Praśna Upaniṣad ("Six Questions") 78

78.1

START PrUp 3.10

Yaccittaḥ, whatever thought he might have had, at the time of death; tena, together with that idea, and together with the organs; āyāti prāṇam, he (the creature) enters into Prāṇa, the primary vital function. The purport is that at the time of death, the activities of the organs having declined, he continues to live only through the functioning of the chief Prāṇa (vital energy). Then the relatives say, "He still breathes", "He is still alive." That prāṇaḥ, Prāṇa, again; yuktaḥ tejasā, as combined with the function called Udāna; saha ātmanā, and in association with the soul, the master that enjoys; nayati, leads,—that enjoyer (of the fruits of work)—makes him reach, under the influence of virtuous and vicious actions; lokam yathāsaṁkalpitam, a world as was desired by him.footnote{As an aspirant, he had desired heaven etc. when engaged in sacrifices and meditation. That desire becomes again prominent at the time of death and results in the attainment of that very world.}

Yaccittaḥ, whatever thought he might have had, at the time of death; tena, together with that idea, and together with the organs; āyāti prāṇam, he (the creature) enters into Prāṇa, the primary vital function. The purport is that at the time of death, the activities of the organs having declined, he continues to live only through the functioning of the chief Prāṇa (vital energy). Then the relatives say, "He still breathes", "He is still alive." That prāṇaḥ, Prāṇa, again; yuktaḥ tejasā, as combined with the function called Udāna; saha ātmanā, and in association with the soul, the master that enjoys; nayati, leads,—that enjoyer (of the fruits of work)—makes him reach, under the influence of virtuous and vicious actions; lokam yathāsaṁkalpitam, a world as was desired by him.footnote{As an aspirant, he had desired heaven etc. when engaged in sacrifices and meditation. That desire becomes again prominent at the time of death and results in the attainment of that very world.}

78.2

yaccittas tenaiṣa prāṇam āyāti |
prāṇas tejasā yuktaḥ sahātmanā yathā saṃkalpitaṃ lokaṃ nayati ||