Na Karmana slokam
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The Na Karmana slokam from the Upanishad is chanted in Ramanashram every evening after the Sri Rudram vedaparayana.Na karmana na prajaya dhanenatyagenaike amrta tvamanasuh
parena nakam nihitam guhayam
vibhrajate yadyatayo visanti
Neither by actions, nor by (aquiring) progeny and wealth, but by renunciation alone is immortality attained. (That Supreme State ) is far beyond the highest heaven, and the sages perceive it, hidden in the cave of the heart, shining brilliantly therein.
Vedanta vijnana suniscitarthah
samnyasa yogadyataya suddha sattvah
te brahma lokesu paranta kale
paramratah parimucyanti sarve
(Those) sages, who have a clear understanding of the principles of Vedanta, who have purified themselves by means of the yoga of renunciation,and who are (thus) established in the state of supreme beatitude, are totally liberated in Brahman at the time of dissolution of the body.
Dharam vipapam paramesma bhutam
yad pundarikam puramadhya sagastham
tatrapi dahram gaganam visokam
tasmin ya dantastatu pasidavyam
Located in the center of the city of the body is the subtle lotus of theheart, pure and untainted, which is the abode of the supreme. Meditate on the supreme being residing in that inner expanse, which is subtle and free from sorrow.
Yo vedadau svara proktah vedante ca pratistitahatasya prakriti linasya yah parahssa mahesvaraha
That which is described as the primal sound (om) in the beginning of the vedas, has been fully established as the supreme truth at the end of the Vedas ( the Upanishads) . The one who realizes that Supreme Principle is beyond the pale of those totally immersed in physical realities. Indeed, He is none other than the supreme Lord !
Na tatra suryo bhati na candra tarakamnema vidyuto bhanti kutoyam agnihi
tameva bhantam anubhati sarvam
tasya bhasa sarvam idam vibhati
There the sun does not shine, nor do the moon and the stars. These streaks of lightning do not shine there either, (so) what to speak of this fire? That, shining, makes all others shine. By virtue of its luminosity, all these (manifestations) are illuminated.
Sri Ramana Maharshi also revered this sloka and explained it as follows:
Brahmaloka may be interpreted subjectively or objectively. The latter meaning requires faith in sastras which speak of such lokas, whereas the former is purely of experience and requires no external authority,. Brahmaloka means Brahma Jnana or Atma Sakshatkara.
The whole passage means:
Deathlessness is not obtained through action or begetting offspring or wealth. Some attain that state through renunciation.
The Sages that have conquered senses, attain that Sat which is more supreme than Heaven and shining all alone in the Heart.
The adepts who by renunciation and one-pointedness are pure in heart and have known for certainty of Truth by the special knowledge proclaimed by Vedanta, get fully released in the Brahmaloka from the causal Maya at the dissolution of the body.
That alone which shines as the tiny akasa void of sorrow, in the lotus heart, the tiny seat of the spotless Supreme in the inner core of the body is worthy of worship.
He alone is the Supreme Lord, who is beyond the Primal Word which is the beginning and end of the Vedas and in which merges the creative Cause.
