|
KHANDOGYA-UPANISHAD
FIRST PRAPATHAKA
FIRST KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
syllable Om, called the udgitha; for the udgitha (a
portion of the Sama-veda) is sung, beginning with
Om.
The full account, however, of Om is
this:-
2. The essence of all beings is the
earth, the essence of the earth is water, the
essence of water the plants, the essence of plants
man, the essence of man speech, the essence of
speech the Rig-veda, the essence of the Rig-veda
the Sama-veda, the essence of the Sama-veda the
udgitha (which is Om).
3. That udgitha (Om) is the best of
all essences, the highest, deserving the highest
place, the eighth.
4. What then is the Rik ? What is
the Saman? What is the udgitha ? This is the
question.
5. The Rik indeed is speech, Saman
is breath, the udgitha is the syllable Om. Now
speech and breath, or.Rik and Saman, form one
couple.
6. And that couple is joined
together in the syllable Om. When two people come
together, they fulfil each other's desire.
7. Thus he who knowing this,
meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgitha,
becomes indeed a fulfiller of desires.
8. That syllable is a syllable of
permission, for whenever we permit anything, we say
Om, yes. Now permission is gratification. He who
knowing this meditates on the syllable (Om), the
udgitha, becomes indeed a gratifier of desires.
9. By that syllable does the
threefold knowledge (the sacrifice, more
particularly the Soma sacrifice, as founded on the
three Vedas) proceed. When the Adhvaryu priest
gives an order, he says Om. When the Hotri priest
recites, he says Om. When the Udgatri priest sings,
he says Om, -- all for the glory of that syllable.
The threefold knowledge (the sacrifice) proceeds by
the greatness of that syllable (the vital breaths),
and by its essence (the ablations).
10. Now therefore it would seem to
follow, that both he who knows this (the true
meaning of the syllable Om), and he who does not,
perform the same sacrifice. But this is not so, for
knowledge and ignorance are different. The
sacrifice which a man performs with knowledge,
faith, and the Upanishad is more powerful. This is
the full account of the syllable Om.
SECOND KHANDA
1. When the Devas and Asuras
struggled together, both of the race of Pragapati,
the Devas took the udgitha (Om), thinking they
would vanquish the Asuras with it.
2. They meditated on the udgitha (Om)
as the breath (scent) in the nose, but the Asuras
pierced it (the breath) with evil. Therefore we
smell by the breath in the nose both what is good
smelling and what is bad-smelling. For the breath
was pierced by evil.
Then they meditated on the udgitha (Om)
as speech, but the Asuras pierced it with evil.
Therefore we speak both truth and falsehood. For
speech is pierced by evil.
4. Then they meditated on the
udgitha (Om) as the eye, but the Asuras pierced it
with evil. Therefore we see both what is sightly
and unsightly. For the eye is pierced by evil.
5. Then they meditated on the
udgitha (Om) as the ear, but the Asuras pierced it
with evil. Therefore we hear both what should be
heard and what should not be heard. For the ear is
pierced by evil.
6. Then they meditated on the
udgitha (Om) as the mind, but the Asuras pierced it
with evil. Therefore we conceive both what should
be conceived and what should not be conceived. For
the mind is pierced by evil.
7. Then comes this breath (of life)
in the mouth. They meditated on the udgitha (Om) as
that. breath. When the Asuras came to it, they were
scattered, as (a ball of earth) would be scattered
when hitting a solid stone.
8. Thus, as a ball of earth is
scattered when hitting on a solid stone, will he be
scattered who wishes evil to one who knows this, or
who persecutes him; for he is a solid stone.
9. By it (the breath in the mouth)
he distinguishes neither what is good nor what is
bad-smelling, for that breath is free from evil.
What we eat and drink with it supports the other
vital breaths (i.e. the senses, such as smell, &c.)
When at the time of death he does not find that
breath (in the mouth, through which he eats and
drinks and lives), then he departs. He opens the
mouth at the time of death (as if wishing to eat).
10. Angiras meditated on the udgitha
(Om) as that breath, and people hold it to be
Angiras, i.e. the essence of the members (anginam
rasah);
11. Therefore Brihaspati meditated
on udgitha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it
to be Brihaspati, for speech is brihati, and he
(that breath) is the lord (pati) of speech;
12. Therefore Ayisya meditated on
the udgitha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it
to be Ayasya, because it comes (ayati) from the
mouth (.Asya);
13. Therefore Vaka Dalbhya knew it.
He was the Udgatri (singer) of the
Naimishiya-sacrificers, and by singing he obtained
for them their wishes.
14. He who knows this, and meditates
on the syllable Om (the imperishable udgitha) as
the breath of life in the mouth, he obtains all
wishes by singing. So much for the udgitha (Om) as
meditated on with reference to the body.
THIRD KHANDA
1. Now follows the meditation on the
udgitha with reference to the gods. Let a man
meditate on the udgitha (Om) as he who sends warmth
(the sun in the sky). When the sun rises it sings
as Udgatri for the sake of all creatures. When it
rises it destroys the fear of darkness. He who
knows this, is able to destroy the fear of darkness
(ignorance).
2. This (the breath in the mouth)
and that (the sun) are the same. This is hot and
that is hot. This they call svara (sound), and that
they call pratyasvara (reflected sound). Therefore
let a man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as this and
that (as breath and as sun).
3. Then let a man meditate on the
udgitha (Om) as vyana indeed. If we breathe up,
that is prana, the up-breathing. If we breathe
down, that is apana, the down-breathing. The
combination of prana and apana is vyana,
back-breathing or holding in of the breath. This
vyana is speech. Therefore when we utter speech, we
neither breathe up nor down.
4. Speech is Rik, and therefore when
a man utters a Rik verse he neither breathes up nor
down.
Rik is Saman, and therefore when a
man utters a Saman verse he neither breathes up nor
down.
Saman is udgitha, and therefore when
a man sings (the udgitha, Om) he neither breathes
up nor down.
5. And other works also which
require strength, such as the production of fire by
rubbing, running a race, stringing a strong bow,
are performed without breathing up or down.
Therefore let a man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as
vyana.
6. Let a man meditate on the
syllables of the udgitha, i.e. of the word udgitha.
Ut is breath (prana), for by means of breath a man
rises (uttishthati). Gi is speech, for speeches are
called girah. Tha is food, for by means of food all
subsists (sthita).
7. Ut is heaven, gi the sky, tha the
earth. Ut is the sun, gi the air, tha the fire. Ut
is the Sama-veda, gi the Yagur-veda, tha the Rig-veda.
Speech yields the milk, which is the milk of speech
itself, to him who thus knowing meditates on those
syllables of the name of udgitha, he becomes rich
in food and able to eat food.
8. Next follows the fulfilment of
prayers. Let a man thus meditate on the Upasaranas,
i. e. the objects which have to be approached by
meditation: Let him (the Udgatri) quickly reflect
on the Saman with which he is going to praise;
9. Let him quickly reflect on the
Rik in which that Saman occurs; on the Rishi (poet)
by whom it was seen or composed; on the Devata
(object) which he is going to praise;
10. On the metre in which he is
going to praise; on the tune with which he is going
to sing for himself;
11. On the quarter of the world
which he is going to praise. Lastly, having
approached himself (his name, family, &c.) by
meditation, let him sing the hymn of praise,
reflecting on his desire, and avoiding all mistakes
in pronunciation, &c. Quickly I will the desire be
then fulfilled to him, for the sake of which he may
have offered his hymn of praise, yea, for which he
may have offered his hymn of praise.
FOURTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
syllable Om, for the udgitha is sung beginning with
Om. And this is the full account of the syllable Om:-
2. The Devas, being afraid of death,
entered upon (the performance of the sacrifice
prescribed in) the threefold knowledge (the three
Vedas). They covered themselves with the metrical
hymns. Because they covered (khad) themselves with
the hymns, therefore the hymns are called khandas.
3. Then, as a fisherman might
observe a fish in the water, Death observed the
Devas in the Rik, Yagus, and Saman-(sacrifices).
And the Devas seeing this, rose from the Rik, Yagus,
and Saman-sacrifices, and entered the Svara, i.e.
the Om (they meditated on the Om).
4. When a man has mastered the Rig-veda,
he says quite loud Om; the same, when he has
mastered the Saman and the Yagus. This Svara is the
imperishable (syllable), the immortal, free from
fear. Because the Devas entered it, therefore they
became immortal, and free from fear.
5. He who knowing this loudly
pronounces (pranauti) that syllable, enters the
Same (imperishable) syllable, the Svara, the
immortal, free from fear, and having entered it,
becomes immortal, as the Devas are immortal.
FIFTH KHANDA
1. The udgitha is the pranava, the
pranava is the udgitha. And as the udgitha is the
sun, So is the pranava, for he (the sun) goes
sounding Om.
2. 'Him I sang praises to, therefore
art thou my only one,' thus said Kaushitaki to his
son. 'Do thou revolve his rays, then thou wilt have
many sons.' So much in reference to the Devas.
Now with reference to the body. Let
a man meditate on the udgitha as the breath (in the
mouth), for he goes sounding Om.
4. 'Him I sang praises to, therefore
art thou my only son,' thus said Kaushitaki to his
son. 'Do thou therefore sing praises to the breath
as manifold, if thou wishest to have many sons.'
5. He who knows that the udgitha is
the pranava, and the pranava the udgitha, rectifies
from the seat of the Hotri priest any mistake
committed by the Udgitri priest in performing the
udgitha, yea, in performing the udgitha.
SIXTH KHANDA
1. The Rik (veda) is this earth, the
Saman (veda) is fire. This Saman (fire) rests on
that.Rik (earth). Therefore the Saman is sung as
resting on the Rik. Sa is this earth, ama is fire,
and that makes Sama.
2. The Rik is the sky, the Saman
air. This Saman (air) rests on that Rik (sky).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the.Rik.
Sa is the sky, ama the air, and that makes Sama.
3. Rik is heaven, Saman the sun.
This Saman (sun) rests on that Rik (heaven).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the.Rik.
Sa is heaven, ama the sun, and that makes Sama.
4. Rik is the stars, Saman the moon.
This Saman (moon) rests on that.Rik (stars).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik.
Sa is the stars, ama the moon, and that makes Sama.
5. Rik is the white light of the
sun, Saman the blue exceeding darkness (in the
sun). This Saman (darkness) rests on that Rik
(brightness). Therefore the Saman is sung as
resting on the Rik.
6. Sa is the white light of the sun,
ama the blue exceeding darkness, and that makes
Sama. Now that golden person, who is seen within
the sun, with golden beard and golden hair, golden
altogether to the very tips of his nails,
7. Whose eyes are like blue lotus's,
his name is ut, for he has risen (udita) above all
evil. He also who knows this, rises above all evil.
8. Rik and Saman are his joints, and
therefore he is udgitha. And therefore he who
praises him (the ut) is called the Ud-gatri (the
out-singer). He (the golden person, called ut) is
lord of the worlds beyond that (sun), and of all
the wishes of the Devas (inhabiting those worlds).
So much with reference to the Devas.
SEVENTH KHANDA
1. Now with reference to the body.
Rik is speech, Saman breath. This Saman (breath)
rests on that Rik (speech). Therefore the Saman is
sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is speech, ama is
breath, and that makes Sama.
2. Rik is the eye, Saman the self.
This Saman (shadow) rests on that Rik (eye).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik.
Sa is the eye, ama the self and that makes Sama.
3. Rik is the ear, Saman the mind.
This Saman (mind) rests on that Rik (ear).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik.
Sa is the ear, ama the mind, and that makes Sama.
4- Rik is the white light of the
eye, Saman- the blue exceeding darkness. This Saman
(darkness)
rests on the Rik (brightness).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik.
Sa is the white light of the eye, ama the blue
exceeding darkness, and that makes Sama.
5. Now the person who is seen in the
eye, he is Rik, he is Saman, Uktha, Yagus, Brahman.
The form of that person (in the eye) is the same,
as the form of the other person (in the sun), the
joints of the one (Rik and Saman) are the joints of
the other, the name of the one (ut) is the name of
the other.
6. He is lord of the worlds beneath
that (the self in the eye), and of all the wishes
of men. Therefore all who sing to the vina (lyre),
sing him, and from him also they obtain wealth.
7. He who knowing this sings a Saman,
sings to both (the adhidaivata and adhyatma self,
the person in the sun and the person in the eye, as
one and the same person). He obtains through the
one, yea, he obtains the worlds beyond that, and
the wishes of the Devas;
8. And he obtains through the other
the worlds beneath that, and the wishes of men.
Therefore an Udgatri priest who
knows this, may say (to the sacrificer for whom he
officiates);
9. 'What wish shall I obtain for you
by my songs?' For he who knowing this sings a Saman
is able to obtain wishes through his song, yea,
through his song.
EIGHTH KHANDA
1. There were once three men,
well-versed in udgitha, Silaka Salavatya,
Kaikitayana Dalbhya, and Pravahana Gaivali. They
said: 'We are well versed in udgitha. Let us have a
discussion on udgitha.'
2. They all agreed and sat down.
Then Pravahana Gaivali said: 'Sirs, do you both
speak first, for I wish to hear what two Brahmanas
I have to say.
3. Then Silaka Salavatya said to
Kaikitayana Dalbhya: 'Let me ask you.'
'Ask,' he replied.
4. 'What is the origin of the Saman?'
'Tone (svara),' he replied.
'What is the origin of tone?'
Breath,' he replied.
What is the origin of breath?'
'Food,' he replied.
'What is the origin of food?'
'Water,' he replied.
5. 'Wha is the origin of water?'
'That world (heaven),' he replied.
'And what is the origin of that
world ?'
He replied: 'Let no man carry the
Saman beyond the world of svarga (heaven). We place
(recognise) the Saman in the world of svarga, for
the Saman is extolled as svarga (heaven).'
6. Then said Silaka Salavatya to
Kaikitayana Dalbhya: 'O Dalbhya, thy Saman is not
firmly established. And if any one were to say,
Your head shall fall off (if you be wrong), surely
your head would now fall.'
7. 'Well then, let me know this from
you, Sir,' said Dalbhya.
'Know it,' replied Silaka Salavatya.
'What is the origin of that world
(heaven)?'
'This world,' he replied.
'And what is the origin of this
world? --
He replied: 'Let no man carry the
Saman beyond this world as its rest. We place the
Saman in this world as its rest, for the Saman is
extolled as rest.'
8. Then said Pravihana Gaivali to
Silaka Salavatya: 'Your Saman (the earth), O
Salavatya, has an end. And if any one were to say,
Your head shall fall off (if you be wrong), surely
your head would now fall.'
'Well then, let me know this from
you, Sir,' said Salavatya.
'Know it,' replied Gaivali.
NINTH KHANDA
1 'What is the origin of this
world?' 'Ether',' he replied. For all these beings
take their rise from the ether, and return into the
ether. Ether is older than these, ether is their
rest.
2. He is indeed the udgitha (Om =
Brahman), greater than great (parovariyas), he is
without end. He who knowing this meditates on the
udgitha, the greater than great, obtains what is
greater than great, he conquers the worlds which
are greater than great.
3. Atidhanvan Saunaka, having taught
this udgitha to Udara-sandilya, said: 'As long as
they will know in your family this udgitha, their
life in this world will be greater than great.
4. 'And thus also will be their
state in the other world.' He who thus knows the
udgitha, and meditates on it thus, his life in this
world will be greater than great, and also his
state in the other world, yea, in the other world.
TENTH KHANDA
1. When the Kurus had been destroyed
by (hail) stones, Ushasti Kakrayana lived as a
beggar with his virgin wife at Ibhyagrama.
2. Seeing a chief eating beans, he
begged of him. The chief said: 'I have no more,
except those which are put away for me here.'
3. Ushasti said: 'Give me to eat of
them.' He gave him the beans, and said: 'There is
something to drink also.' Then said Ushasti: 'If I
drank of it, I should have drunk what was left by
another, and is therefore unclean.'
4. The chief said: 'Were not those
beans also left over and therefore unclean?'
'No,' he replied; 'for I should not
have lived, if I had not eaten them, but the
drinking of water would be mere pleasure.'
5. Having eaten himself, Ushasti
gave the remaining beans to his wife. But she,
having eaten before, took them and put them away.
6. Rising the next morning, Ushasti
said to her: 'Alas, if we could only get some food,
we might gain a little wealth. The king here is
going to offer a sacrifice, he should choose me for
all the priestly offices.'
7. His wife said to him: 'Look, here
are those beans of yours.' Having eaten them, he
went to the sacrifice which was being performed.
8. He went and sat down on the
orchestra near the Udgatris, who were going to sing
their hymns of praise. And he said to the Prastotri
(the leader):
9. 'Prastotri, if you, without
knowing the deity which belongs to the prastava
(the hymns &c. of the Prastotri), are going to sing
it, your head will fall off.'
10. In the same manner he addressed
the Udgatri: 'Udgatri, if you, without knowing the
deity which belongs to the udgitha (the hymns of
the Udgatri), are going to sing it, your head will
fall off.'
11. In the same manner he addressed
the Pratihartri: ' Pratihartri, if you, without
knowing the deity which belongs to the pratihara
(the hymns of the Pratihartri), are going to sing
it, your head will fall off.'
They stopped, and sat down in
silence.
ELEVENTH KHANDA
1. Then the sacrificer said to him:
'I should like to know who you are, Sir.' He
replied: 'I am Ushasti Kakrayana.'
2. He said: 'I looked for you, Sir,
for all these sacrificial offices, but not finding
you, I chose others.'
3. 'But now, Sir, take all the
sacrificial offices.'
Ushasti said: 'Very well; but let
those, with my permission, perform the hymns of
praise. Only as much wealth as you give to them, so
much give to me also.'
The sacrificer assented.
4. Then the Prastotri approached
him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Prastotri, if
you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the
prastava, are going to sing it, your head will fall
off," --which then is that deity?'
5. He said: 'Breath (prana). For all
these beings merge into breath alone, and from
breath they arise. This is the deity belonging to
the prastava. If, without knowing that deity, you
had sung forth your hymns, your head would have
fallen off, after you had been warned by me.'
6. Then the Udgatri approached him,
saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Udgatri, if you,
without knowing the deity which belongs to the
udgitha, are going to sing it, your head will fall
off," -- which then is that deity?'
7. He said: 'The sun (aditya). For
all these beings praise the sun when it stands on
high. This is the deity belonging to the udgitha.
If, without knowing that deity, you had sung out
your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after
you had been warned by me.'
8. Then the Pratihartri approached
him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Pratihartri,
if you, without knowing the deity belonging to the
pratihara, are going to sing it, your head will
fall off, -which then is that deity?'
9. He said: 'Food (anna). For all
these beings live when they partake of food. This
is the deity belonging to the pratihara. If,
without knowing that deity, you had sung your
hymns, your head would have fallen off, after you
had been warned by me.'
TWELFTH KHANDA
1. Now follows the udgitha of the
dogs. Vaka Dalbhya, or, as he was also called,
Glava Maitreya, went out to repeat the Veda (in a
quiet place).
2. A white (dog) appeared before
him, and other dogs gathering round him, said to
him: 'Sir, sing and get us food, we are hungry.'
3. The white dog said to them: 'Come
to me to-morrow morning.' Vaka Dalbhya, or, as he
was also called, Glava Maitreya, watched.
4. The dogs came on, holding
together, each dog keeping the tail of the
preceding dog in his mouth, as the priests do when
they are going to sing praises with the
Vahishpavamana hymn. After they had settled down,
they began to say Hin.
5. Om, let us eat! Om, let us drink!
Om, may the divine Varuna, Pragapati, Savitri bring
us food! Lord of food, bring hither food, bring it,
Om!'
THIRTEENTH KHANDA
1 The syllable Hau is this world
(the earth), the syllable Hai the air, the syllable
Atha the moon, the syllable Iha the self, the
syllable I is Agni, fire.
2. The syllable U is the sun, the
syllable E is the Nihava or invocation, the
syllable Auhoi is the Visve Devas, the syllable Hin
is Pragapati, Svara (tone) is breath (prana), the
syllable Ya is food, the syllable Vag is Virag.
3. The thirteenth stobha syllable,
viz. the indistinct syllable Hun, is the
Undefinable (the Highest Brahman).
4. Speech yields the milk, which is
the milk of speech itself to him who knows this
Upanishad (secret doctrine) of the Samans in this
wise. He becomes rich in food, and able to eat
food, - yea, able to eat food.
SECOND PRAPATHAKA
FIRST KHANDA
1. Meditation on the whole of the
Saman is good, and people, when anything is good,
say it is Saman; when it is not good, it is not
Saman.
2. Thus they also say, he approached
him with Saman, i.e. becomingly; and he approached
him without Saman, i.e. unbecomingly.
3. And they also say, truly this is
Saman for us, i.e. it is good for us, when it is
good; and truly
that is not Saman for us, i.e. it is
not good for us, when it is not good.
4. If any one knowing this meditates
on the Saman as good, depend upon it all good
qualities will approach quickly, aye, they will
become his own.
SECOND KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman as the five worlds. The hinkara is
the earth, the prastava the fire, the udgitha the
sky, the pratihara the sun, the nidhana heaven; so
in an ascending line.
2. In a descending line, the hinkara
is heaven, the prastava the sun, the udgitha the
sky, the pratihara the fire, the nidhana the earth.
3. The worlds in an ascending and in
a descending line belong to him who knowing this
meditates on the fivefold Saman as the worlds.
THIRD KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman as rain. The hinkara is wind (that
brings the rain); the prastava is, 'the cloud is
come;' the udgitha is, 'it rains;' the pratihara,
'it flashes, it thunders;'
2. The nidhana is, 'it stops.' There
is rain for him, and he brings rain for others who
thus knowing meditates on the fivefold Saman as
rain.
FOURTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman in all waters. When the clouds
gather, that is the hinkara; when it rains, that is
the prastava ; that which flows in the east, that
is the udgitha; that which flows in the West, that
is the pratihara; the sea is the nidhana.
2. He does not die in water, nay, he
is rich in water who knowing this meditates on the
fivefold Saman as all waters.
FIFTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman as the seasons. The hinkara is
spring, the prastava summer (harvest of yava, &c.),
the udgitha the rainy season, the pratihara autumn,
the nidhana winter.
2. The seasons belong to him, nay,
he is always in season (successful) who knowing
this meditates on the fivefold Saman as the
seasons.
SIXTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman in animals. The hinkara is goats,
the prastava sheep, the udgitha cows, the pratihara
horses, the nidhana man.
2. Animals belong to him, nay, he is
rich in animals who knowing this meditates on the
fivefold Saman as animals.
SEVENTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
fivefold Saman, which is greater than great, as the
pranas (senses). The hinkara is smell (nose), the
prastava speech (tongue), the udgitha sight (eye),
the pratihara hearing (ear), the nidhana mind.
These are one greater than the other.
2. What is greater than great
belongs to him, nay, he conquers the worlds which
are greater than great, who knowing this meditates
on the fivefold Saman, which is greater than great,
as the prinas (senses).
EIGHTH KHANDA
1. Next for the sevenfold Saman. Let
a man meditate on the sevenfold Saman in speech.
Whenever there is in speech the syllable hun, that
is hinkara, pra is the prastava, a is the adi, the
first, i.e. Om,
2. Ud is the udgitha, pra. the
pratihara, upa the upadrava, ni the nidhana.
3. Speech yields the milk, which is
the milk of speech itself, to him who knowing this
meditates on the sevenfold Saman in speech. He
becomes rich in food, and able to eat food.
NINTH KHANDA
1. Let a man meditate on the
sevenfold Saman as the sun. The sun is Saman,
because he is always the same (Sama); he is Saman
because he is the same, everybody thinking he looks
towards me, he looks towards me.
2. Let him know that all beings are
dependent on him (the sun). What he is before his
rising, that is the hinkara. On it animals are
dependent. Therefore animals say hin (before
sunrise), for they share the hinkara of that Saman
(the sun).
3. What he is when first risen, that
is the prastava. On it men are dependent. Therefore
men love praise (prastuti) and celebrity, for they
share the prastiva of that Saman.
4- What he is at the time of the
sangava, that is the Adi, the first, the Om. On it
birds are dependent. Therefore birds fly about in
the sky without support, holding themselves, for
they share the adi (the Om) of that Saman.
5. What he is just at noon, that is
the udgitha. On it the Devas are dependent (because
they are brilliant). Therefore they are the best of
all the descendants of Pragapati, for they share
the udgitha of that Saman.
6. What he is after midday and
before afternoon, that is the pratihara. On it all
germs are dependent. Therefore these, having been
conceived (pratihrita), do not fall, for they share
the pratihara of that Saman.
7. What he is after the afternoon
and before sunset, that is the upadrava. On it the
animals of the forest are dependent. Therefore,
when they see a man, they run (upadravanti) to the
forest as a safe hiding-place, for they share the
upadrava of that Saman.
8. What he is when he first sets,
that is the nidhana. On it the fathers are
dependent. Therefore they put them down (nidadhati),
for they share the nidhana of that Saman. Thus a
man meditates on the sevenfold Saman as the sun.
TENTH KHANDA
1. Next let a man meditate on the
sevenfold Saman which is uniform in itself and
leads beyond death. The word hinikara has three
syllables, the word prastava has three syllables:
that is equal (Sama).
2. The word Adi (first, Om) has two
syllables, the word pratihara has four syllables.
Taking one syllable from that over, that is equal (Sama).
3. The word udgitha has three
syllables, the word upadrava has four syllables.
With three and three syllables it should be equal.
One syllable being left over, it becomes
trisyllabic. Hence it is equal.
4. The word nidhana has three
syllables, therefore it is equal. These make
twenty-two syllables.
5. With twenty-one syllables a man
reaches the sun (and death), for the sun is the
twenty-first from here; with the twenty-second he
conquers what is beyond the sun: that is
blessedness, that is freedom from grief.
6. He obtains here the victory over
the sun (death), and there is a higher victory than
the victory over the sun for him, who knowing this
meditates on the sevenfold Saman as uniform in
itself, which leads beyond death, yea, which leads
beyond death.
ELEVENTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is mind, the prastava
speech, the udgitha sight, the pratihara hearing,
the nidhana breath. That is the Gayatra Saman, as
interwoven in the (five) pranas.
2. He who thus knows this Gayatra
interwoven in the pranas, keeps his senses, reaches
the full life, he lives long , becomes great with
children and cattle, great by fame. The rule of him
who thus meditates on the Gayatra is, 'Be not
high-minded.'
TWELFTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is, he rubs (the
fire-stick); the prastava, smoke rises; the udgitha,
it burns; the pratihara, there are glowing coals;
the nidhana, it goes down; the nidhana, it is gone
out. This is the Rathantara Saman as interwoven in
fire.
2. He who thus knows this Rathantara
interwoven in fire, becomes radiant and strong. He
reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great
with children and cattle, great by fame. The rule
is, 'Do not rinse the mouth or spit before the
fire.'
THIRTEENTH KHANDA
[The next Khanda is not translated
by Muller: this translation from The Principal
Upanishads, S. Radhakrishnan tr.]
1. One summons, that is the syllable
him. He makes request, that is a prastava. Along
with the woman, he lies down, that is the udgiha.
He lies on the woman, that is the pratihara. He
comes to the end, that is the nidhana. He comes to
the finish, that is the nidhana. This is the
Vamadevya chant woven on sex intercourse.
2. He who knows this Vamadeva chant
as woven on sex intercourse, comes to intercourse,
procreates himself from every act, reaches a full
length of life, lives well, becomes great in
offspring and in cattle, great in fame. One should
not despise any woman. That is the rule
FOURTEENTH KHANDA
1. Rising, the sun is the hinkara,
risen, he is the prastava, at noon he is the
udgitha, in the afternoon he is the pratihara,
setting, he is the nidhana. That is the Brihat
Saman as interwoven in the sun.
2. He who thus knows the Brihat as
interwoven in the sun, becomes refulgent and
strong, he reaches the full life, he lives long,
becomes great with children and cattle, great by
fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the heat of
the sun.'
FIFTEENTH KHANDA
I. The mists gather, that is the
hinkara; the cloud has risen, that is the prastava;
it rains, that is the udgitha; it flashes and
thunders, that is the pratihara; it stops, that is
the nidhana. That is the Vairupa Saman, as
interwoven in Parganya, the god of rain.
2. He who thus knows the Vairupa as
interwoven in Parganya, obtains all kinds of cattle
(virupa), he reaches the full life, he lives long,
becomes great with children and cattle, great by
fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the rain.'
SIXTEENTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is spring, the
prastava summer, the udgitha the rainy season, the
pratihara autumn, the nidhana winter. That is the
Vairaga Saman, as interwoven in the seasons.
2. He who thus knows the Vairaga, as
interwoven in the seasons, shines (viragati)
through children, cattle, and glory of countenance.
He reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes
great with children and cattle, great by fame. His
rule is, 'Never complain of the seasons.'
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is the earth, the
prastava the sky, the udgitha heaven, the pratihara
the regions, the nidhana the sea. These are the
Sakvari Samans, as interwoven in the worlds'.
2. He who thus knows the Sakvaris,
as interwoven in the worlds, becomes possessed of
the worlds, he reaches the full life, he lives
long, becomes great with children and cattle, great
by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the
worlds.'
EIGHTEENTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is goats, the
prastava sheep, the udgitha cows, the pratihara
horses, the nidhana man. These are the Revati
Samans, as interwoven in animals.
2. He who thus knows these Revatis,
as interwoven in animals, becomes rich in animals,
he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes
great with children and cattle, great by fame. His
rule is, 'Never complain of animals.'
NINETEENTH KHANDA
1. The hinkara is hair, the prastiva
skin, the udgitha flesh, the pratihara bone, the
nidhana marrow. That is the Yagnayagniya Saman, as
interwoven in the members of the body.
2. He who thus knows the
Yagnayagniya, as interwoven in the members of the
body, becomes possessed of strong limbs, he is not
crippled in any limb, he reaches t |