Amrtabindu Upanisad (A Drop of Immortality) (Sanskrit Text, Transliteration, Word-to-word Meaning, English Translation and Detailed Commentary)

Can the mortal ever become immortal? Can the mind take us immortal? Can knowledge make us immortal? Does immortality mean living for ever in the body as the body? Read the nectarine message of the Vedas in the Amrtabindu Upanisad and enjoy its immortal Truth. Partaking even a drop of it can immortalize us. This is the assurance of the sages.

Swami Tejomayanandaji’s commentary makes this immortal and subtle makes this immortal and subtle ambrosia simple to follow and a delight to swallow.

Why would one want to read the Amrtabindu Upanisad? We only read books which are well-written and well-presented, which can understand, which are interesting and which serve some purpose. A five year old is not likely to read a book on anthropology nor will reading about surgical procedures be meaningful or purposeful for a law student?

What is Amrtabindu Upanisad? What does it contain? Is it interesting? Would we understand it? Would its study benefit us? Would it serve any purpose?

The subject (Visaya) we expect a book titled modern physics to contain knowledge of modern Physics Upanisad means self knowledge. A book titled Upanisad contains self knowledge, knowledge of out true nature.

Even those who claim to know themselves well only have a vague or partial knowledge of themselves. A doctor may understand his anatomical structure better a psychologist may claim to know his mind better and an ophthalmologist understands the conditions of his mind better and an ophthalmologist understands the condition of his eye better. But do we really know the I that knows the body mind or the eye? The Upanisad gives us a clear and complete understanding of who we really are in essence. It goes beyond feelings ideas, theories and concepts of who we are. It indicates the self as it is and enables us to directly experience our true nature. It removes all our notions of finitude about ourselves and makes us realize I am the infinite truth (brahma atama aikya bodha). Who would not be interested in reading about themselves and discover how great they really are?

The Result (phala): How will the study of the Upanisad benefit me? What purpose would it serve? I am what I think I am. I am sad, bad, glad or mad when I think I am so. However, I find that I am happy being happy and cannot stand being unhappy. I cannot bear to live in finitude and sorrow. I want to immediately get rid of sorrow and be happy here and now, and ever after. I actually want infinite and eternal happiness. When I realize that infinite and eternal happiness is my real nature, I am liberated from all notions of finitude and sorrow. To obtain Liberation (moksa) is the result of Self-Knowledge.

The Seeker (adhikari): ‘If I always do what I always did, I will always get what I always got’. A man complained each day that his lunch box contained the °same old sandwiches’. His colleague told him, “Why don’t you ask your wife to pack something else?°° He said, “I am not married. I only pack the sandwiches each day!”

If I seek what I always sought I will get what I always got. Seeking finite goals has always given us finite results which have never given us true satisfaction. Money, name, fame, power, possessions and pleasures have never given us the peace and fulfillment we seek. ‘The impermanent can never give us permanent joy’ (na hi adhruvaih prapyate hi dhruvam tat - kathopanisad 1.2.10). Then why is my innermost desire for the permanent, the immortal, the infinite? One who questions thus, feels dispassion towards the finite, seeks to know the infinite and so approaches the Guru. Such a person is truly qualified for Self-Knowledge. He is most benefited by this knowledge. The Upanisad becomes the nectar that satisfies his inner thirst.

The Upanisad: Upanisad is Self—Knowledge. What does the word Upanisad mean? ‘Upa’ means to go near, to approach A teacher for Self—knowledge with a heart filled with faith and devotion. ‘Ni’ means to have firm determination to sow the Truth, come what may. ‘sad’ means to destroy ignorance with the right knowledge. Upanisad therefore also indicates the process of gaining Self-Knowledge. A cook that contains Self—Knowledge is also called Upanisad.

There are many Upanisads in the Vedas. Ten are considered major as they are commented upon by the great Adi Sankaracarya. Others are called minor even though they contain the same divine knowledge.

Amrtabindu Upanisad: The five Bindu Upanisads found in the atharva-veda are Nadabindu Upanisad, Brahmabindu Upanisad, Tejobindu Upanisad, Brahmabindu Upanisad, tejobindu Upanisad, Dhyanabindu Upanisad and the Amrtabindu Upanisad. They are all minor Upanisads and the Amrtabindu Upanisad is the most popular amongst them.

Amrta as a drink is the heavenly nectar or ambrosia. Bindu means a drop. Partaking even a drop of celestial ambrosia makes man immortal, that means it gives him a very long life. The word amrta means that which is deathless and timeless. It indicates the immortal Truth, realizing which one becomes immortal, that is he realizes his immortal Self.

Upanisads are dialogues between the teacher and the student (guru—sisya samvada) regarding Self—knowledge. The names of the teacher and student and the story of how they met is not known in this Upanisad. Only the immortal knowledge is reported. Let us also partake of this nectarine knowledge, even a drop of which can immortalize us.