Isha - 3-asuryā nāma te lokā

Commentary by Sri Adi Sankaracharya – Translated in English

This mantra is begun for the purpose of condemning those who have no knowledge of the Atman. Asuryah: even Devas, etc., are Asuras, relatively to becoming one with the Paramatman. Asuryah because they belong to them (Asuras). Kama is a meaningless word. Those lokas (births) so called because the fruits of Karma are there perceived or enjoyed (lokyante). Andhena tamasa, ‘ignorance which consists in inability to see one’s self.’ Avritah means covered. These births down to the immovable. Pretya means ‘leaving the body.’ ‘Abhigachhanti’ means ‘attain in accordance with their Karma and Knowledge.’ ‘Atmahanah’ means ‘those who kill the Atman.’ Who are they? Those who do not know the Atman. How do they kill the eternal Atman? By drawing the veil of ignorance over the Atman that exists. Those who do not, under the influence of their natural tendencies (Prakriti), know the Atman are called ‘Atmahanah’ (slayers of the Atman); because in their case the result of the existence of the Atman, i. e., the knowledge of its undecaying and immortal nature is veiled, as if the Atman were killed. By this fault of slaying the Atman, they get into Samsara.

Commentary by Swami Sivananda

There are two readings. Asoorya, sunless and Asurya, undivine. In comparison with the state of Supreme Self, the most exalted words of the gods are also godless. Andhena tamasa, blind darkness, i.e., ignorance which stands in the way of realising one’s darkness, i.e., ignorance which stands in the way of realising one’s Self. Avrutah means ‘covered’; Pretya means ‘leaving the body’; Abhigachhanti means ‘attain’; Atmahanah means ‘slayers of the Atman’ i.e., those who kill their Self.

Those who have drawn the veil of ignorance over the Atman are not able to perceive their Self. They move about self-deluded in this world and run after perishable sensual objects. Their minds are filled with passion, greed, wrath, pride and egoism. They do all sorts of evil actions when they are under the fluence of lust, greed and anger. They are caught up again and again in the Samsaric wheel of birth and death. They have mistaken the body as the imperishable Self. They worship the perishable body like Virochana and his followers, the Asuras. They have entirely forgotten the glory and splendours of immortal Sat-Chit-Ananda Atman. Hence they are called Atmahanah, slayers of the Atman.

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