The Taittiriya Upanishad

Valli 1

1*(1.1)* HARIH, OM ! May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuna, Aryaman also, Indra, Brihaspati, and the wide-striding Vishnu . Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, Vayu (air) ! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim thee alone as the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim the right. I shall proclaim the true (scil. Brahman) . (1-5) May it protect me! May it protect the teacher! yes, may it protect me, and may it protect the teacher! Om! Peace! peace! peace!

2*(2.1)* Om ! Let us explain Siksha, the doctrine of pronunciation, viz. letter, accent, quantity, effort (in the formation of letters), modulation, and union of letters (sandhi) . This is the lecture on Siksha.

3*(3.1)* May glory come to both of us (teacher and pupil) together! May Vedic light belong to both of us! Now let us explain the Upanishad (the secret meaning) of the union (samhita) , under five heads, with regard to the worlds, the heavenly lights, knowledge, offspring, and self (body) . People call these the great Samhitas . First, with regard to the worlds. The earth is the former element, heaven the latter, ether their union;

4*(3.2)* That union takes place through Vayu (air) . So much with regard to the worlds. Next, with regard to the heavenly lights. Agni (fire) is the former element, Aditya (the sun) the latter, water their union. That union takes place through lightning. So much with regard to the heavenly lights. Next, with regard to knowledge. The teacher is the former element, The pupil the latter, knowledge their union. That union takes place through the recitation of the Veda. So much with regard to knowledge. Next, with regard to offspring. The mother is the former element, the father the latter, offspring their union. That union takes place through procreation. So much with regard to offspring.

5*(3.4)* Next, with regard to the self (body) . The lower jaw is the former element, the upper jaw the latter, speech their union. That union takes place through speech. So much with regard to the Self. These are the great Samhitas. He who knows these Samhitas (unions), as here explained, becomes united with offspring, cattle, Vedic light, food, and with the heavenly world.

6*(4.1)* May he who is the strong bull of the Vedas, assuming all forms, who has risen from the Vedas, from the Immortal, may that Indra (lord) strengthen me with wisdom! May

7*(4.1)* God, become an upholder of the Immortal! May my body be able, my tongue sweet, may I hear much with my ears! Thou (Om) art the shrine (of Brahman), covered by wisdom. Guard what I have learnt . She (Sri, happiness) brings near and spreads,

8*(4.2)* And makes, without delay, garments for herself, cows, food, and drink at all times; therefore bring that Sri (happiness) hither to me, the woolly, with her cattle ! Svaha ! May the Brahman-students come to me, Svaha ! May they come from all sides, Svaha! May they come forth to me, Svaha! May they practise restraint, Svaha! May they enjoy peace, Svaha!

9*(4.3)* May I be a glory among men, Svaha! May I be better than the richest, Svaha! May I enter into thee, treasure (Om) , Svaha! Thou, treasure , enter into me, Svaha! In thee, consisting of a thousand branches, in thee, treasure, I am cleansed, Svaha! As water runs downward, as the months go to the year, so, preserver of the world, may Brahman-students always come to me from all sides, Svaha! (1) Thou art a refuge! Enlighten me! Take possession of me!

10*(5.1)* Bhu, Bhuvas, Suvas , these are the three sacred interjections (vyahriti) . Mahakamasya taught a fourth, viz. Mahas, which is Brahman, which is the Self. The others (devatas) are its members. Bhu is this world, Bhuvas is the sky, Suvas is the other world.

11*(5.2)* Mahas is the sun. All the worlds are increased by the sun. Bhu is Agni (fire), Bhuvas is Vayu (air), Suvas is Aditya (sun) . Mahas is the moon. All the heavenly lights are increased by the moon. Bhu is the Rik-verses, Bhuvas is the Saman-verses, Suvas is the Yagus-verses .

12*(5.3)* Mahas is Brahman. All the Vedas are increased by the Brahman. (1-2) Bhu is Prana (up-breathing), Bhuvas is Apana, (down-breathing), Suvas is Vyana (back-breathing) . Mahas is food. All breathings are increased by food. Thus there are these four times four, the four and four sacred interjections. He who knows these, (1-2) Knows the Brahman. All Devas bring offerings to him.

13*(6.1)* There is the ether within the heart, and in it there is the Person (purusha) consisting of mind, immortal, golden. Between the two palates there hangs the uvula, like a nipple--that is the starting-point of Indra (the lord) . Where the root of the hair divides, there he opens the two sides of the head, and saying Bhu, he enters Agni (the fire); saying Bhuvas, he enters Vayu (air) ;

14*(6.2)* Saying Suvas, he enters Aditya (sun); saying Mahas, he enters Brahman. He there obtains lordship, he reaches the lord of the mind. He becomes lord of speech, lord of sight, lord of hearing, lord of knowledge. Nay, more than this. There is the Brahman whose body is ether, whose nature is true, rejoicing in the senses (prana), delighted in the mind, perfect in peace, and immortal. (1) Worship thus, Prakinayogya !

15*(7.1)* 'The earth, the sky, heaven, the four quarters, and the intermediate quarters, '--'Agni (fire), Vayu (air), Aditya (sun), Kandramas (moon), and the stars, '--' Water , herbs, trees, ether, the universal Self (virag) , '--so much with reference to material objects (bhuta) . Now with reference to the self (the body) : 'Prana (up-breathing), Apana (down-breathing), Vyana (back-breathing), Udana (out-breathing), and Samana (on-breathing) ,'--' The eye, the ear, mind, speech, and touch, '--'The skin, flesh, muscle, bone, and marrow. ' Having dwelt on this (fivefold arrangement of the worlds, the gods, beings, breathings, senses, and elements of the body) , a Rishi said: 'Whatever exists is fivefold (pankta) . ' (1) By means of the one fivefold set (that referring to the body) he completes the other fivefold set.

16*(8.1)* Om means Brahman. 2. Om means all this. 3. Om means obedience. When they have been told, 'Om, speak, ' they speak. 4. After Om they sing Samans . 5. After Om they recite hymns. 6. After Om the Adhvaryu gives the response. 7. After Om the Brahman-priest gives orders. 8. After Om he (the sacrificer) allows the performance of the Agnihotra. 9. When a Brahmana is going to begin his lecture, he says, 10. 'Om, may I acquire Brahman (the Veda) . ' He thus acquires the Veda.

17*(9.1)* (What is necessary?) The night, and learning and practising the Veda. The true, and learning and practising the Veda. Penance, and learning and practising the Veda. Restraint, and learning and practising the Veda. Tranquillity, and learning and practising the Veda. The fires (to be consecrated), and learning and practising the Veda. The Agnihotra sacrifice, and learning and practising the Veda. Guests (to be entertained), and learning and practising the Veda. Man's duty, and learning and practising the Veda. Children, and learning and practising the Veda. (1-6) Marriage, and learning and practising the Veda. Children's children, and learning and practising the Veda. Satyavakas Rathitara thinks that the true only is necessary. Taponitya Paurasishti thinks that penance only is necessary. Naka Maudgalya thinks that learning and practising the Veda only are necessary, --for that is penance, that is penance.

18*(10.1)* 'I am he who shakes the tree (i.e. the tree of the world, which has to be cut down by knowledge) . 2. My glory is like the top of a mountain. 3. I, whose pure light (of knowledge) has risen high, am that which is truly immortal, as it resides in the sun.

19*(10.4)* I am the brightest treasure. 5. I am wise, immortal, imperishable . ' 6. This is the teaching of the Veda, by the poet Trisanku.

20*(11.1)* After having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: 'Say what is true! Do thy duty! Do not neglect the study of the Veda! After having brought to thy teacher his proper reward, do not cut off the line of children! Do not swerve from the truth! Do not swerve from duty! Do not neglect what is useful! Do not neglect greatness! Do not neglect the learning and teaching of the Veda!

21*(11.2)* 'Do not neglect the (sacrificial) works due to the Gods and Fathers! Let thy mother be to thee like unto a god! Let thy father be to thee like unto a god! Let thy teacher be to thee like unto a god! Let thy guest be to thee like unto a god! Whatever actions are blameless, those should be regarded, not others. Whatever good works have been performed by us, those should be observed by thee,--

22*(11.3)* 'Not others. And there are some Brahmanas better than we. They should be comforted by thee by giving them a seat. Whatever is given should be given with faith, not without faith, --with joy, with modesty, with fear, with kindness. If there should be any doubt in thy mind with regard to any sacred act or with regard to conduct, --

23*(11.4)* 'In that case conduct thyself as Brahmanas who possess good judgment conduct themselves therein, whether they be appointed or not , as long as they are not too severe, but devoted to duty. And with regard to things that have been spoken against, as Brahmanas who possess good judgment conduct themselves therein, whether they be appointed or not, as long as they are not too severe, but devoted to duty, (1-7) Thus conduct thyself 'This is the rule. This is the teaching. This is the true purport (Upanishad) of the Veda. This is the command. Thus should you observe. Thus should this be observed. '

24*(12.1)* May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuna, Aryaman also, Indra, Brihaspati, and the wide-striding Vishnu! Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, Vayu ! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I proclaimed thee alone as the visible Brahman. (1-5) I proclaimed the right. I proclaimed the true. It protected me. It protected the teacher. Yes, it protected me, it protected the teacher. Om! Peace! peace! peace! riAITTIRIYAKAl

25*(10.1)* Let him never turn away (a stranger) from his house, that is the rule. Therefore a man should by all means acquire much food, for (good) people say (to the stranger) : 'There is food ready for him. ' If he gives food amply, food is given to him amply. If he gives food fairly, food is given to him fairly. If he gives food meanly, food is given to him meanly.

26*(10.2)* He who knows this, (recognises and worships Brahman ) as possession in speech, as acquisition and possession in up-breathing (prana) and down-breathing (apana) ; as action in the hands; as walking in the feet; as voiding in the anus. These are the human recognitions (of Brahman as manifested in human actions) . Next follow the recognitions (of as power in lightning;

27*(10.3)* As glory in cattle; as light in the stars; as procreation, immortality, and bliss in the member; as everything in the ether. Let him worship that (Brahman) as support, and he becomes supported. Let him worship that (Brahman) as greatness (mahah) , and he becomes great. Let him worship that (Brahman) as mind, and he becomes endowed with mind.

28*(10.4)* Let him worship that (Brahman) as adoration, and all desires fall down before him in adoration. Let him worship that (Brahman) as Brahman, and he will become possessed of Brahman. Let him worship this as the absorption of the gods in Brahman, and the enemies who hate him will die all around him, all around him will die the foes whom he does not love. He who is this (Brahman) in man, and he who is that (Brahman) in the sun, both are one .

29*(10.5)* He who knows this, when he has departed this world, after reaching and comprehending the Self which consists of food, the Self which consists of breath, the Self which consists of mind, the Self which consists of understanding, the Self which consists of bliss, enters and takes possession of these worlds, and having as much food as he likes, and assuming as many forms as he likes, he sits down singing this Saman (of Brahman) : 'Havu, havu, havu !

30*(10.6)* ' I am food (object), I am food, I am food! I am the eater of food (subject), I am the eater of food, I am the eater of food! I am the poet (who joins the two together), I am the poet, I am the poet! I am the first-born of the Right (rita) . Before the Devas I was in the centre of all that is immortal. He who gives me away, he alone preserves me: him who eats food, I eat as food. 'I overcome the whole world, I, endowed with golden light . He who knows this, (attains all this) . ' This is the Upanishad .