious power (Bha. Gl. IV, 6). Of the mind also and the other organs of the individual soul the highest Self is strictly the abode; for it is the abode of everything.–The next Satra supplies a further reason.
2. And on account of its being declared that to which the released have to resort. . The Person who is the abode of heaven, earth, and so
Digitized by Google
Digitized by