Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad

1.1.1

Verily the dawn is the head of the horse which is fit for sacrifice, the sun its eye, the wind it...

1.1.2

Verily Day arose after the horse as the (golden) vessel, called Mahiman (greatness), which (at th...

1.2.1

In the beginning there was nothing (to be perceived) here whatsoever. By Death indeed all this wa...

1.2.2

Verily water is arka. And what was there as the froth of the water, that was hardened, and became...

1.2.3

That being divided itself threefold, Aditya (the sun) as the third, and Vayu (the air) as the thi...

1.2.4

He desired, `Let a second body be born of me,' and he (Death or Hunger) embraced Speech in his mi...

1.2.5

He thought, `If I kill him, I shall have but little food.' He therefore brought forth by that spe...

1.2.6

He desired to sacrifice again with a greater sacrifice. He toiled and performed penance. And whil...

1.2.7

He desired that this body should be fit for sacrifice (medhya), and that he should be embodied by...

1.3.1

There were two kinds of descendants of Pragapati, the Devas and the Asuras. Now the Devas were in...

1.3.2

They said to speech (Vak): `Do thou sing out for us (the udgitha).' `Yes,' said speech, and sang ...

1.3.3

Then they (the Devas) said to breath (scent): `Do thou sing out for us.' `Yes,' said breath, and ...

1.3.4

Then they said to the eye: `Do thou sing out for us.' `Yes,' said the eye, and sang. Whatever del...

1.3.5

Then they said to the ear: `Do thou sing out for us.' `Yes,' said the ear, and sang. Whatever del...

1.3.6

Then they said to the mind: `Do thou sing out for us.' `Yes,' said the mind, and sang. Whatever d...

1.3.7

Then they said to the breath in the mouth: `Do thou sing for us.' `Yes,' said the breath, and san...

1.3.8

Then they (the Devas) said: `Where was he then who thus stuck to us?' It was (the breath) within ...

1.3.9

That deity was called Dur, because Death was far (duran) from it. From him who knows this, Death ...

1.3.10

That deity, after having taken away the evil of those deities, viz. death, sent it to where the e...

1.3.11

That deity, after having taken away the evil of those deities, viz. death, carried them beyond de...

1.3.12

He carried speech across first. When speech had become freed from death, it became (what it had b...

1.3.13

Then he carried breath (scent) across. When breath had become freed from death, it became Vayu (a...

1.3.14

Then he carried the eye across. When the eye had become freed from death, it became Aditya (the s...

1.3.15

Then he carried the ear across. When the ear had become freed from death, it became the quarters ...

1.3.16

Then he carried the mind across. When the mind had become freed from death, it became the moon (K...

1.3.17

Then breath (vital), by singing, obtained for himself eatable food. For whatever food is eaten, i...

1.3.18

If a man knows this, then his own relations come to him in the same manner; he becomes their supp...

1.3.19

He was called Ayasya Angirasa, for he is the sap (rasa) of the limbs (anga). Verily, breath is th...

1.3.20

He (breath) is also Brihaspati, for speech is Brihati (Rig-veda), and he is her lord; therefore h...

1.3.22

Or because he is equal (sama) to a grub, equal to a gnat, equal to an elephant, equal to these th...

1.3.23

He (breath) is Udgitha. Breath verily is Ut, for by breath this universe is upheld (uttabdha); an...

1.3.24

And thus Brahmadatta Kaikitaneya (the grandson of Kikitana), while taking Soma (ragan), said: `Ma...

1.3.25

He who knows what is the property of this Saman, obtains property. Now verily its property is ton...

1.3.26

He who knows what is the gold of that Saman, obtains gold. Now verily its gold is tone only. He w...

1.3.27

He who knows what is the support of that Saman, he is supported. Now verily its support is speech...

1.3.28

Next come the other Stotras with which the priest may obtain food for himself by singing them. Th...

1.4.1

In the beginning this was Self alone, in the shape of a person (purusha). He looking round saw no...

1.4.2

He feared, and therefore any one who is lonely fears. He thought, `As there is nothing but myself...

1.4.3

But he felt no delight. Therefore a man who is lonely feels no delight. He wished for a second. H...

1.4.4

She thought, `How can he embrace me, after having produced me from himself? I shall hide myself.'...

1.4.5

He knew, `I indeed am this creation, for I created all this.' Hence he became the creation, and h...

1.4.6

Next he thus produced fire by rubbing. From the mouth, as from the fire-hole, and from the hands ...

1.4.7

Now all this was then undeveloped. It became developed by form and name, so that one could say, `...

1.4.8

This, which is nearer to us than anything, this Self, is dearer than a son, dearer than wealth, d...

1.4.9

Here they say: `If men think that by knowledge of Brahman they will become everything, what then ...

1.4.10

Verily in the beginning this was Brahman, that Brahman knew (its) Self only, saying, `I am Brahma...

1.4.11

Verily in the beginning this was Brahman, one only. That being one, was not strong enough. It cre...

1.4.12

He was not strong enough. He created the Vis (people), the classes of Devas which in their differ...

1.4.13

He was not strong enough. He created the Sudra colour (caste), as Pushan (as nourisher). This ear...

1.4.14

He was not strong enough. He created still further the most excellent Law (dharma). Law is the Ks...

1.4.15

There are then this Brahman, Kshatra, Vis, and Sudra. Among the Devas that Brahman existed Kshatr...

1.4.16

Now verily this Self (of the ignorant man) is the world of all creatures. In so far as man sacrif...

1.4.17

In the beginning this was Self alone, one only. He desired, `Let there be a wife for me that I ma...

1.5.1

`When the father (of creation) had produced by knowledge and penance (work) the seven kinds of fo...

1.5.2

When it is said, that `the father produced by knowledge and penance the seven kinds of food,' it ...

1.5.3

When it is said, that `he made three for himself,' that means that he made mind, speech, and brea...

1.5.4

These are the three worlds: earth is speech, sky mind, heaven breath.

1.5.5

These are the three Vedas: the Rig-veda is speech, the Yagur-veda mind, the Sama-veda breath.

1.5.6

These are the Devas, Fathers, and men: the Devas are speech, the Fathers mind, men breath.

1.5.7

These are father, mother, and child: the father is mind, the mother speech, the child breath.

1.5.8

These are what is known, what is to be known, and what is unknown. What is known, has the form of...

1.5.9

What is to be known, has the form of mind, for mind is what is to be known. Mind, having become t...

1.5.10

What is unknown, has the form of breath, for breath is unknown. Breath, having become this, prote...

1.5.11

Of that speech (which is the food of Pragapati) earth is the body, light the form, viz. this fire...

1.5.12

Next, of this mind heaven is the body, light the form, viz. this sun. And so far as this mind ext...

1.5.13

Next, of this breath water is the body, light the form, viz. this moon. And so far as this breath...

1.5.14

That Pragapati is the year, and he consists of sixteen digits. The nights indeed are his fifteen ...

1.5.15

Now verily that Pragapati, consisting of sixteen digits, who is the year, is the same as a man wh...

1.5.16

Next there are verily three worlds, the world of men, the world of the Fathers, the world of the ...

1.5.17

Next follows the handing over. When a man thinks he is going to depart, he says to his son: `Thou...

1.5.18

From the earth and from fire, divine speech enters into him. And verily that is divine speech whe...

1.5.19

From heaven and the sun, divine mind enters into him. And verily that is divine mind whereby he b...

1.5.20

From water and the moon, divine breath (spirit) enters into him. And verily that is divine breath...

1.5.21

Next follows the consideration of the observances (acts). Pragapati created the actions (active s...

1.5.22

Now with regard to the deities. Agni (fire) held, I shall burn; Aditya (the sun) held, I shall wa...

1.5.23

And here there is this Sloka: `He from whom the sun rises, and into whom it sets' (he verily rise...

1.6.1

Verily this is a triad, name, form, and work. Of these names, that which is called Speech is the ...

1.6.2

Next, of the forms, that which is called Eye is the Uktha (hymn), for from it all forms arise. It...

1.6.3

Next, of the works, that which is called Body is the Uktha (hymn), for from it all works arise. I...

2.1.1

There was formerly the proud Gargya Balaki, a man of great reading. He said to Agatasatru of Kasi...

2.1.2

Gargya said: `The person that is in the sun, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: `N...

2.1.3

Gargya said: `The person that is in the moon (and in the mind), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasa...

2.1.4

Gargya said: `The person that is in the lightning (and in the heart), that I adore as Brahman.' A...

2.1.5

Gargya said: `The person that is in the ether (and in the ether of the heart), that I adore as Br...

2.1.6

Gargya said: `The person that is in the wind (and in the breath), that I adore as Brahman.' Agata...

2.1.7

Gargya said: `The person that is in the fire (and in the heart), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatas...

2.1.8

Gargya said: `The person that is in the water (in seed, and in the heart), that I adore as Brahma...

2.1.9

Gargya said: `The person that is in the mirror, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him:...

2.1.10

Gargya said: `The sound that follows a man while he moves, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru s...

2.1.11

Gargya said: `The person that is in space, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: `No,...

2.1.12

Gargya said: `The person that consists of the shadow, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said t...

2.1.13

Gargya said: `The person that is in the body, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: `...

2.1.14

Agatasatru said: `Thus far only?' `Thus far only,' he replied. Agatasatru said: `This does not su...

2.1.15

Agatasatru said: `Verily, it is unnatural that a he should tell him the Brahman. However, I shall...

2.1.16

Agatasatru said: `When this man was thus asleep, where was then the person (purusha), the intelli...

2.1.17

Agatasatru said: `When this man was thus asleep, then the intelligent person (purusha), having th...

2.1.18

But when he moves about in sleep (and dream), then these are his worlds. He is, as it were, a as ...

2.1.19

Next, when he is in profound sleep, and knows nothing, there are the seventy-two thousand arterie...

2.1.20

As the spider comes out with its thread, or as small sparks come forth from fire, thus do all sen...

2.2.1

Verily he who knows the babe with his place, his chamber, his post, and his rope, he keeps off th...