History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.99

v7.c95.99

IV. 17 and 20, III. 1, 10, 13, Gītā 13. 12, 14. 20. Mukti and mokṣa are both derived from the root 'muc' (to be free) and the verbal forms of 'muc' are frequently used along with 'immortality' as in Kaṭha Up. VI. 8 (yam jñātvā mucyate jantur-amṛtatvaṁ ca gacchati) and 14, Br. Up. IV. 4. 7, Śv. Up. I. 8 and IV. 16 (jñātvā devam mucyate sarvapāśaiḥ). The word mokṣa occurs in Śv. Up. IV. 16 and Gītā 5. 28, 7. 29, 18. 30. Niḥśreyasa (mokṣa, than which there is nothing better) occurs in Kauṣ. Up III. 2, Gītā V. 2. Vide p. 1037 n 671 for 'niḥśreyasa'. The word 'śreyas' often means 'better' in the Upaniṣads (Tai. Up. I. 11 and Chān. Up. IV 6.5) and Gītā II. 7, 31, III. 35, XVIII. 47 &c., but in Kaṭha Up II. 1 and 2 śreyas (as opposed to preyas i. e. pleasure) really means 'niḥśreyasa' (salvation).²⁴⁷² Kaivalya does not occur in the principal Upaniṣads, but kevalaḥ (not affected by guṇas or isolated as pure consciousness) occurs in Śv. Up. IV. 18 and VI. 11 (sākṣī cetā kevalo nirguṇaśca) Nirvāṇa occurs in Gītā VI. 15 (the yogin, that has subdued his mind and always practises yoga, secures peace, centred on me that is highest nirvāṇa); in Gītā II. 72 and V. 24–25 we find 'brahmanirvāṇam' which means 'bliss in brahma'. Apavarga occurs only in the Maitrī Upaniṣad VI. 30 and was the goal laid down by the very first sūtra of the Nyāyadarśana.