The Upanishads

Texts, Translations and Commentaries.

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Sri Aurobindo

Texts, Translations and Commentaries on the Upanishads. Sri Aurobindo translated a number of Upanishads and wrote commentaries and articles on them at various times.

Sri Aurobindo Birth Centenary Library (SABCL) The Upanishads Vol. 12 541 pages 1972 Edition
English
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The Upanishads




Taittiriya Upanishad




Bhriguvalli

हरिः ॐ । सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्य करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु । मा विद्विषावहै॥ ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Hari OM. Together may He protect us, together may He possess us, together may we make unto us force and virility! May our reading be full of light and power! May we never hate! OM! Peace! Peace! Peace!

Chapter One

भृगुर्वे वारुणिः । वरुणं पितरमुपससार । अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेति । तस्मा एतत् प्रोवाच । अन्नं प्राणं चक्षुः श्रोत्रं मनो वाचमिति । तं होवाच । यतो वा इमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । येन जातानि जीवन्ति । यत् प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति । तद् विजिज्ञासस्व । तद् ब्रह्मेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा ॥

Bhrigu, Varuna's son, came unto his father Varuna and said, "Lord, teach me the Eternal." And his father declared it unto him thus, "Food and Prana and Eye and Ear and Mind—even these." Verily he said unto him, "Seek thou to know that from which these creatures are born, whereby being born they live and to which they go hence and enter again; for that is the Eternal." And Bhrigu concentrated himself in thought and by the askesis of his brooding

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Chapter Two

अन्नं ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात् । अन्नाद्धयेव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । अन्नेन जातानि जीवन्ति । अन्नं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति ॥ तद्विज्ञाय । पुनरेव वरुणं पितरमुपससार । अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेति । तं होवाच । तपसा ब्रह्म विजिज्ञासस्व । तपो ब्रह्मेति । स तपोऽतप्यत॥ स तपस्तप्त्वा ॥

He knew food for the Eternal. For from food alone, it appears, are these creatures born and being born they live by food, and into food they depart and enter again. And when he had known this, he came again to Varuna his father and said, "Lord, teach me the Eternal." And his father said to him, "By askesis do thou seek to know the Eternal, for askesis1 is the Eternal." He concentrated himself in thought and by the energy of his brooding

Chapter Three

प्राणो ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात् । प्राणाद्धयेव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । प्राणेन जातानि जीवन्ति । प्राणं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति ॥ तद्विज्ञाय । पुनरेव वरुणं पितरमुपससार । अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेति । तं होवाच । तपसा ब्रह्म विजिज्ञासस्व । तपो ब्रह्मेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा ।

He knew Prana for the Eternal. For from Prana alone, it appears, are these creatures born and being born they live by Prana and to Prana they go hence and return. And when he had known this, he came again to Varuna his father and said, "Lord, teach me the Eternal." But his father said to him, "By askesis do thou seek to know the Eternal, for askesis in thought is the Eternal." He concentrated himself in thought and by the energy of his brooding

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Chapter Four

मनो ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात् । मनसो ह्येव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । मनसा जातानि जीवन्ति । मनः प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति ॥ तद्विज्ञाय । पुनरेव वरुणं पितरमुपससार । अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेति । तं होवाच । तपसा ब्रह्म विजिज्ञासस्व । तपो ब्रह्मेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा ॥

He knew mind for the Eternal. For from mind alone, it appears, are these creatures born and being born they live by mind, and to mind they go hence and return. And when he had known this, he came again to Varuna his father and said, "Lord, teach me the Eternal." But his father said to him, "By askesis do thou seek to know the Eternal, for concentration in thought2 is the Eternal." He concentrated himself in thought and by the energy of his brooding

Chapter Five

विज्ञानं ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात् । विज्ञानाद्धयेव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । विज्ञानेन जातानि जीवन्ति । विज्ञानं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति ॥ तद्विज्ञाय । पुनरेव वरुणं पितरमुपससार । अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेति । तं होवाच । तपसा ब्रह्म विजिज्ञासस्व । तपो ब्रह्मेति । स तपोऽतप्यत । स तपस्तप्त्वा ॥

He knew Knowledge for the Eternal. For from Knowledge alone, it appears, are these creatures born and being born they live by Knowledge and to Knowledge they go hence and return. And when he had known this, he came again to Varuna his father and said, "Lord, teach me the Eternal." But his father said to him, "By askesis do thou seek to know the Eternal, for concentration of force is the Eternal." He concentrated himself in thought and by the energy of his brooding

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Chapter Six

आनन्दो ब्रह्मेति व्यजानात् । आनन्दाद्धयेव खल्विमानि भूतानि जायन्ते । आनन्देन जातानि जीवन्ति । आनन्दं प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्तीति ॥ सैषा भार्गवी वारुणी विद्या । परमे व्योमन्प्रतिष्ठिता । स य एवं वेद प्रतितिष्ठति । अन्नवानन्नादो भवति । महान् भवति प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥

He knew Bliss for the Eternal. For from Bliss alone, it appears, are these creatures born and being born they live by Bliss and to Bliss they go hence and return. This is the lore of Bhrigu, the lore of Varuna who hath his firm base in the highest heaven. Who knows, gets his firm base, he becomes the master of food and its eater, great in progeny, great in cattle, great in the splendour of holiness, great in glory.

Chapter Seven

अन्नं न निन्द्यात् । तद् व्रतम् । प्राणो वा अन्नम् । शरीरमन्नादम् । प्राणे शरीरं प्रतिष्ठितम् । शरीरे प्राणः प्रतिष्ठितः । तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् । स य एतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितं वेद प्रतितिष्ठति । अन्नवानन्नावो भवति । महान् भवति प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥

Thou shalt not blame food; for that is thy commandment unto labour. Verily, Prana also is food, and the body is the eater. The body is established upon Prana and Prana is established upon the body. Therefore food here is established upon food. He who knows this food that is established upon food, gets his firm base, he becomes the master of food and its eater, great in progeny, great in cattle, great in the radiance of holiness, great in glory.

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Chapter Eight

अन्नं न परिचक्षीत । तद् व्रतम् । आपो वा अन्नम् । ज्योतिरन्नादम् । अप्सु ज्योतिः प्रतिष्ठितम् । ज्योतिष्यापः प्रतिष्ठिताः । तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् । स य एतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितं वेद प्रतितिष्ठति । अन्नवानन्नादो भवति । महान् भवति प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥

Thou shalt not reject food; for that too is the vow of thy labour. Verily, the waters also are food, and the bright fire is the eater. The fire is established upon the waters and the waters are established upon the fires. Here too is food established upon food. He who knows this food that is established upon food, gets his firm base, he becomes the master of food and its eater, great in progeny, great in cattle, great in the radiance of holiness, great in glory.

Chapter Nine

अन्नं बहु कुर्वीत । तद् व्रतम् । पृथिवी वा अन्नम् । आकाशोऽन्नादः । पृथिव्यामाकाशः प्रतिष्ठितः । आकाशे पृथिवी प्रतिष्ठिता । तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम् । स य एतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितं वेद प्रतितिष्ठति । अन्नवानन्नादो भवति । महान् भवति प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मावर्चसेन । महान् कीर्त्या ॥

Thou shalt increase and amass food; for that too is thy commandment unto labour. Verily, earth also is food and ether is the eater. Ether is established upon earth and earth is established upon ether. Here too is food established upon food. He who knows this food that is established upon food, gets his firm base. He becomes the master of food and its eater, great in progeny, great in cattle, great in the radiance of holiness, great in glory.

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Chapter Ten

न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद् व्रतम् । तस्माद् यया कया च विषया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । अराध्यस्मा अन्नमित्याचक्षते । एतद् वै मुखतोऽन्नं राद्धम् । मुखतोऽस्मा अन्नं राध्यते । एतद् वै मध्यतोऽन्नं राद्धम् । मध्यतोऽस्मा अन्नं राध्यते । एतद् वा अन्ततोऽन्नं राद्धम् । अन्ततोऽस्मा अन्नं राध्यते । य एवं वेद । क्षेम इति वाचि । योगक्षेम इति प्राणापानयोः कर्मेति हस्तयोः । गतिरिति पादयोः । विमुक्तिरिति पायौ । इति मानुषीः समाज्ञाः ॥ अथ दैवीः । तृप्तिरिति वृष्टौ । बलमिति विद्युति । यश इति पशुषु । ज्योतिरिति नक्षत्रेषु । प्रजातिरमृतमानन्द इत्युपस्थे । सर्वमित्याकाशे । तत्प्रतिष्ठेत्युपासीत । प्रतिष्ठावान् भवति । तन्मह इत्युपासीत । महान् भवति । तन्मन इत्युपासीत । मानवान् भवति । तन्नम इत्युपासीत । नम्यन्तेऽस्मै कामाः । तद् ब्रह्मेत्युपासीत । ब्रह्मवान् भवति । तद् ब्रह्मणः परिमर इत्युपासीत । पर्येणं म्रियन्ते द्विषन्तः सपत्नाः । परि येऽप्रिया भ्रातृव्याः । स यश्चायं पुरुषे । यश्चासावादित्ये । स एकः । स य एवंवित् । अस्माल्लोकात् प्रेत्य । एतमन्नमयमात्मानमुपसङ्कम्य । एतं प्राणमयमात्मानमुपसङ्कम्य । एतं मनोमयमात्मानमुपसङ्कम्य । एतं विज्ञानमयमात्मानमुपसङ्कम्य । एतमानन्दमयमात्मानमुपसङ्कम्य । इमाँल्लोकान् कामान्नी कामरुप्यनुसञ्चरन् । एतत् साम गायन्नास्ते । हा३वु हा३वु हा३वु । अहमन्नमहमन्नमहमन्नम् । अहमन्नादो३ऽहमन्नादो३ऽहमन्नादः । अहं श्लोककृदहं श्लोककृदहं श्लोककृत् । अहमस्ति प्रथमजा ऋता३स्य । पूर्व देवेभ्योऽमृतस्य ना३भायि । यो मा ददाति स इदेव मा३वाः । अहमन्नमन्नमदन्तमा३द्मि । अहं विश्वं भुवनमभ्यभवा३म् । सुवर्न ज्योतीः । य एवं वेद । इत्युपनिषत् ॥

सह नाववतु । सह नौ भुनक्तु । सह वीर्य करवावहै । तेजस्वि नावधीतमस्तु । मा विद्विषावहै । ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥

Thou shalt not reject any man in thy habitation, for that too is thy commandment unto labour. Therefore in whatsoever sort do thou get thee great store of food. They say unto the stranger in the dwelling, "Arise, the food is ready." Was the food made ready at the beginning? To him also is food made ready in the beginning. Was the food made ready in the middle ? To him also is food made ready in the middle. Was the food made ready at the end and last? To him also is the food made ready at the end and last, who has this knowledge. As prosperity in speech, as

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getting and having in the main breath and the nether, as work in the hands, as movement in the feet, as discharge in the anus, these are the cognitions in the human. Then in the divine; as satisfaction in the rain, as force in the lightning, as splendour in the beasts, as brightness in the constellations, as procreation and bliss and death conquered in the organ of pleasure, as the All in Ether. Pursue thou Him as the firm foundation of things and thou shalt get thee firm foundation. Pursue Him as Mahas, thou shalt become Mighty; pursue Him as Mind, thou shalt become full of mind; pursue Him as adoration, thy desires shall bow down before thee; pursue Him as the Eternal, thou shalt become full of the Spirit. Pursue Him as the destruction of the Eternal that ranges abroad, thou shalt get thy rivals and thy haters perish thick around thee and thy kin who loved thee not. The Spirit who is here in man and the Spirit who is there in the Sun, lo, it is One Spirit and there is no other. He who has this knowledge, when he goes from this world having passed to the Self which is of food; having passed to the Self which is of Prana; having passed to the Self which is of Mind; having passed to the Self which is of Knowledge; having passed to the Self which is of Bliss, lo, he ranges about the worlds, he eats what he will, and takes what shape he will and ever he sings the mighty Sama. "Ho! ho! ho! I am food! I am food! I am food! I am the eater of food! I am the eater! I am the eater! I am he who makes Scripture! I am he who makes! I am he who makes! I am the first-born of the Law; before the gods were, I am, yea, at the very heart of immortality. He who gives me, verily, he preserves me; for I being food, eat him that eats. I have conquered the whole world and possessed it, my light is as the sun in its glory." Thus he sings, who has the knowledge. This, verily, is Upanishad, the secret of the Veda.

Together may he protect us, together may he possess us, together may we make unto us strength and virility! May our study be full of light and power! May we never hate! OM! Peace! Peace! Peace!

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