Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.1

Death, Karma, and LiberationYajur Veda

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Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.1
intermediate
स यत्रायं प्राणेनोक्रामत्यथैनमेते सर्वे प्राणा अभ्युक्क्रामन्ति। स विज्ञानमेव अनुविज्ञानं भवति। तं विद्यामानां अनुविद्या अन्वावर्तन्ते॥

sa yatrāyaṃ prāṇenotkrāmatyathainamete sarve prāṇā abhyutkrāmanti | sa vijñānameva anuvijñānaṃ bhavati | taṃ vidyāmanāṃ anuviдyā anvāvartante ||

"When this person departs with the life-breath, all the vital breaths follow him. He becomes pure knowledge, and what he knows follows him."

What This Means:

At death, when the life-breath leaves, all vital functions follow. The person becomes pure consciousness, and his knowledge goes with him.

Going Deeper:

At death, prana departs first, then all organs. The Self, now pure vijnana (consciousness), carries its knowledge (karma/samskara).

How To Apply This:

Your knowledge and tendencies go with you at death. Cultivate what you want to carry.

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