Kena Upanishad

Shanti Patha (Samaveda)

ॐ आप्यायन्तु ममाङ्गानि वाक्प्राणश्चक्षुः श्रोत्रमथो बलमिन्द्रियाणि च सर्वाणि । सर्वं ब्रह्मोपनिषदं माऽहं ब्रह्म निराकुर्यां मा मा ब्रह्म निराकरोत् । अनिराकरणमस्त्वनिराकरणं मेऽस्तु । तदात्मनि निरते य उपनिषत्सु धर्मास्ते मयि सन्तु ते मयि सन्तु ।। ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ।।

oṃ āpyāyantu mamāṅgāni vākprāṇaścakṣuḥ śrotramatho balamindriyāṇi ca sarvāṇi | sarvaṃ brahmopaniṣadaṃ mā'haṃ brahma nirākuryāṃ mā mā brahma nirākarot | anirākaraṇamastvanirākaraṇaṃ me'stu | tadātmani nirate ya upaniṣatsu dharmāste mayi santu te mayi santu || oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ ||

May all my limbs grow strong: speech, breath, sight, hearing, vigor, and every faculty. All of this is the Brahman of the Upanishads. May I not deny Brahman; may Brahman not deny me. May there be no denial; may there be no denial for me. May the dharmas established in the Upanishads, in one who rests in the Self, abide in me. Om peace, peace, peace.

Mantra 1

ॐ केनेषितं पतति प्रेषितं मनः केन प्राणः प्रथमः प्रैति युक्तः । केनेषितां वाचमिमां वदन्ति चक्षुः श्रोत्रं क उ देवो युनक्ति ।। १ ।।

oṃ keneṣitaṃ patati preṣitaṃ manaḥ kena prāṇaḥ prathamaḥ praiti yuktaḥ | keneṣitāṃ vācamimāṃ vadanti cakṣuḥ śrotraṃ ka u devo yunakti || 1 ||

By whose direction does the mind go toward its object? By whose impulse does the first breath move? By whose direction do people speak this speech? What god sets eye and ear in motion?

Mantra 2

श्रोत्रस्य श्रोत्रं मनसो मनो यद् वाचो ह वाचं स उ प्राणस्य प्राणः । चक्षुषश्चक्षुरतिमुच्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति ।। २ ।।

śrotrasya śrotraṃ manaso mano yad vāco ha vācaṃ sa u prāṇasya prāṇaḥ | cakṣuṣaścakṣuratimucya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāllokādamṛtā bhavanti || 2 ||

It is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of speech, the breath of breath, the eye of the eye. Releasing themselves from this, the wise become immortal when they depart from this world.

Mantra 3

न तत्र चक्षुर्गच्छति न वाग्गच्छति नो मनः । न विद्मो न विजानीमो यथैतदनुशिष्यात् ।। ३ ।।

na tatra cakṣurgacchati na vāggacchati no manaḥ | na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitadanuśiṣyāt || 3 ||

There the eye does not go, speech does not go, the mind does not go. We do not know, we do not understand how one would teach this.

Mantra 4

अन्यदेव तद्विदितादथो अविदितादधि । इति शुश्रुम पूर्वेषां ये नस्तद्व्याचचक्षिरे ।। ४ ।।

anyadeva tadviditādatho aviditādadhi | iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṃ ye nastadvyācacakṣire || 4 ||

It is other than the known and beyond the unknown. So we have heard from the ancestors who explained it to us.

Mantra 5

यद्वाचाऽनभ्युदितं येन वागभ्युद्यते । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ।। ५ ।।

yadvācā'nabhyuditaṃ yena vāgabhyudyate | tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 5 ||

That which speech does not express, by which speech is expressed: know that alone as Brahman, not this that people worship here.

Mantra 6

यन्मनसा न मनुते येनाहुर्मनो मतम् । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ।। ६ ।।

yanmanasā na manute yenāhurmano matam | tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 6 ||

That which the mind does not think, by which they say the mind is made to think: know that alone as Brahman, not this that people worship here.

Mantra 7

यच्चक्षुषा न पश्यति येन चक्षूंषि पश्यति । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ।। ७ ।।

yaccakṣuṣā na paśyati yena cakṣūṃṣi paśyati | tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 7 ||

That which the eye does not see, by which the eye sees: know that alone as Brahman, not this that people worship here.

Mantra 8

यच्छ्रोत्रेण न शृणोति येन श्रोत्रमिदं श्रुतम् । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ।। ८ ।।

yacchrotreṇa na śṛṇoti yena śrotramidaṃ śrutam | tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 8 ||

That which the ear does not hear, by which the ear hears: know that alone as Brahman, not this that people worship here.

Mantra 9

यत्प्राणेन न प्राणिति येन प्राणः प्रणीयते । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ।। ९ ।।

yatprāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate | tadeva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yadidamupāsate || 9 ||

That which does not breathe by breath, by which breath is set in motion: know that alone as Brahman, not this that people worship here.

Mantra 1

यदि मन्यसे सुवेदेति दहरमेवापि नूनं त्वं वेत्थ ब्रह्मणो रूपम् । यदस्य त्वं यदस्य देवेष्वथ नु मीमांस्यमेव ते मन्ये विदितम् ।। १ ।।

yadi manyase suvedeti daharamevāpi nūnaṃ tvaṃ vettha brahmaṇo rūpam | yadasya tvaṃ yadasya deveṣvatha nu mīmāṃsyameva te manye viditam || 1 ||

If you think that you know Brahman well, you know only a little of its form: whatever pertains to you and whatever pertains to the gods is yet to be inquired into. That is what I consider still to be known.

Mantra 2

नाहं मन्ये सुवेदेति नो न वेदेति वेद च । यो नस्तद्वेद तद्वेद नो न वेदेति वेद च ।। २ ।।

nāhaṃ manye suvedeti no na vedeti veda ca | yo nastadveda tadveda no na vedeti veda ca || 2 ||

I do not think I know it well, nor do I think I do not know it. Among us, the one who knows that knows it; and the one who says 'I do not know' knows it too.

Mantra 3

यस्यामतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद सः । अविज्ञातं विजानतां विज्ञातमविजानताम् ।। ३ ।।

yasyāmataṃ tasya mataṃ mataṃ yasya na veda saḥ | avijñātaṃ vijānatāṃ vijñātamavijānatām || 3 ||

The one for whom it is not an object known: that one has known. The one who takes it as something known does not know it. It is unknown to those who know it as object; it is as if known to those who do not take it as object.

Mantra 4

प्रतिबोधविदितं मतममृतत्वं हि विन्दते । आत्मना विन्दते वीर्यं विद्यया विन्दतेऽमृतम् ।। ४ ।।

pratibodhaviditaṃ matamamṛtatvaṃ hi vindate | ātmanā vindate vīryaṃ vidyayā vindate'mṛtam || 4 ||

Known in each instant of awareness, it is what counts as known, and through that one reaches immortality. Through the Self one finds strength; through knowledge one reaches the deathless.

Mantra 5

इह चेदवेदीदथ सत्यमस्ति न चेदिहावेदीन्महती विनष्टिः । भूतेषु भूतेषु विचित्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति ।। ५ ।।

iha cedavedīdatha satyamasti na cedihāvedīnmahatī vinaṣṭiḥ | bhūteṣu bhūteṣu vicitya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāllokādamṛtā bhavanti || 5 ||

If one knows it here in this life, there is truth. If one does not know it here, great is the loss. Discerning the one in all beings, the wise become immortal when they leave this world.

Mantra 1

ब्रह्म ह देवेभ्यो विजिग्ये तस्य ह ब्रह्मणो विजये देवा अमहीयन्त ।। १ ।।

brahma ha devebhyo vijigye tasya ha brahmaṇo vijaye devā amahīyanta || 1 ||

Brahman won the victory for the gods. In that victory of Brahman, the gods grew proud.

Mantra 2

त ऐक्षन्तास्माकमेवायं विजयोऽस्माकमेवायं महिमेति । तद्धैषां विजज्ञौ तेभ्यो ह प्रादुर्बभूव तन्न व्यजानत किमिदं यक्षमिति ।। २ ।।

ta aikṣantāsmākamevāyaṃ vijayo'smākamevāyaṃ mahimeti | taddhaiṣāṃ vijajñau tebhyo ha prādurbabhūva tanna vyajānata kimidaṃ yakṣamiti || 2 ||

They thought: this victory is ours alone; this glory is ours alone. Brahman knew their thought and appeared before them. They did not recognize it: what is this Yaksha?

Mantra 3

तेऽग्निमब्रुवञ्जातवेद एतद्विजानीहि किमिदं यक्षमिति तथेति ।। ३ ।।

te'gnimabruvañjātaveda etadvijānīhi kimidaṃ yakṣamiti tatheti || 3 ||

They said to Agni: Jataveda, go and find out what this Yaksha is. Agni said: So be it.

Mantra 4

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीत्यग्निर्वा अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीज्जातवेदा वा अहमस्मीति ।। ४ ।।

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'sītyagnirvā ahamasmītyabravījjātavedā vā ahamasmīti || 4 ||

Agni went toward it. The Yaksha asked: Who are you? Agni said: I am Agni; I am Jataveda.

Mantra 5

तस्मिंस्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदं सर्वं दहेयं यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति ।। ५ ।।

tasmiṃstvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdaṃ sarvaṃ daheyaṃ yadidaṃ pṛthivyāmiti || 5 ||

The Yaksha asked: What power do you have? Agni said: I can burn everything on this earth.

Mantra 6

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतद्दहेति । तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाक दग्धुं स तत एव निववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति ।। ६ ।।

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetaddaheti | tadupapreyāya sarvajavena tanna śaśāka dagdhuṃ sa tata eva nivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ yadetadyakṣamiti || 6 ||

The Yaksha placed a blade of grass before it and said: Burn this. Agni rushed at it with full force and could not burn it. Agni turned back from there: I could not find out what this Yaksha is.

Mantra 7

अथ वायुमब्रुवन्वायवेतद्विजानीहि कमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति ।। ७ ।।

atha vāyumabruvanvāyavetadvijānīhi kametadyakṣamiti tatheti || 7 ||

Then they said to Vayu: Vayu, go and find out what this Yaksha is. Vayu said: So be it.

Mantra 8

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीति वायुर्वा अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीन्मातरिश्वा वा अहमस्मीति ।। ८ ।।

tadabhyadravattamabhyavadatko'sīti vāyurvā ahamasmītyabravīnmātariśvā vā ahamasmīti || 8 ||

Vayu went toward it. The Yaksha asked: Who are you? Vayu said: I am Vayu; I am Matarísva.

Mantra 9

तस्मिन्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदं सर्वमाददीय यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति ।। ९ ।।

tasmintvayi kiṃ vīryamityapīdaṃ sarvamādadīya yadidaṃ pṛthivyāmiti || 9 ||

The Yaksha asked: What power do you have? Vayu said: I can carry away everything on this earth.

Mantra 10

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतदादत्स्वेति तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाकादातुं स तत एव निववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति ।। १० ।।

tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāvetadādatsveti tadupapreyāya sarvajavena tanna śaśākādātuṃ sa tata eva nivavṛte naitadaśakaṃ vijñātuṃ yadetadyakṣamiti || 10 ||

The Yaksha placed a blade of grass before it and said: Pick this up. Vayu rushed at it with full force and could not pick it up. Vayu turned back from there: I could not find out what this Yaksha is.

Mantra 11

अथेन्द्रमब्रुवन्मघवन्नेतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति तदभ्यद्रवत्तस्मात्तिरोदधे ।। ११ ।।

athendramabruvanmaghavannetadvijānīhi kimetadyakṣamiti tatheti tadabhyadravattasmāttirodadhe || 11 ||

Then they said to Indra: Maghavan, go and find out what this Yaksha is. Indra said: So be it. Indra went toward it, and the Yaksha vanished.

Mantra 12

स तस्मिन्नेवाकाशे स्त्रियमाजगाम बहुशोभमानामुमां हैमवतीं तां होवाच किमेतद्यक्षमिति ।। १२ ।।

sa tasminnevākāśe striyamājagāma bahuśobhamānāmumāṃ haimavatīṃ tāṃ hovāca kimetadyakṣamiti || 12 ||

In that same space Indra came upon a radiant woman: Uma Haimavati. He asked her: What was that Yaksha?

Mantra 1

सा ब्रह्मेति होवाच ब्रह्मणो वा एतद्विजये महीयध्वमिति ततो हैव विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति ।। १ ।।

sā brahmeti hovāca brahmaṇo vā etadvijaye mahīyadhvamiti tato haiva vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 1 ||

She said: It was Brahman. In Brahman's victory you were taking pride. Then Indra knew: it was Brahman.

Mantra 2

तस्माद्वा एते देवा अतितरामिवान्यान्देवानयदग्निर्वायुरिन्द्रस्ते ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं पस्पर्शुस्ते ह्येनत्प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति ।। २ ।।

tasmādvā ete devā atitarāmivānyāndevānayadagnirvāyurindraste hyenannediṣṭhaṃ pasparśuste hyenatprathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 2 ||

Therefore these gods: Agni, Vayu, and Indra, excel the other gods, because they touched Brahman most closely and they were the first to know: it is Brahman.

Mantra 3

तस्माद्वा इन्द्रोऽतितरामिवान्यान्देवान्स ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं पस्पर्श स ह्येनत्प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति ।। ३ ।।

tasmādvā indro'titarāmivānyāndevānsa hyenannediṣṭhaṃ pasparśa sa hyenatprathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 3 ||

Therefore Indra excels the other gods, because he touched Brahman most closely and was the first to know: it is Brahman.

Mantra 4

तस्यैष आदेशो यदेतद्विद्युतो व्यद्युतदा इतीन्न्यमीमिषदा इत्यधिदैवतम् ।। ४ ।।

tasyaiṣa ādeśo yadetadvidyuto vyadyutadā itīnnyamīmiṣadā ityadhidaivatam || 4 ||

This is the instruction about it in relation to the gods: it is as when lightning flashes and the eye blinks in that same instant. So it is taught in the context of the gods.

Mantra 5

अथाध्यात्मं यद्देतद्गच्छतीव च मनोऽनेन चैतदुपस्मरत्यभीक्ष्णं सङ्कल्पः ।। ५ ।।

athādhyātmaṃ yaddetadgacchatīva ca mano'nena caitadupasmaratyabhīkṣṇaṃ saṅkalpaḥ || 5 ||

Now in relation to the Self: it is as when the mind seems to move toward something and keeps returning to that same awareness again and again. That is the instruction in relation to the Self.

Mantra 6

तद्ध तद्वनं नाम तद्वनमित्युपासितव्यं स य एतदेवं वेदाभि हैनं सर्वाणि भूतानि संवाञ्छन्ति ।। ६ ।।

taddha tadvanaṃ nāma tadvanamityupāsitavyaṃ sa ya etadevaṃ vedābhi hainaṃ sarvāṇi bhūtāni saṃvāñchanti || 6 ||

That is named Tadvanam, the longing for that. It is to be worshipped as Tadvanam. The one who knows it thus: all beings come to that one with longing.

Mantra 7

उपनिषदं भो ब्रूहीत्युक्ता त उपनिषद्ब्राह्मीं वाव त उपनिषदमब्रूमेति ।। ७ ।।

upaniṣadaṃ bho brūhītyuktā ta upaniṣadbrāhmīṃ vāva ta upaniṣadamabrūmeti || 7 ||

"Teach us the Upanishad." The reply: we have told you the Upanishad. And it is the Brahman Upanishad we have told you.

Mantra 8

तस्यै तपो दमः कर्मेति प्रतिष्ठा वेदाः सर्वाङ्गानि सत्यमायतनम् ।। ८ ।।

tasyai tapo damaḥ karmeti pratiṣṭhā vedāḥ sarvāṅgāni satyamāyatanam || 8 ||

Its foundation is tapas, self-restraint, and action. The Vedas are all its limbs. Truth is its home.

Mantra 9

यो वा एतामेवं वेदापहत्य पाप्मानमनन्ते स्वर्गे लोके ज्येये प्रतितिष्ठति प्रतितिष्ठति ।। ९ ।।

yo vā etāmevaṃ vedāpahatya pāpmānamanante svarge loke jyeye pratitiṣṭhati pratitiṣṭhati || 9 ||

The one who knows it thus, having removed all wrong, stands firm in the highest and unbounded world. Stands firm.