Sanskrit Corpus
1764 verses · verified Sanskrit text · IAST · English translation
athādhyātmṃ yaddetadgacchatīva ca mano'nena caitadupasmaratyabhīkṣṇm̐ saṅkalpḥ ||
“Then with respect to the self: as when the mind seems to reach it, and by it one repeatedly remembers and resolves.”
taddha tadvanṃ nāma tadvanamityupāsitavyṃ sa ya etadevṃ vedābhi hainm̐ sarvāṇi bhūtāni sṃvāñchanti ||
“It is called Tad-vana (the adorable); as Tad-vana it is to be worshipped. Who knows it thus is loved by all beings.”
upaniṣadṃ bho brūhītyuktā ta upaniṣadbrāhmīṃ vāva ta upaniṣadamabrūmeti ||
“'Tell me the Upaniṣad, sir.' 'The Upaniṣad has been told thee; the Upaniṣad concerning Brahman has indeed been told thee.'”
tasyai tapo damḥ karmeti pratiṣṭhā vedāḥ sarvāṅgāni satyamāyatanam ||
“Austerity, restraint, and rites are its foundation; the Vedas are all its limbs; truth is its abode.”
yo vā etāmevṃ vedāpahatya pāpmānamanante svarge loke jyeye pratitiṣṭhati pratitiṣṭhati ||
“Who knows it thus, striking off evil, stands firm in the endless, unconquerable world of heaven — stands firm.”
ॐ uśan ha vai vājaśravasḥ sarvavedasṃ dadau | tasya ha naciketā nāma putra āsa ||
“Om. Desiring, Vājaśravas gave away all his wealth; he had a son named Naciketas.”
bhr̥gurvai vāruṇiḥ | varuṇṃ pitaramupasasāra | adhīhi bhagavo brahmeti | tasmā etatprovāca | annṃ prāṇṃ cakṣuḥ śrotrṃ mano vācamiti | tm̐ hovāca | yato vā imāni bhūtāni jāyante | yena jātāni jīvanti | yatprayantyabhisṃviśanti | tadvijijñāsasva | tadbrahmeti | sa tapo'tapyata | sa tapastaptvā ||
“Bhṛgu, son of Varuṇa, approached his father Varuṇa: 'Teach me Brahman, sir.' He told him: food, breath, eye, ear, mind, speech — then said: 'That from which beings are born, by which they live, into which they merge — seek to know that; that is Brahman.' He practised fervour.”
tm̐ ha kumārm̐ santṃ dakṣiṇāsu nīyamānāsu śraddhāviveśa so'manyata ||
“Faith entered the boy as the sacrificial fees were being led away, and he thought to himself.”
annṃ brahmeti vyajānāt | annāddhyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante | annena jātāni jīvanti | annṃ prayantyabhisṃviśantīti | tadvijñāya | punareva varuṇṃ pitaramupasasāra | adhīhi bhagavo brahmeti | tm̐ hovāca | tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva | tapo brahmeti sa tapo'tapyata | sa tapastaptvā ||
“He knew food as Brahman — for from food beings are born, by food they live, into food they merge. Knowing this, he returned to his father, who sent him back: 'Seek Brahman through fervour; fervour is Brahman.' He practised fervour.”
pītodakā jagdhatr̥ṇā dugdhadohā nirindriyāḥ | anandā nāma te lokāstān sa gacchati tā dadat ||
“'Cows that have drunk water, eaten grass, been milked dry, strengthless — joyless are the worlds he reaches who gives such.'”
prāṇo brahmeti vyajānāt | prāṇāddhyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante | prāṇena jātāni jīvanti | prāṇṃ prayantyabhisṃviśantīti | tadvijñāya punareva varuṇṃ pitaramupasasāra | adhīhi bhagavo brahmeti | tm̐ hovāca | tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva | tapo brahmeti | sa tapo'tapyata | sa tapastaptvā ||
“He knew breath as Brahman — for from breath beings are born, by breath they live, into breath they merge. Knowing this, he returned to his father, who sent him back: 'Seek Brahman through fervour; fervour is Brahman.' He practised fervour.”
sa hovāca pitarṃ tata kasmai māṃ dāsyasīti | dvitīyṃ tr̥tīyṃ tm̐ hovāca mr̥tyave tvā dadāmīti ||
“He said to his father, 'Father, to whom wilt thou give me?' A second and third time; to him he said, 'To Death I give thee.'”
mano brahmeti vyajānāt | manaso hyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante | manasā jātāni jīvanti | manḥ prayantyabhisṃviśantīti | tadvijñāya | punareva varuṇṃ pitaramupasasāra | adhīhi bhagavo brahmeti | tm̐ hovāca | tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva | tapo brahmeti | sa tapo'tapyata | sa tapastaptvā ||
“He knew mind as Brahman — for from mind beings are born, by mind they live, into mind they merge. Knowing this, he returned to his father, who sent him back: 'Seek Brahman through fervour; fervour is Brahman.' He practised fervour.”
bahūnāmemi prathamo bahūnāmemi madhyamḥ | kim̐ svidyamasya kartavyṃ yanmayā'dya kariṣyati ||
“'Among many I go as first, among many as middle; what task of Yama's will my father accomplish through me today?'”
vijñānṃ brahmeti vyajānāt | vijñānāddhyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante | vijñānena jātāni jīvanti | vijñānṃ prayantyabhisṃviśantīti | tadvijñāya punareva varuṇṃ pitaramupasasāra | adhīhi bhagavo brahmeti | tm̐ hovāca | tapasā brahma vijijñāsasva | tapo brahmeti | sa tapo'tapyata | sa tapastaptvā ||
“He knew knowledge as Brahman — for from knowledge beings are born, by knowledge they live, into knowledge they merge. Knowing this, he returned to his father, who sent him back: 'Seek Brahman through fervour; fervour is Brahman.' He practised fervour.”
anupaśya yathā pūrve pratipaśya tathā'pare | sasyamiva martyḥ pacyate sasyamivājāyate punḥ ||
“'Look back at the ancients, look at those to come: as grain a mortal ripens, as grain he is born again.'”
ānando brahmeti vyajānāt | ānandādhyeva khalvimāni bhūtāni jāyante | ānandena jātāni jīvanti | ānandṃ prayantyabhisṃviśantīti | saiṣā bhārgavī vāruṇī vidyā | parame vyomanpratiṣṭhitā | sa ya evṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati | annavānannādo bhavati | mahānbhavati prajayā paśubhirbrahmavarcasena mahān kīrtyā ||
“He knew bliss as Brahman — for from bliss beings are born, by bliss they live, into bliss they merge. This is Bhṛgu's lore from Varuṇa, founded in the highest sky. Who knows this stands firm, rich in food and eating, great in offspring, cattle, lustre and fame.”
vaiśvānarḥ praviśatyatithirbrāhmaṇo gr̥hān | tasyaitām̐ śāntiṃ kurvanti hara vaivasvatodakam ||
“'Fire itself, a Brahmin guest, enters houses; for him they make this peace-offering — fetch water, O Vaivasvata.'”
annṃ na nindyāt | tadvratam | prāṇo vā annam | śarīramannādam | prāṇe śarīrṃ pratiṣṭhitam | śarīre prāṇḥ pratiṣṭhitḥ | tadetadannamanne pratiṣṭhitam | sa ya etadannamanne pratiṣṭhitṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati | annavānannādo bhavati | mahānbhavati prajayā paśubhirbrahmavarcasena mahān kīrtyā ||
“'One must not revile food' — that is the vow. Breath is food, the body the eater; each rests on the other, so food rests on food. Who knows food thus founded on food stands firm, rich in food and eating, great in offspring, cattle, lustre and fame.”
āśāpratīkṣe sṃgatm̐ sūnr̥tāṃ ceṣṭāpūrte putrapaśūm̐śca sarvān | etadvr̥ṅkte puruṣasyālpamedhaso yasyānaśnanvasati brāhmaṇo gr̥he ||
“'Hope, waiting, union, loving speech, rites and charity, sons and cattle — all these a man of little wit forfeits, in whose house a Brahmin dwells unfed.'”
annṃ na paricakṣīta | tadvratam | āpo vā annam | jyotirannādam | apsu jyotiḥ pratiṣṭhitam | jyotiṣyāpḥ pratiṣṭhitāḥ | tadetadannamanne pratiṣṭhitam | sa ya etadannamanne pratiṣṭhitṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati | annavānannādo bhavati | mahānbhavati prajayā paśubhirbrahmavarcasena mahān kīrtyā ||
“'One must not abandon food' — that is the vow. Waters are food, light the eater; each rests on the other, so food rests on food. Who knows food thus founded on food stands firm, rich in food and eating, great in offspring, cattle, lustre and fame.”
tisro rātrīryadavātsīrgr̥he me'naśnan brahmannatithirnamasyḥ | namaste'stu brahman svasti me'stu tasmātprati trīnvarānvr̥ṇīṣva ||
“'Since thou, a worshipful guest, hast dwelt three nights unfed in my house — homage to thee, Brahmin; welfare to me; therefore choose three boons in return.'”
annṃ bahu kurvīta | tadvratam | pr̥thivī vā annam | ākāśo'nnādḥ | pr̥thivyāmākāśḥ pratiṣṭhitḥ | ākāśe pr̥thivī pratiṣṭhitā | tadetadannamanne pratiṣṭhitam | sa ya etadannamanne pratiṣṭhitṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati | annavānannādo bhavati | mahānbhavati prajayā paśubhirbrahmavarcasena mahān kīrtyā ||
“'One must multiply food' — that is the vow. Earth is food, sky the eater; each rests on the other, so food rests on food. Who knows food thus founded on food stands firm, rich in food and eating, great in offspring, cattle, lustre and fame.”
śāntasṃkalpḥ sumanā yathā syād vītamanyurgautamo mā'bhi mr̥tyo | tvatprasr̥ṣṭṃ mā'bhivadetpratīta etat trayāṇāṃ prathamṃ varṃ vr̥ṇe ||
“'That Gautama be calm-minded, cheerful toward me, his anger gone, O Death, and greet me when dismissed by thee — this I choose as first of the three boons.'”
na kañcana vasatau pratyācakṣīta | tadvratam | tasmādyayā kayā ca vidhayā bahvannṃ prāpnuyāt | arādhyasmā annamityācakṣate | etadvai mukhato'nnm̐rāddham | mukhato'smā annṃ rādhyate | etadvai madhyato'nnm̐rāddham | madhyato'smā annṃ rādhyate | edadvā antato'nnm̐rāddham | antato'smā annṃ rādhyate || ya evṃ veda | kṣema iti vāci | yogakṣema iti prāṇāpānayoḥ | karmeti hastayoḥ | gatiriti pādayoḥ | vimuktiriti pāyau | iti mānuṣīḥ samājñāḥ | atha daivīḥ | tr̥ptiriti vr̥ṣṭau | balamiti vidyuti || yaśa iti paśuṣu | jyotiriti nakṣatreṣu | prajātiramr̥tamānanda ityupasthe | sarvamityākāśe | tatpratiṣṭhetyupāsīta | pratiṣṭhāvān bhavati | tanmaha ityupāsīta | mahānbhavati | tanmana ityupāsīta | mānavānbhavati || tannama ityupāsīta | namyante'smai kāmāḥ | tadbrahmetyupāsīta | brahmavānbhavati | tadbrahmaṇḥ parimara ityupāsīta | paryeṇṃ mriyante dviṣantḥ sapatnāḥ | pari ye'priyā bhrātr̥vyāḥ | sa yaścāyṃ puruṣe | yaścāsāvāditye | sa ekḥ || sa ya evṃvit | asmāllokātpretya | etamannamayamātmānamupasaṅkramya | etṃ prāṇamayamātmānamupasaṅkramya | etṃ manomayamātmānamupasaṅkramya | etṃ vijñānamayamātmānamupasaṅkramya | etamānandamayamātmānamupasaṅkramya | imām̐llokankāmānnī kāmarūpyanusañcaran | etat sāma gāyannāste | hā 3 vu hā 3 vu hā 3 vu || ahamannamahamannamahamannam | ahamannādo3'hamannādo3'ahamannādḥ | ahm̐ślokakr̥dahm̐ślokakr̥dahm̐ślokakr̥t | ahamasmi prathamajā r̥tā3sya | pūrvṃ devebhyo'mr̥tasya nā3bhāyi | yo mā dadāti sa ideva mā3''vāḥ | ahamannamannamadantamā3dmi | ahṃ viśvṃ bhuvanamabhyabhavā3m | suvarna jyotīḥ | ya evṃ veda | ityupaniṣat ||
“'Turn none away from lodging; gather much food, for food prepared is praised.' As given in youth, middle and old age, so food comes back. Worship Brahman as shelter in speech, welfare in breaths, work in hands, motion in feet, release below, and among gods as contentment in rain, strength in lightning, fame in cattle, light in stars, progeny in the organ, all in space — and as the consumer round whom foes perish. He who is in man and in the sun is one. The knower traverses all selves, singing the chant 'hāvu', declaring 'I am food, I am the eater, I am the first-born of truth, the golden light' — this is the Upaniṣad.”
yathā purastād bhavitā pratīta auddālakirāruṇirmatprasr̥ṣṭḥ | sukhm̐ rātrīḥ śayitā vītamanyuḥ tvāṃ dadr̥śivānmr̥tyumukhāt pramuktam ||
“'As before, recognized, shall Auddālaki Āruṇi be when dismissed by me; sleeping happily through nights, his anger gone, seeing thee freed from Death's jaws.'”
svarge loke na bhayṃ kiṃcanāsti na tatra tvṃ na jarayā bibheti | ubhe tīrtvā'śanāyāpipāse śokātigo modate svargaloke ||
“'In heaven there is no fear at all; there thou art not, nor does one fear old age; crossing hunger and thirst, beyond sorrow, one rejoices in heaven.'”
sa tvamagnim̐ svargyamadhyeṣi mr̥tyo prabrūhi tvm̐ śraddadhānāya mahyam | svargalokā amr̥tatvṃ bhajanta etad dvitīyena vr̥ṇe vareṇa ||
“'That heavenly fire, O Death, thou knowest — tell it to me, the faithful; heaven-dwellers enjoy immortality. This I choose as second boon.'”
pra te bravīmi tadu me nibodha svargyamagniṃ naciketḥ prajānan | anantalokāptimatho pratiṣṭhāṃ viddhi tvametṃ nihitṃ guhāyām ||
“'I tell it thee — mark it, Naciketas, understanding the heavenly fire: know it as the attaining of the infinite world and its ground, hidden in the cave.'”
lokādimagniṃ tamuvāca tasmai yā iṣṭakā yāvatīrvā yathā vā | sa cāpi tatpratyavadadyathoktṃ athāsya mr̥tyuḥ punarevāha tuṣṭḥ ||
“He told him of that fire's origin — its bricks, their number and order; and he too repeated it as told. Then Death, pleased, spoke again.”
tamabravīt prīyamāṇo mahātmā varṃ tavehādya dadāmi bhūyḥ | tavaiva nāmnā bhavitā'yamagniḥ sr̥ṅkāṃ cemāmanekarūpāṃ gr̥hāṇa ||
“Pleased, the great one said: 'I grant thee here today a further boon: this fire shall bear thy name; take too this many-formed chain.'”
triṇāciketastribhiretya sandhiṃ trikarmakr̥ttarati janmamr̥tyū | brahmajajñṃ devamīḍyṃ viditvā nicāyyemām̐ śāntimatyantameti ||
“'The thrice-performer, united with the three, doing the three rites, crosses birth and death; knowing and beholding the god born of Brahman, worthy of praise, he reaches utter peace.'”
triṇāciketastrayametadviditvā ya evṃ vidvām̐ścinute nāciketam | sa mr̥tyupāśān puratḥ praṇodya śokātigo modate svargaloke ||
“'Knowing this triad, the wise thrice-performer who builds the Nāciketa fire casts off death's nooses ahead and, beyond sorrow, rejoices in heaven.'”
eṣa te'gnirnaciketḥ svargyo yamavr̥ṇīthā dvitīyena vareṇa | etamagniṃ tavaiva pravakṣyanti janāsḥ tr̥tīyṃ varṃ naciketo vr̥ṇīṣva ||
“'This is thy heavenly fire, Naciketas, chosen by thy second boon; men shall call this fire thine. Choose now thy third boon.'”
yeyṃ prete vicikitsā manuṣye'stītyeke nāyamastīti caike | etadvidyāmanuśiṣṭastvayā'hṃ varāṇāmeṣa varastr̥tīyḥ ||
“'This doubt over a dead man — some say he is, some he is not — taught by thee I would know it. This is the third of the boons.'”
devairatrāpi vicikitsitṃ purā na hi suvijñeyamaṇureṣa dharmḥ | anyṃ varṃ naciketo vr̥ṇīṣva mā moparotsīrati mā sr̥jainam ||
“'Even gods of old doubted here; it is not easily known, this subtle law. Choose another boon, Naciketas; press me not; release me from this.'”
devairatrāpi vicikitsitṃ kila tvṃ ca mr̥tyo yanna sujñeyamāttha | vaktā cāsya tvādr̥ganyo na labhyo nānyo varastulya etasya kaścit ||
“'Even gods, thou sayest, O Death, doubted here, and thou callest it hard to know; no speaker like thee can be found, no boon equals this.'”
śatāyuṣḥ putrapautrānvr̥ṇīṣvā bahūnpaśūn hastihiraṇyamaśvān | bhūmermahadāyatanṃ vr̥ṇīṣva svayṃ ca jīva śarado yāvadicchasi ||
“'Choose sons and grandsons of hundred years, herds, elephants, gold, horses; choose a vast abode on earth, and live thyself as many years as thou wilt.'”
etattulyṃ yadi manyase varṃ vr̥ṇīṣva vittṃ cirajīvikāṃ ca | mahābhūmau naciketastvamedhi kāmānāṃ tvā kāmabhājṃ karomi ||
“'If thou deemest this an equal boon, choose wealth and long life; rule thou over the wide earth, Naciketas; I make thee enjoyer of desires.'”
ye ye kāmā durlabhā martyaloke sarvān kāmām̐śchandatḥ prārthayasva | imā rāmāḥ sarathāḥ satūryā na hīdr̥śā lambhanīyā manuṣyaiḥ | ābhirmatprattābhiḥ paricārayasva naciketo maraṇṃ mā'nuprākṣīḥ ||
“'Whatever desires are hard in mortal world, pray for all at will — these nymphs with chariots and music, unattainable by men; be served by them, my gift. Ask not of dying, Naciketas.'”
śvobhāvā martyasya yadantakaitat sarveṃdriyāṇāṃ jarayanti tejḥ | api sarvṃ jīvitamalpameva tavaiva vāhāstava nr̥tyagīte ||
“'Fleeting is a mortal's morrow, O Ender — these wear out all the senses' vigour; all life is brief; keep thy chariots, thy dance and song.'”
na vittena tarpaṇīyo manuṣyo lapsyāmahe vittamadrākṣma cettvā | jīviṣyāmo yāvadīśiṣyasi tvṃ varastu me varaṇīyḥ sa eva ||
“'No man is sated by wealth; we shall get wealth, having seen thee; we shall live while thou rulest. But that boon alone is worthy of choice.'”
ajīryatāmamr̥tānāmupetya jīryanmartyḥ kvadhḥsthḥ prajānan | abhidhyāyan varṇaratipramodān atidīrghe jīvite ko rameta ||
“'To the ageless immortals come, what decaying mortal below, knowing, brooding on beauty's joys, could delight in long life?'”
yasminnidṃ vicikitsanti mr̥tyo yatsāmparāye mahati brūhi nastat | yo'yṃ varo gūḍhamanupraviṣṭo nānyṃ tasmānnaciketā vr̥ṇīte ||
“'Tell us, O Death, what men doubt in the great hereafter; this hidden boon Naciketas chooses none other than.'”
anyacchreyo'nyadutaiva preyaste ubhe nānārthe puruṣm̐ sinītḥ | tayoḥ śreya ādadānasya sādhu bhavati hīyate'rthādya u preyo vr̥ṇīte ||
“'Apart is the good, apart indeed is the dear; both bind a man to different ends. Who takes the good fares well; who chooses the dear falls from the goal.'”
śreyaśca preyaśca manuṣyametḥ tau samparītya vivinakti dhīrḥ | śreyo hi dhīro'bhi preyaso vr̥ṇīte preyo mando yogakṣemādvr̥ṇīte ||
“'Good and dear approach a man; pondering, the wise parts them. The wise prefers the good to the dear; the dull chooses the dear for gain and comfort.'”
sa tvṃ priyānpriyarūpāṃśca kāmān abhidhyāyannaciketo'tyasrākṣīḥ | naitāṃ sr̥ṅkāṃ vittamayīmavāpto yasyāṃ majjanti bahavo manuṣyāḥ ||
“'Thou, Naciketas, pondering dear and dear-seeming desires, hast renounced them; thou hast not taken the wealthy chain wherein many men sink.'”
dūramete viparīte viṣūcī avidyā yā ca vidyeti jñātā | vidyābhīpsinṃ naciketasṃ manye na tvā kāmā bahavo'lolupanta ||
“'Far apart, opposite courses are ignorance and what is known as knowledge. I deem thee, Naciketas, eager for knowledge; many desires have not shaken thee.'”
avidyāyāmantare vartamānāḥ svayṃ dhīrāḥ paṇḍitṃmanyamānāḥ | dandramyamāṇāḥ pariyanti mūḍhā andhenaiva nīyamānā yathāndhāḥ ||
“'Dwelling amid ignorance, deeming themselves wise and learned, fools stagger about stricken, as blind led by the blind.'”