Prashna Upanishad: Verse 1.12
मासो वै प्रजापतिस्तस्य कृष्णपक्ष एव रयिः शुक्लः प्रणस्तस्मादेत ऋषयः शुक्ल इष्टं कुर्वन्तीतर इतरस्मिन् ॥१२॥
मासः । वै । प्रजापतिः । तस्य । कृष्ण-पक्षः । एव । रयिः । शुक्लः । प्राणः । तस्मात् । एते । ऋषयः । शुक्ले । इष्टम् । कुर्वन्ति । इतरे । इतरस्मिन् ॥
māso vai prajāpatis tasya kṛṣṇapakṣa eva rayiḥ śuklaḥ praṇastasmādeta ṛṣayaḥ śukla iṣṭaṃ kurvantītar itarasmin ॥
మాసమే నిజానికి ప్రజాపతి. దాని కృష్ణపక్షమే రయి (పదార్థము), శుక్లపక్షము ప్రాణ. అందుచేత ఈ ఋషులు శుక్లపక్షమున యజ్ఞము చేయుదురు; ఇతరులు మరియొక (కృష్ణపక్ష) మున చేయుదురు.
The month indeed is Prajapati. Its dark fortnight is indeed Rayi (matter); its bright fortnight is Prana. Therefore, these seers perform the sacrificial act in the bright fortnight; others [perform it] in the other [dark fortnight].
- māsaḥ → māsaḥ (visarga before v)
- prajāpatiḥ → prajāpatiḥ (visarga before t)
- kṛṣṇapakṣaḥ → kṛṣṇapakṣaḥ (visarga before e)
- rayiḥ → rayiḥ (visarga before ś)
- śuklaḥ → śuklaḥ (visarga before pr)
- praṇastasmāt → praṇaḥ+tasmāt (visarga→s before t)
- kurvantītar → kurvanti+itarasmin → kurvanti+itaraḥ (i+i→ī, then itaraḥ+asmin → itarasmin)
- śukla iṣṭaṃ → śuklaḥ+iṣṭam
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Rayi (Matter) and Prana (Life-force) as dual aspects of Prajapati
- The mahavakyas
- Establishes the Rayi-Prana duality that underpins the cosmological framework of 'Tat Tvam Asi' — Prana being the conscious principle that leads to Brahman-realization
- Veda
- Atharva Veda
- Shakha
- Pippalada Shakha
- Chandas
- Anushtubh (Vedic prose-verse hybrid)
Yoga and practice
Practitioners are guided to align meditation and spiritual practices with the bright fortnight for enhanced Prana flow. The dark fortnight is suited for contemplation on the material aspect (Rayi). Breath awareness (Pranayama) during Shukla Paksha is considered especially efficacious for spiritual awakening.
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