Not The Non Existent Summary BBS 2nd Year
Not the non existent summary bbs 2nd year vision
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Not The Non Existent
Nasadiya Sukta, Rigveda, X, 129
Not the non-existent (The Nasadiya Sukta) is a poem which talks about the creation of the universe. It is taken from Rig Veda Mandala 10, Hymn 129. The Nasadiya Sukta, also known as the "Hymn of Creation" or "Creation Hymn" is a significant hymn found in the Rig Veda, one of the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism. It is a part of the 10th Mandala of Rig Veda and is considered a philosophical and metaphysical exploration of the origins of the universe.
The Nasadiya Sukta is composed in the form of a dialogue, posing profound questions about the nature of existence and the origins of the universe. It contemplates the mysteries of creation, the nature of reality, and the ultimate source of all things. The hymn explores the enigma of how the universe came into being and the ultimate truth that lies beyond human comprehension.
Here is the translation of the Nasadiya Sukta:
1. Then even nothingness was not, nor existence,
There was no air then, nor the heavens beyond it.
What covered it? Where was it? In whose keeping?
Was there then cosmic water, in depths unfathomed?
This stanza sets the stage by describing the state of existence before the creation of the universe. It emphasizes the absence of anything, including nothingness itself, air and even the heavens. The questions posed reflect the search for the origin and existence of the cosmos. The mention of cosmic water suggests the possibility of an undifferentiated, primordial state.
2. Then there was neither death nor immorality
nor was there then the torch of nigh and day.
The One breathed windlessly and self-sustaining.
There was the one then, and there was no other.
This verse delves into the absence of concepts such as death and immortality, as well as the absence of the cycles of day and night. It introduces the idea of the "One," an eternal, self-sustaining entity that existed before the creation. It describes the One as existing without any external influences and being the sole entity in existence.
3. At first there was only darkness wrapped in darkness.
All this was only unillumined water.
That One which came to be, enclosed in nothing,
arose at last, born of power of heat.
This stanza elaborates on the initial state of existence as a form of enveloping darkness. It introduces the metaphor of unillumined water to describe the indeterminate, formless nature of that initial state. It states that the One, which eventually emerged, originated from the latent power of heat, suggesting the potential for creation and manifestation.
4. In the beginning, desire descended on it,
that was the primal seed, born of the mind.
The sages who have searched their hearts and wisdom
know that which is is kin to that which is not.
This verse highlights the role of desire as the catalyst for creation. It describes desire as the primal seed, born from the mind. The hymn suggests that the sages who possess deep wisdom and introspection, recognize the inherent connection between what exists and what does not exist, implying a profound understanding of the nature of reality.
5. And they have stretched their cord across the void,
and know what was above, and what below.
Seminal powers made fertile mighty forces.
Below was strength, and over it was impulse.
This stanza introduces the concept of cosmic order and the knowledge possessed by the sages. It portrays the sages as having extended their understanding across the expanse of the void, comprehending both the upper and lower realms. It speaks of seminal powers that gives rise to potent forces, with strength being associated with the lower realm and impulse with higher realm.
6. But, after all, who knows, and who can say
whence it all came, and how creation happened?
The gods themselves are later than creation,
so who knows truly whence it has arisen?
This verse highlights the limitations of human knowledge and understanding. It acknowledges the mystery surrounding the origin of the universe and questions the ability of anyone, including the gods, to truly comprehend its inception. It conveys a sense of awe and wonder at the vastness and unknowable nature of creation.
7. Whence all creation had its origin,
the creator, whether he fashioned it or whether he did not,
the creator, who surveys it all from highest heaven,
he knows-- or maybe even he does not know.
The final stanza contemplates the ultimate source of creation and the nature of the creator. It poses questions about whether the creator fashioned the universe or whether it came into being spontaneously. The stanza acknowledges that the creator, who observes and surveys everything from the highest heaven, may or may not possess complete knowledge of creation.
The Nasadiya Sukta represents a deep philosophical reflection on the nature of reality, questioning the origins of the universe and the existence of a creator. It acknowledges the limits of human knowledge and leaves the reader with a sense of wonder and awe about the mysteries of the existence. It is regarded as on of the most profound and thought-provoking hymns in the Rig Veda.
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