Isha - 8-sa paryagāc chukram

Commentary by Sri Adi Sankaracharya – Translated in English

This text describes the real nature of the Atman, spoken of. in the previous texts. Sah means ‘the Atman previously spoken of.’ ‘Paryagat means went round.’ The meaning is ‘he is all-pervading like the Akas.’ Sukram means pure, hence bright, resplendent. Akayam, means ‘bodiless,’ i.e., having no linga sarira or subtle, boy. Avranam means ‘scatheless.’ ‘Asnaviram’ means ‘having no muscles.’ The adjuncts Avranam and Asnaviram show that the Atman has no sthula sarira or gross body. By the word suddha, pure or free from the taint of ignorance, it is shown that it has no karana sarira or causal body. ‘Apapa-viddham means ‘untouched by Karma, good or bad.’ ‘Sukram’ and the following epithets are to be read as masculine, because of the beginning and the end being in the masculine, as sah, kavih etc. Kavih means far-seeing, i.e., all-seeing; for, says the Sruti “There is no seer other than the Atman, etc.” ‘Manishi’ means ‘prompting the mind,’ hence ‘omniscient, omnipotent.’ Paribhuh means ‘being above all.’ Svayambhuh means ‘himself being all above and all below becomes all.’ He, the ever free, and omnipotent, being omniscient, allotted their respective functions, i.e., objects to be created to the various and eternal Prajapatis, known popularly as ‘years,’ as aids to the enjoyment of the fruits of Karma.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda

Sah means ‘the Atman described above’. Paryagat means gone abroad or went round’. The ideal meaning is ‘The Atman is all-pervading’. Sukram means pure or brilliant. Akayam means without a body. Here it means that the Atman has no subtle body or Linga Sarira. The terms Avranam and Asnaviram denote that the Atman has no gross physical body. The term Suddha (Pure) indicates that the Atman has no causal body, and that He is free from the impurity of ignorance. Apapaviddham means that the Atman is not affected by good and bad actions (Nirlipta, Asanga, Asakta). Sankara takes the subject to be the Self and explains the neuter odjectives as masculine, because the biginning Sah and the ending Kavih are masculine. Kavih means a seer who has direct vision and illumination. Manishi means ‘Lord of the mind’. ‘Prompting the mind’. Paribhu means ‘Lord of the mind’, is the best of all’. Svayambhu means ‘self-existent’. The Atman never depends upon another. The ‘years’ means here the Prajapatis or the creators.

Links
Commentary on the Isavasya Upanishad by Swami Krishnananda – Divine Life Society
Upanishad Series – Isavasya Upanishad Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda
Commentary on the Isavasya Upanishad by Paramarthananda