2023, Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part B

Practicing humane values is one of the hallmarks of our Indian civilization and culture. The foundation of a sophisticated social system and the practice of these human values. Many injustices and injustices are observed in many cases in today’s society and its root is the degradation of the above values. Vast Sanskrit literature and scriptures are the bearers and bearers of our ancient civilization and Sanskrit. Among them the teaching of values in Vedic literature is largely observed. Rik-Sam-Yaju-Atharva, the final part of the four Vedas, Upanishads also teach values quite easily. In the short scope of the present essay an attempt has been made to present briefly the values of education reflected in the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. It is called Aranyakopanishad as it is included in Aranyaka section of Shatapatha Brahmana of Suklajurveda and Brihadaranyaka Upanishad as it is the largest in volume. Some important values are reflected in various Brahmins in six chapters in three sections.

At the very beginning of the first chapter there is the Aswamedha Yajna, which is designed as a unique meditation (manasyajna). The second chapter deals with worship. There is an indication of degradation by selfishness, indulgence, etc. In the context of the defeat of the Asuras by the main Prana. From this we learn the values of selflessness and unselfishness. After“असतो मा सद्गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय, मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय।“This Yajurmantra prays the ideal of transition from darkness to light, from death to immortality, which is an excellent example of the teaching of higher values.

In the important mantras in the first Brahmana of the second chapter“तदेतत् प्रेयः पुत्रात् ........अन्तरतरं यदयमात्मा....” It is extremely foolish to be attached to anything other than the supremely beloved soul over all worldly possessions. In the next “Yajnavalkya Maitreyi Sangbadah” Maitreyi’s famous quote—“येनाहं नामृता स्यां किमहं तेन कुर्याम्” In Patiparayana Sati, one can learn the highest values of life by giving all worldly wealth to one’s wife and progressing on the path of immortality. Then the famous saying of Yajnavalkya Muni-“न वा अरे पत्युः कामाय पतिः प्रियो भवति....... आत्मनस्तु कामाय सर्वं प्रियं भवति”।In this we learn that all these causes of self-love become objects of our love.

In the fifth chapter of Khilkanda, the advice given by Prajapati to Gods, human beings and Asuras, ‘Damyata, Datta, Dayadhwam’, is actually a commandment of great values among people to exercise restraint, to give as much as they can and to vow for the welfare of the next.

The words of the sage in the sixth chapter on the admonition of a holy and restrained life in accordance with the scriptures with a restrained mind of domestic life suggest an ideal social system characterized by great human beings which imparts education in a good sense of values. In this way, it can be said without a doubt that the education of human values is the ultimate path for the overall welfare of the world among the advice given in the sage’s meditation and human welfare.