Translation by Jayaram V
1. I am now going to teach you the knowledge of Vajrasuci which dispels
ignorance, condemns the ignorant and elevates those who possess the eye of
wisdom.
The ignorant here are those who believe in the traditional notions
of the caste system.
2. The Brahmana, the Kshatriya, the Vaisya and the Sudra: these are
the four varnas. The Vedas proclaim that the Brahmana is the first among them and
the smritis also affirm it. There is however an interesting aspect about this. Actually
who is this whom we refer by the name Brahmana? Is he (the subtle body
known as) Jiva ? Is he the physical body? Is he (the descendent of) the community
to which he belongs? Is he (the possessor of) the knowledge? Is he (the
doer of) the actions he undertakes? Is he (the performer of) the religious
rites he performs?
3. Of this the first premise that Brahmana is jiva is not tenable
because the same jiva enters different bodies in previous lives. Although it is
one, due to the impact of the past deeds and desires the same jiva happens
to reside in many bodies (in different lives). Therefore a Brahmana is not on account
of the jiva.
4. Then coming to the statement that the body is Brahmana, this also
is not acceptable because universally the body is composed of the self same five
elements (the earth, the water, the fire, the air and the ether), from the Brahmanas
down to the lowest of the human class and subject to the same processes of old age
and death, good and evil in all. One cannot also generalize that the Brahmanas have
white complexion, the Kshatriyas red complexion, the Vaishyas brown complexion and
the Sudras dark complexion,( because these colors are not uniform among these classes).
Besides the bodies can become tainted with such sins as the killing of Brahmans,
improper cremation of bodies by their descendents and so on. Therefore a Brahmana
is not so because of the body.
5. Then it is said that a Brahmana is so because of his caste. This
is not acceptable because there are diverse communities in the world, even in the
animal world, and the seers and sages come from different communities. We have heard
from the sacred scriptures that many seers were of animal origin. Rishyasringa was
born of a deer, Kaushika came from the grass, Jambuka from a Jackal, Valkimi from
an ant hill, Vyasa from a fisher girl, Gautama from the back of a hare, Vashista
from the celestial nymph Urvasi, Agastya from an earthen vessel. Among these many
have attained the highest rank, despite of their lower birth and given proof of
their wisdom. Therefore a Brahmana is not so because of his community.
It is to be noted that the sages were not born physically from
the animals or such things as grass or earthen vessel. The descriptions here
are symbolic, suggestive of the fact that these sages were given birth by parents
who had some dominant animal or plant trait in them or who had the quality of
an inanimate object or a celestial being.
6. The argument that knowledge makes a Brahmana is also not acceptable
because many Kshatriyas and others have seen the Highest Reality and attained perfect
knowledge. Therefore a Brahmana is not so because of his knowledge.
7. That karma (actions) make a Brahmana is not acceptable because
we see the existence of prarabdha and sanchita karma in all beings. Impelled
by their previous karma only all the saintly people perform their deeds. Therefore
a Brahmana is not so because of (present) karma.
Sanchita karma is the residual karma that has accumulated in the
past on account of our previous actions. Prarabdha karma is that portion of
karma that is responsible for the formation of the physical body.
8. Then it is also not true that on account of dharma (religious
duty or activity) is a Brahmana. There are many Kshatriyas who have given away
gold as charity. Therefore a Brahmana is not on account of dharma
9. Then who is to be known by the name Brahmana? He who succeeds
in perceiving directly the self without a second like an amalaka fruit in
the palm of his hand, who is devoid of the distinction of caste, trait and action,
who is devoid of all the faults such as the six imperfections and the six states
of being, who is of the nature of truth, knowledge, bliss and infinity, who is self
existent, without will power, but the impeller and supporter of all will power,
who exists in all as the indwelling spirit, who is within and without of all like
the ether, who is of the nature of indivisible bliss, immeasurable, known
only through ones direct experience, who manifests himself directly as truth, who
has successfully overcome such imperfections as desire and passion, who is filled
with the riches of tranquility, who has eliminated from his being such states as
envy, greed and infatuation, who lives unaffected by such things as ostentation
and egoism- these aforesaid qualities make up a Brahmana. This is the opinion expressed
by all the srutis (Vedas), smritis (religious books), Puranas (ancient lore) and
the Ithihasas (historical works). Otherwise it is impossible to attain Brahmanahood.
Meditate upon Brahman, the inmost Self, who is of the nature of truth, consciousness
and bliss and who is without a second. Meditate upon Brahman, the very Self, who
is without a second. This is the Upanishad.
The six imperfections are old age, death, sorrow, delusion, hunger
and thirst. These are common to all living beings and responsible for their
suffering. The six states of being are birth, existence, growth, change, waning
and perishing. The srutis are those that are heard. They are not human creations
but are diving in origin. The smritis are those texts, the expert opinions,
that are remembered and passed on from generation to generation for their value
and content.
The End
