Muni's PlayTaittiriya Upanishad - Selected Quotes
Book I - Shiksha Valli
1. Prayer for Glory and Luster (1.3.1)
Sanskrit
सह नौ यशः । सह नौ ब्रह्मवर्चसम् ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
“May glory be to us both together! May the luster of Brahman-knowledge belong to us both together!“
2. Prayer for Physical and Vocal Purity (1.4.1)
Sanskrit
शरीरं मे विचर्षणम् । जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा । कर्णाभ्यां भूरि विश्रुवम् ।
English Translation
“May my body be vigorous and fit. May my tongue be exceedingly sweet. May I hear much with my ears.”
3. Prayer for Stature among Men (1.4.3)
Sanskrit
यशो जनेऽसानि स्वाहा ॥ ९ ॥
श्रेयान् वस्यसोऽसानि स्वाहा ॥ १० ॥
English Translation
“May I become glorious among the people, Svāhā! May I become wealthier than the wealthy, Svāhā!“
4. The Sacred Syllable OM (1.8.1)
Sanskrit
ओमिति ब्रह्म । ओमितीदं सर्वम् ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
“Om is Brahman. Om is this whole universe.”
5. Moral Duties with Study and Teaching (1.9.1)
Sanskrit
ऋतं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । सत्यं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । तपश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । दमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । शमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च ।
English Translation
“Right conduct (along with study and teaching), Truth (along with study and teaching), Austerity (along with study and teaching), Self-control (along with study and teaching), and Inner Tranquility (along with study and teaching) must be practiced.”
6. The Command to Truth and Duty (1.11.1)
Sanskrit
सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
“Speak the truth. Practice righteousness (dharma).“
7. Guidelines for the Student (1.11.1)
Sanskrit
स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः । सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् । स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् । देवपितृकार्याभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् ॥ ३ ॥
English Translation
“Do not deviate from study. Having brought to the teacher the wealth that is pleasing to him, do not cut off the line of progeny. Do not deviate from truth. Do not deviate from righteousness. Do not neglect your well-being. Do not neglect prosperity. Do not neglect study and teaching. Do not neglect duties to the gods and ancestors.”
8. Reverence to Be Cultivated (1.11.2)
Sanskrit
मातृदेवो भव । पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव । अतिथिदेवो भव ॥ ४ ॥
English Translation
“Let your mother be a god to you. Let your father be a god to you. Let your teacher be a god to you. Let your guest be a god to you.”
9. Right Conduct and Behavior (1.11.2)
Sanskrit
यान्यनवद्यानि कर्माणि । तानि सेवितव्यानि । नो इतराणि ॥ ५ ॥
यान्यस्माकं सुचरितानि । तानि त्वयोपास्यानि । नो इतराणि ॥ ६ ॥
English Translation
“Those actions that are blameless should be performed, not others. Those of our conducts that are good should be followed by you, not others.”
10. The Manner of Giving (1.11.3)
Sanskrit
श्रद्धया देयम् । अश्रद्धयाऽदेयम् । श्रिया देयम् । ह्रिया देयम् । भिया देयम् । संविदा देयम् ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
“Give with faith. Do not give without faith. Give in abundance. Give with modesty. Give with humility. Give with friendly understanding.”
11. Resolving Doubts in Conduct (1.11.4)
Sanskrit
अथ यदि ते कर्मविचिकित्सा वा वृत्तविचिकित्सा वा स्यात् । ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तत्र वर्तेरन् । तथा तत्र वर्तेथाः ॥ ९ ॥
English Translation
“Then, if you have any doubt regarding actions or conduct, you should behave as those Brahmins there behave—those who are thoughtful, experienced, independent, gentle, and lovers of righteousness.”
Book II - Brahmananda Valli
12. Knowledge of Brahman (2.1.1)
Sanskrit
ब्रह्मविदाप्नोति परम् ॥ १ ॥
English Translation
“The knower of Brahman attains the Supreme.”
13. The Definition of Brahman (2.1.1)
Sanskrit
तदेषाऽभ्युक्ता । सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म ॥ २ ॥
English Translation
“Concerning this, it has been declared: Brahman is truth, knowledge, and infinity.”
14. Food as the Eldest of Beings (2.2.1)
Sanskrit
अन्नं हि भूतानां ज्येष्ठम्। तस्मात् सर्वौषधमुच्यते।सर्वं वै तेऽन्नमाप्नुवन्ति। येऽन्नं ब्रह्मोपासते।
English Translation
“Food indeed is the eldest of beings; therefore, it is called the medicine for all. Verily, they obtain all food who worship Brahman as food.”
15. Breath as the Life of Beings (2.3.1)
Sanskrit
प्राणो हि भूतानामायुः। तस्मात् सर्वायुषमुच्यते।सर्वमेव त आयुर्यन्ति। ये प्राणं ब्रह्मोपासते।
English Translation
“Breath (Prana) indeed is the life of beings; therefore, it is called the universal life. Verily, they attain full life who worship Brahman as breath.”
16. Non-Existence, Existence, and Bliss (2.7.1)
Sanskrit
असद् वा इदमग्र आसीत्। ततो वै सदजायत।तदात्मानं स्वयमकुरुत।तस्मात् तत्सुकृतमुच्यत इति।यद्वै तत्सुकृतम्। रसो वै सः। रसं ह्येवायं लब्ध्वानन्दी भवति।
English Translation
“Non-existence indeed was this in the beginning. From that, existence was born. That created itself by itself; therefore, it is called self-created (sukrita). That which is self-created is verily the essence (rasa). For, having obtained this essence, one becomes blissful.”
Book III - Bhrigu Valli
17. The Source of all Beings (3.1.1)
Sanskrit
यतो वा इमानि भूतानि जायन्ते।येन जातानि जीवन्ति।
यत् प्रयन्त्यभिसंविशन्ति। तद्विजिज्ञासस्व। तद् ब्रह्मेति।
English Translation
“That from which these beings are born, that by which, when born, they live, that into which they enter when departing—seek to know That. That is Brahman.”
18. Breath as Food and Body as the Eater (3.7.1)
Sanskrit
अन्नं न निन्द्यात्। तद् व्रतम्। प्राणो वा अन्नम्।शरीरमन्नादम्। प्राणे शरीरं प्रतिष्ठितम्। शरीरे प्राणः प्रतिष्ठितः। तदेतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितम्।स य एतदन्नमन्ने प्रतिष्ठितं वेद प्रतितिष्ठति। अन्नवानन्नादो भवति। महान् भवति प्रजया पशुभिर्ब्रह्मवर्चसेन। महान् कीर्त्या॥
English Translation
“Do not speak ill of food. That is the vow. Breath is food; the body is the eater of food. The body is established in breath; breath is established in the body. So food is established in food. He who knows this food established in food becomes established. He becomes rich in food and an eater of food. He becomes great in offspring, in cattle, and in the splendor of sacred knowledge; he becomes great in fame.”
19. Do Not Discard Food (3.8.1)
Sanskrit
अन्नं न परिचक्षीत। तद् व्रतम्।
English Translation
“Do not discard food. That is the vow.”
20. Multiply Food (3.9.1)
Sanskrit
अन्नं बहु कुर्वीत। तद् व्रतम्।
English Translation
“Multiply food. That is the vow.”
21. Hospitality (3.10.1)
Sanskrit
न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत। तद् व्रतम्।
English Translation
“Do not turn away anyone from your dwelling. That is the vow.”
22. Human Recognitions of Brahman (3.10.1)
Sanskrit
क्षेम इति वाचि । योगक्षेम इति प्राणापानयोः । कर्मेति हस्तयोः । गतिरिति पादयोः । विमुक्तिरिति पायौ । इति मानुषीसमाज्ञाः ॥ ५ ॥
English Translation
“Brahman manifests as security in speech, as acquisition and preservation (yoga-kshema) in in-breath and out-breath, as action in the hands, as movement in the feet, and as excretion in the anus. These are the human recognitions (of Brahman).“
23. Meditations on Brahman (3.10.2)
Sanskrit
तत्प्रतिष्ठेत्युपासीत । प्रतिष्ठावान् भवति । तन्मह इत्युपासीत । महान्भवति । तन्मन इत्युपासीत । मानवान्भवति । तन्नम इत्युपासीत । नम्यन्तेऽस्मै कामाः । तद्ब्रह्मेत्युपासीत । ब्रह्मवान्भवति । तद्ब्रह्मणः परिमर इत्युपासीत । पर्येणं म्रियन्ते द्विषन्तः सपत्नाः । परि येऽप्रिया भ्रातृव्याः ॥ ७ ॥
English Translation
“Let one worship That as the support; one becomes supported. Let one worship That as greatness; one becomes great. Let one worship That as mind; one becomes thoughtful. Let one worship That as adoration; desires bow down to him. Let one worship That as Brahman; one becomes possessed of Brahman. Let one worship That as the destructive power of Brahman (parimara); round him die his hostile rivals and those brothers whom he dislikes.”
24. Oneness of Soul and Sun (3.10.4)
Sanskrit
स यश्चायं पुरुषे । यश्चासावादित्ये । स एकः ॥ ८ ॥
English Translation
“He who is here in the person and He who is there in the sun—He is one.”