Sri Isopanishad – Mantra 7

One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quantity one with the Lord,
becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?

Main Points Discussed

1. Continues to describe the consciousness of the maha-bhagavata devotee which was

introduced in Mantra 6
2. Both the Supreme Lord and the living entities are full of transcendental qualities
3. As soon as one becomes fully cognizant of the transcendental oneness, there is no longer
any illusion, distress or the miseries of the material existence
4. Mayavadis, Bhogis, Jnanis, Devotees and Sahajiyas
5. Similarity with Bg. sloka (atmabhuta prasanna atama no socati no kanchati…)
6. Similarity with sloka (nityo nityanam…………. yo viddhati Kaman)

Question and Answers

Q.1. What is the understanding about oneness of the soul and God?
Ans. Fire and spark are qualitatively one but quantitatively different. The spark also emits heat
and light but it is very minute and insignificant as compared to the fire. The spark can be
called fire only qualitatively but at the level of quantity it is not fire. Another way to look
at oneness of fire is that fire produces heat and light. Generally, fire, heat and light are
understood to be separate entities. However, in the actual sense without heat and light the
fire cannot be called fire. Similarly, the Supreme Lord is fire and the individual living
entity is spark. They are qualitatively one but quantitatively different. As the spark has no
existence without the fire, the living entity has no existence without the Supreme Lord.
Seeing oneness is possible only in relation with the Lord. Every one is part and parcel of
the Supreme Lord only qualitatively because the Lord as well as the living entity is
constituted by eternity, knowledge and bliss.

Q.2. What is the translation of Mantra 7?

Ans. One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quantity one with the Lord,
becomes a true knower of things. For such a person there cannot be any illusion or
anxiety.

Q.3. What the word Ekavtam anupasyatah indicate?

Ans. The word Ekatvam anupasyatah indicate that one should see the unity of all living entities
from the viewpoint of the revealed scriptures. The word Ekavtam in a broader sense
indicate that there is one interest, just as in a family the interest of all members is one, or
in a nation the national interest is one, although there are many different individual
citizens. Since all living entities are all members of the same supreme family, there
interest and that of the Supreme Being are not different.
Q.4. What is actual aspiration of the spiritual being and how it can be obtained?
Ans. The spiritual entities are meant for enjoyment, as stated in the Vedanta-sutra (1.1.12)
anand-mayo ’bhyasat. Therefore, the actual aspiration of all spiritual being is to seek
enjoyment. By nature and constitution, every living being – including the supreme Lord
and each of His parts and parcels – is meant for eternal enjoyment. The actual enjoyment
or happiness is available only at the spiritual platform where the Supreme Lord is
eternally enjoying with all his innumerable associates. The living beings who are encaged
in the material tabernacle are constantly seeking enjoyment, but they are seeking it on the
wrong platform. They need to change their focus and try to approach the spiritual
platform. The part and parcel (living entities) is enjoying by serving the Supreme Whole
and the Supreme Whole (Personality of Godhead) is enjoying the service of the parts and
parcel. This is the constitutional position of both the Lord and the living entity.

Q.5. What is the platform of nirguna? What is its characteristic?

Ans. The spiritual platform which is free from any trace of material qualities is known as
platform of nirguna. On the nirguna platform there is never a clash over the object of
enjoyment. At this platform the centre of enjoyment is the Supreme Lord, who is the
centre of the sublime and spiritual rasa dance.

Q.6. How one can surpass the stringent laws of nature?

Ans. As stated in the Bhagavad Gita (7.14), no one but those who surrendered at the lotus feet
of the Supreme Lord can surpass the stringent laws of nature. Thus if one wish to get rid
of all sorts of illusion and anxiety and create unity out of all diverse interests, one must
bring God into all our activities.

Q.7. Why the supreme atma maintains all minute atmas?

Ans. The supreme atma or Paramatma alone maintains all individual minute beings, for the
Supreme Lord wants to derive pleasure out of their affection. Like the father extends
himself through his children and maintain them in order to derive pleasure. If the children
obey the father’s will, family affairs will run smoothly, with one interest and a pleasing
atmosphere is created. The same situation is transcendentally arranged in the absolute
family of the Parabrahman, the Supreme Spirit.

Q.8. When one completely surrenders at the lotus feet of the Supreme Being – Sri Krishna?
Ans. As soon as one is fully cognizant of the transcendental fact that both the Supreme Soul
(Lord Krishna) and the individual soul (living entities) are persons with thinking, feeling
and willing, he at once surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Supreme being, Sri Krishna.

1. Heat, light & fire from the analytical point of view are ___________ &
in synthesis they are ____________ .
a) Different, same
b) Same, different
c) Qualitative, quantitative
d) Quantitative, qualitative
ans. a)

2. "ekatvam" in text 7 refer to

a) Oneness in quantity
b) Oneness in quality
c) Only one quantity
d) Only one quality
ans. b)

3. On the "nirguna platform there is ____________ over the object of

enjoyment.
a) Always a clash
b) Never a clash
c) Always anxiety
d) Never anxiety
ans. b)

4. "Atma-bhuta" interest mentioned in text 7 of Sri Isopanisad &

"Brahma-bhuta interest mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita are
_______________.
a) Totally different
b) Slightly different
c) One & the same
d) effective
ans. c)