The Principal Upanishads · Chapter 2

Kena Upanishad

केनोपनिषद्

By Whom?

Translated by Sri Aurobindo (1914, public domain)

VERSE 1

ॐ केनेषितं पतति प्रेषितं मनः केन प्राणः प्रथमः प्रैति युक्तः। केनेषितां वाचमिमां वदन्ति चक्षुः श्रोत्रं क उ देवो युनक्ति॥

om keneṣitaṁ patati preṣitaṁ manaḥ kena prāṇaḥ prathamaḥ praiti yuktaḥ । keneṣitāṁ vācam imāṁ vadanti cakṣuḥ śrotraṁ ka u devo yunakti ॥

By whom missioned falls the mind shot to its mark? By whom yoked moves the first life-breath forward on its paths? By whom impelled is this word that men speak? What god set eye and ear to their workings?

VERSE 2

श्रोत्रस्य श्रोत्रं मनसो मनो यद्वाचो ह वाचꣳ स उ प्राणस्य प्राणः। चक्षुषश्चक्षुरतिमुच्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति॥

śrotrasya śrotraṁ manaso mano yad vāco ha vācaṁ sa u prāṇasya prāṇaḥ । cakṣuṣaś cakṣur atimucya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāl lokād amṛtā bhavanti ॥

That which is hearing of our hearing, mind of our mind, speech of our speech, that too is life of our life-breath and sight of our sight. The wise are released beyond and they pass from this world and become immortal.

VERSE 3

न तत्र चक्षुर्गच्छति न वाग्गच्छति नो मनः। न विद्मो न विजानीमो यथैतदनुशिष्यात्॥

na tatra cakṣur gacchati na vāg gacchati no manaḥ । na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitad anuśiṣyāt ॥

There sight travels not, nor speech, nor the mind. We know It not nor can distinguish how one should teach of It.

VERSE 4

अन्यदेव तद्विदितादथो अविदितादधि। इति शुश्रुम पूर्वेषां ये नस्तद्व्याचचक्षिरे॥

anyad eva tad viditād atho aviditād adhi । iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṁ ye nas tad vyācacakṣire ॥

Other, verily, It is than the known and It is there above the unknown. It is so we have heard from men of old who declared That to our understanding.

VERSE 5

यद्वाचाऽनभ्युदितं येन वागभ्युद्यते। तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते॥

yad vācānabhyuditaṁ yena vāg abhyudyate । tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate ॥

That which is unexpressed by the word, that by which the word is expressed, know That to be the Brahman and not this which men follow after here.

VERSE 6

यन्मनसा न मनुते येनाहुर्मनो मतम्। तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते॥

yan manasā na manute yenāhur mano matam । tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate ॥

That which thinks not by the mind, that by which the mind is thought, know That to be the Brahman and not this which men follow after here.

VERSE 7

यच्चक्षुषा न पश्यति येन चक्षूꣳषि पश्यति। तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते॥

yac cakṣuṣā na paśyati yena cakṣūṁṣi paśyati । tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate ॥

That which sees not with the eye, that by which one sees the eye's seeings, know That to be the Brahman and not this which men follow after here.

VERSE 8

यच्छ्रोत्रेण न शृणोति येन श्रोत्रमिदꣳ श्रुतम्। तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते॥

yac chrotreṇa na śṛṇoti yena śrotram idaṁ śrutam । tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate ॥

That which hears not with the ear, that by which the ear's hearing is heard, know That to be the Brahman and not this which men follow after here.

VERSE 9

यत्प्राणेन न प्राणिति येन प्राणः प्रणीयते। तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते॥

yat prāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate । tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate ॥

That which breathes not with the breath, that by which the life-breath is led forward in its paths, know That to be the Brahman and not this which men follow after here.

VERSE 10

यदि मन्यसे सुवेदेति दहरमेवापि नूनं त्वं वेत्थ ब्रह्मणो रूपम्। यदस्य त्वं यदस्य देवेष्वथ नु मीमाꣳस्यमेव ते मन्ये विदितम्॥

yadi manyase suvedeti daharam evāpi nūnaṁ tvaṁ vettha brahmaṇo rūpam । yad asya tvaṁ yad asya deveṣv atha nu mīmāṁsyam eva te manye viditam ॥

If thou thinkest that thou knowest It well, little indeed dost thou know the form of the Brahman. That of It which is thou, that of It which is in the gods, this thou hast to think out. I think It known.

VERSE 11

नाहं मन्ये सुवेदेति नो न वेदेति वेद च। यो नस्तद्वेद तद्वेद नो न वेदेति वेद च॥

nāhaṁ manye suvedeti no na vedeti veda ca । yo nas tad veda tad veda no na vedeti veda ca ॥

I think not that I know It well and yet I know that It is not unknown to me. He of us who knows It, knows That; he knows that It is not unknown to him.

VERSE 12

यस्यामतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद सः। अविज्ञातं विजानतां विज्ञातमविजानताम्॥

yasyāmataṁ tasya mataṁ mataṁ yasya na veda saḥ । avijñātaṁ vijānatāṁ vijñātam avijānatām ॥

He by whom It is not thought out, has the thought of It; he by whom It is thought out, knows It not. It is unknown to the discernment of those who discern of It, by those who seek not to discern of It, It is discerned.

VERSE 13

प्रतिबोधविदितं मतममृतत्वꣳ हि विन्दते। आत्मना विन्दते वीर्यं विद्यया विन्दतेऽमृतम्॥

pratibodha-viditaṁ matam amṛtatvaṁ hi vindate । ātmanā vindate vīryaṁ vidyayā vindate 'mṛtam ॥

When It is known by perception that reflects It, then one has the thought of It, for one finds immortality; by the self one finds the force to attain and by the knowledge one finds immortality.

VERSE 14

इह चेदवेदीदथ सत्यमस्ति न चेदिहावेदीन्महती विनष्टिः। भूतेषु भूतेषु विचित्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति॥

iha ced avedīd atha satyam asti na ced ihāvedīn mahatī vinaṣṭiḥ । bhūteṣu bhūteṣu vicitya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāl lokād amṛtā bhavanti ॥

If here one comes to that knowledge, then one truly is; if here one comes not to the knowledge, then great is the perdition. The wise distinguish That in all kinds of becomings and they pass forward from this world and become immortal.

VERSE 15

ब्रह्म ह देवेभ्यो विजिग्ये तस्य ह ब्रह्मणो विजये देवा अमहीयन्त। त ऐक्षन्तास्माकमेवायं विजयोऽस्माकमेवायं महिमेति॥

brahma ha devebhyo vijigye tasya ha brahmaṇo vijaye devā amahīyanta । ta aikṣantāsmākam evāyaṁ vijayo 'smākam evāyaṁ mahimeti ॥

The Eternal conquered for the gods and in the victory of the Eternal the gods grew to greatness. This was what they saw, 'Ours the victory, ours the greatness.'

VERSE 16

तद्धैषां विजज्ञौ तेभ्यो ह प्रादुर्बभूव तन्न व्यजानत किमिदं यक्षमिति॥

tad dhaiṣāṁ vijajñau tebhyo ha prādurbabhūva tan na vyajānata kim idaṁ yakṣam iti ॥

The Eternal knew their thought and appeared before them; and they knew not what was this mighty Daemon.

VERSE 17

तेऽग्निमब्रुवञ्जातवेद एतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति॥

te 'gnim abruvañ jātaveda etad vijānīhi kim etad yakṣam iti tatheti ॥

They said to Agni, 'O thou that knowest all things born, learn of this thing, what may be this mighty Daemon,' and he said, 'So be it.'

VERSE 18

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीत्यग्निर्वा अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीज्जातवेदा वा अहमस्मीति॥

tad abhyadravat tam abhyavadat ko 'sīty agnir vā aham asmīty abravīj jātavedā vā aham asmīti ॥

He rushed towards the Eternal and It said to him, 'Who art thou?' 'I am Agni,' he said, 'I am he that knows all things born.'

VERSE 19

तस्मिꣳस्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदꣳ सर्वं दहेयं यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति॥

tasmiṁs tvayi kiṁ vīryam ity apīdaṁ sarvaṁ daheyaṁ yad idaṁ pṛthivyām iti ॥

'Since such thou art, what is the force in thee?' 'Even all this I could burn, all that is upon the earth.'

VERSE 20

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतद्दहेति। तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाक दग्धुम्। स तत एव निववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति॥

tasmai tṛṇaṁ nidadhāv etad daheti । tad upapreyāya sarvajavena tan na śaśāka dagdhum । sa tata eva nivavṛte naitad aśakaṁ vijñātuṁ yad etad yakṣam iti ॥

The Eternal set before him a blade of grass; 'This burn,' and he made towards it with all his speed, but he could not burn it. There he ceased and turned back; 'I could not know of It, what might be this mighty Daemon.'

VERSE 21

अथ वायुमब्रुवन्वायवेतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति॥

atha vāyum abruvan vāyav etad vijānīhi kim etad yakṣam iti tatheti ॥

Then they said to Vayu, 'O Vayu, this discern, what is this mighty Daemon,' and he said, 'So be it.'

VERSE 22

तदभ्यद्रवत्तमभ्यवदत्कोऽसीति वायुर्वा अहमस्मीत्यब्रवीन्मातरिश्वा वा अहमस्मीति॥

tad abhyadravat tam abhyavadat ko 'sīti vāyur vā aham asmīty abravīn mātariśvā vā aham asmīti ॥

He rushed upon That; It said to him, 'Who art thou?' 'I am Vayu,' he said, 'and I am he that expands in the Mother of things.'

VERSE 23

तस्मिꣳस्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदꣳ सर्वमाददीय यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति॥

tasmiṁs tvayi kiṁ vīryam ity apīdaṁ sarvam ādadīya yad idaṁ pṛthivyām iti ॥

'Since such thou art, what is the force in thee?' 'Even all this I can take for myself, all this that is upon the earth.'

VERSE 24

तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतदादत्स्वेति। तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाकाऽऽदातुम्। स तत एव निववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुं यदेतद्यक्षमिति॥

tasmai tṛṇaṁ nidadhāv etad ādatsveti । tad upapreyāya sarvajavena tan na śaśākādātum । sa tata eva nivavṛte naitad aśakaṁ vijñātuṁ yad etad yakṣam iti ॥

That set before him a blade of grass, 'This take.' He went towards it with all his speed and he could not take it. Even there he ceased, even thence he returned; 'I could not discern of It, what is this mighty Daemon.'

VERSE 25

अथेन्द्रमब्रुवन्मघवन्नेतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति। तदभ्यद्रवत्तस्मात्तिरोदधे॥

athendram abruvan maghavann etad vijānīhi kim etad yakṣam iti tatheti । tad abhyadravat tasmāt tirodadhe ॥

Then they said to Indra, 'Master of plenitudes, get thou the knowledge, what is this mighty Daemon.' He said, 'So be it.' He rushed upon That. That vanished from before him.

VERSE 26

स तस्मिन्नेवाकाशे स्त्रियमाजगाम बहुशोभमानामुमाꣳ हैमवतीं ताꣳ होवाच किमेतद्यक्षमिति॥

sa tasminn evākāśe striyam ājagāma bahuśobhamānām umāṁ haimavatīṁ tāṁ hovāca kim etad yakṣam iti ॥

He in the same ether came upon the Woman, even upon Her who shines out in many forms, Uma daughter of the snowy summits. To her he said, 'What was this mighty Daemon?'

VERSE 27

सा ब्रह्मेति होवाच ब्रह्मणो वा एतद्विजये महीयध्वमिति ततो हैव विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति॥

sā brahmeti hovāca brahmaṇo vā etad vijaye mahīyadhvam iti tato haiva vidāñcakāra brahmeti ॥

She said to him, 'It is the Eternal. Of the Eternal is this victory in which ye shall grow to greatness.' Then alone he came to know that this was the Brahman.

VERSE 28

तस्माद्वा एते देवा अतितरामिवान्यान्देवान् यदग्निर्वायुरिन्द्रस्ते ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं पस्पर्शुस्ते ह्येनत्प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति॥

tasmād vā ete devā atitarām ivānyān devān yad agnir vāyur indras te hy enan nediṣṭhaṁ pasparśus te hy enat prathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti ॥

Therefore are these gods as it were beyond all the other gods, even Agni and Vayu and Indra, because they came nearest to the touch of That.

VERSE 29

तस्माद्वा इन्द्रोऽतितरामिवान्यान्देवान्। स ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं पस्पर्श स ह्येनत्प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति॥

tasmād vā indro 'titarām ivānyān devān । sa hy enan nediṣṭhaṁ pasparśa sa hy enat prathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti ॥

Therefore is Indra as it were beyond all the other gods because he came nearest to the touch of That, because he first knew that it was the Brahman.

VERSE 30

तस्यैष आदेशो यदेतद्विद्युतो व्यद्युतदा इतीन्न्यमीमिषदा इत्यधिदैवतम्॥

tasyaiṣa ādeśo yad etad vidyuto vyadyutadā itīn nyamīmiṣadā ity adhidaivatam ॥

Now this is the indication of That — as is this flash of the lightning upon us or as is this winking of the eye, so in that which is of the gods.

VERSE 31

अथाध्यात्मं यदेतद्गच्छतीव च मनोऽनेन चैतदुपस्मरत्यभीक्ष्णꣳ सङ्कल्पः॥

athādhyātmaṁ yad etad gacchatīva ca mano 'nena caitad upasmaraty abhīkṣṇaṁ saṅkalpaḥ ॥

Then in that which is of the Self — as the motion of this mind seems to attain to That and by it afterwards the will in the thought continually remembers It.

VERSE 32

तद्ध तद्वनं नाम तद्वनमित्युपासितव्यं स य एतदेवं वेदाभि हैनꣳ सर्वाणि भूतानि संवाञ्छन्ति॥

tad dha tadvanaṁ nāma tadvanam ity upāsitavyaṁ sa ya etad evaṁ vedābhi hainaṁ sarvāṇi bhūtāni saṁvāñchanti ॥

The name of That is 'That Delight'; as That Delight one should follow after It. He who so knows That, towards him verily all existences yearn.

VERSE 33

उपनिषदं भो ब्रूहीत्युक्ता त उपनिषद्ब्राह्मीं वाव त उपनिषदमब्रूमेति॥

upaniṣadaṁ bho brūhīty uktā ta upaniṣad brāhmīṁ vāva ta upaniṣadam abrūmeti ॥

Thou hast said 'Speak to me Upanishad'; spoken to thee is Upanishad. Of the Eternal verily is the Upanishad that we have spoken.

VERSE 34

तस्यै तपो दमः कर्मेति प्रतिष्ठा वेदाः सर्वाङ्गानि सत्यमायतनम्॥

tasyai tapo damaḥ karmeti pratiṣṭhā vedāḥ sarvāṅgāni satyam āyatanam ॥

Of this knowledge austerity and self-conquest and works are the foundation, the Vedas are all its limbs, truth is its dwelling place.

VERSE 35

यो वा एतामेवं वेदापहत्य पाप्मानमनन्ते स्वर्गे लोके ज्येये प्रतितिष्ठति प्रतितिष्ठति॥

yo vā etām evaṁ vedāpahatya pāpmānam anante svarge loke jyeye pratitiṣṭhati pratitiṣṭhati ॥

He who knows this knowledge, smites evil away from him and in that vaster world and infinite heaven finds his foundation, yea, he finds his foundation.