Upanishads · Kṛṣṇa 2.2
॥
Devanāgarī
ततः प्रद्युम्नसंज्ञक आसीत् । तस्मात् अहंकारनामानिरुद्धो हिरण्यगर्भोऽजायत
Transliteration (IAST)
tataḥ pradyumnasaṃjñaka āsīt | tasmāt ahaṃkāranāmāniruddho hiraṇyagarbho'jāyata
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
ततः प्रद्युम्न-संज्ञकः आसीत्tataḥ pradyumna-saṃjñakaḥ āsītthen there was one called Pradyumna
तस्मात् अहङ्कार-नामा अनिरुद्धःtasmāt ahaṅkāra-nāmā aniruddhaḥfrom him, by the name ahaṅkāra, Aniruddha
हिरण्य-गर्भः अजायतhiraṇya-garbhaḥ ajāyatagolden-embryoed, was born
Translation
"Then there was one called Pradyumna; from him, by the name ahaṅkāra, Aniruddha, golden-embryoed, was born."
Version
67d37800f1fc · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
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The order of proceeding is named: Saṅkarṣaṇa — Pradyumna — Aniruddha. It is worth noting that Aniruddha is identified with hiraṇya-garbha, "the golden embryo," that is, with Brahmā. That is, the chain leads from Him to the creator: the fourth arrangement is precisely the one who creates.
This structure is worth examining, for it explains why a fourfold arrangement is needed at all. Between the beginningless and the material world, steps are set: not directly from the highest to clay, but through a series. The reason such steps are introduced is the same for all schools, and it is worth naming: disproportion. If the material world proceeded directly from the highest, either the highest would turn out material, or the world divine.
The Vaiṣṇava side resolves this through the teaching of śakti: it is not He Himself who proceeds, but His power, as was discussed when reading the Pañcabrahma (22). Let us add what is worth saying about the names. Pradyumna means "exceedingly bright"; Aniruddha, "unrestrainable," from a-ni-rudh, "not to be stopped."
The latter name is curious: the one closest to matter is called unrestrainable. The reading given is this: the closer to the world, the swifter the action; the highest rests, the lowest moves. And anyone who has observed himself knows this is so: the more superficial the layer of the soul, the more restless it is.