Kathopanishad- Verse 9 - kathopanishad-2-2-9-agniryathaiko

Kathopanishad – Part 2 – Canto 2 – Verse 9 « »

अग्निर्यथैको भुवनं प्रविष्टो
रूपं रूपं प्रतिरूपो बभूव ।
एकस्तथा सर्वभूतान्तरात्मा
रूपं रूपं प्रतिरूपो बहिश्च ॥ ९॥

agniryathaiko bhuvanaṃ praviṣṭo
rūpaṃ rūpaṃ pratirūpo babhūva .
ekastathā sarvabhūtāntarātmā
rūpaṃ rūpaṃ pratirūpo bahiśca .. 9..

9 As the same non-dual fire, after it has entered the world, becomes different according to whatever it burns, so also the same non-dual Atman, dwelling in all beings, becomes different according to whatever It enters. And It exists also without.

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Sri Shankara’s Commentary (Bhashya) translated by S. Sitarama Sastri

Com.—As the knowledge of the oneness of the âtman, though supported by authority and often reiterated, is not firmly grasped by the intellect of perverse-headed Brahmins, whose mind is shaken by the intellect (arguments) of many logicians, the sruti, being anxious to inculcate it, says again and again: as fire, though one, bright by nature, having entered the world (Bhuvanam meaning world, because all bhavanti, i.e., are born there) in respect of everything to be burnt assumes separate shapes; so, being one only, the internal âtrnan of all, having entered all bodies such as fire in logs, etc., being extremely subtle, assumes forms responsive and is also without them all, like the âkâs, in his own unmodified nature.

Commentary by Swami Krishnananda of the great Divine Life Society

Agnir yathaiko bhuvanam praviṣṭo rūpaṁ rūpam prati-rūpo babhūva, ekas tathā sarva-bhūtāntar-ātmā rūpaṁ rūpam prati-rūpo bahiś ca (2.2.9). This Atman is uniformly present in all things; it is not different in different persons and things. It is not that the Atman is big in an elephant and small in an ant. Three examples are given here: the wind, the sun, and fire. Fire burns equally, without any partiality. It enters various objects and burns in various hues, putting on various contours, not on account of the difference in fire itself, but because of the medium through which it passes. As fire is one in its original state but when it enters the world it puts on various forms, likewise the one Atman that is uniformly present in all bodies appears to be various because of the differences in the bodies and intellects. These things called ‘men’, ‘animal’, ‘tree’ are due to the intensity of the manifestation of the Atman. When sattva predominates, we call it a genius because there is more manifestation of the Atman in sattva. In the animal and vegetable kingdoms, there is lesser manifestation of the Atman. And when there is no manifestation of the Atman because of tamas, we call it a stone, etc. But the Atman is uniform, One and Absolute, even as is fire. Internally and externally it is the same.

Links
Various resources on the Kathopanishad
Upanishad Series – Katopanishad Commentary by Swami Chinmayananda

Kathopanishad – Verse 9 – kathopanishad-2-2-9-agniryathaiko – In Sanskrit with English Transliteration, Meaning and Commentary by Adi Shankaracharya (Sankara Bhashya) – Katha-2-2-9