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Interpreting scriptures

CHENNAI: The object of the Upanishads, which are the concluding portion of the Vedas, is to teach the nature of the Absolute Reality (Brahman). As the subject is abstract, their pithy statements lend themselves to different interpretations. This is the reason for the rise of many schools of Vedanta and the task of a commentator is to interpret the Upanishads on the basis of the doctrines of his school without contradictions. The task of interpretation thus becomes central to the exercise of eliciting the import of the Upanishads.

In her discourse, Swamini Satyavratananda said the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad described the nature of the Absolute by positing it as the cause of this variegated universe through the analogy of fire from which tiny sparks emanated. This is the “Truth of truth” states the text. Creation is cited to explain the truth here because human beings can understand what is evident to sensory perception easily. Sankara observes that scriptural texts used worldly examples (like rope mistaken as a snake), familiar means of knowledge (e.g. perception and inference) and colloquial language. The Upanishads seek to reveal transcendental knowledge, which is not of this world, through examples as it cannot be conveyed by other means. Besides, the spiritual knowledge taught by scriptural texts should not contradict the methods of gaining worldly knowledge, examples and language. Then only can the scriptures enable a person to gradually progress from knowledge that is familiar to him to subtle knowledge that cannot be known by the senses or intellectual understanding. Sankara interprets this analogy as teaching identity of the individual Self (spark) and the Absolute Self (fire).

A story is related in this context to illustrate this example further. A prince was abandoned by his parents and was brought up by a fowler and so he was oblivious of his royal descent. When a compassionate person told him that he was a prince he gave up his wrong identification as a fowler. Like a spark separated from fire, an individual identifies himself with the body (form) without knowing he is the Self (Atman) and when his ignorance is removed, he realises his spiritual nature.

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