The Yoga of Meditation on the Udgitha
(Chapter 1)
प्रथमोऽध्यायः — Prapāṭhaka 1: Meditation on Om and Udgītha
Verse 1
ओमित्येतदक्षरमुद्गीथमुपासीतोमिति ह्युद्गायति तस्योपव्याख्यानम् ॥ १ ॥
omityetadakṣaramudgīthamupāsītomiti hyudgāyati tasyopavyākhyānam
One should meditate on the syllable 'Om', the Udgitha; for one sings the Udgitha beginning with Om. Of this, the detailed explanation follows.
Verse 2
देवा वै मृत्योर्बिभ्यतस्त्रयीं विद्यां प्राविशꣳ स्ते छन्दोभिरच्छादयन्यदेभिरच्छादयꣳ स्तच्छन्दसां छन्दस्त्वम् ॥ २ ॥
devā vai mṛtyorbibhyatastrayīṃ vidyāṃ prāviśaṃste chandobhiracchādayanyadebhiracchādayaṃstacchandasāṃ chandastvam
Verily, the gods, fearing death, entered upon the threefold knowledge of the Vedas. They covered themselves with the Vedic meters. Because they covered themselves with them, the meters are called chandas.
Verse 3
तानु तत्र मृत्युर्यथा मत्स्यमुदके परिपश्येदेवं पर्यपश्यदृचि साम्नि यजुषि । ते नु विदित्वोर्ध्वा ऋचः साम्नो यजुषः स्वरमेव प्राविशन् ॥ ३ ॥
tānu tatra mṛtyuryathā matsyamudake paripaśyedevaṃ paryapaśyadṛci sāmni yajuṣi | te nu viditvūrdhvā ṛcaḥ sāmno yajuṣaḥ svarameva prāviśan
Death saw them there in the Rig, the Saman, and the Yajus, just as one might see a fish in water. Having known this, they arose above the Rig, the Saman, and the Yajus, and entered Svara (the sacred sound Om) itself.
Verse 4
यदा वा ऋचमाप्नोत्योमित्येवातिस्वरत्येवꣳ सामैवं यजुरेष उ स्वरो यदेतदक्षरमेतदमृतमभयं तत्प्रविश्य देवा अमृता अभया अभवन् ॥ ४ ॥
yadā vā ṛcamāpnotyomityevātisvaratyevaṃ sāmaivaṃ yajureṣa u svaro yadetadakṣarametadamṛtamabhayaṃ tatpraviśya devā amṛtā abhayā abhavan
When one reaches the end of an Rk verse, one intones 'Om'; so too with a Saman and a Yajus. For this Svara is this imperishable Syllable, immortal and fearless. Having entered it, the gods became immortal and fearless.
Verse 5
स य एतदेवं विद्वानक्षरं प्रणौत्येतदेवाक्षरꣳ स्वरममृतमभयं प्रविशति तत्प्रविश्य यदमृता देवास्तदमृतो भवति ॥ ५ ॥
sa ya etadevaṃ vidvānakṣaraṃ praṇautyetadevākṣaraṃ svaramamṛtamabhayaṃ praviśati tatpraviśya yadamṛtā devāstadamṛto bhavati
He who, knowing this thus, praises this imperishable Syllable, enters this very Syllable—the Svara, immortal and fearless. Entering it, he becomes immortal just as the gods became immortal.
Verse 6
अथ खलु य उद्गीथः स प्रणवो यः प्रणवः स उद्गीथ इत्यसौ वा आदित्य उद्गीथ एष प्रणव ओमिति ह्येष स्वरन्नेति ॥ १ ॥
atha khalu ya udgīthaḥ sa praṇavo yaḥ praṇavaḥ sa udgītha ityasau vā ādityo udgītha eṣa praṇava omiti hyeṣa svaranneti
Now, that which is the Udgitha is the Pranava, and that which is the Pranava is the Udgitha. Yonder sun is indeed the Udgitha, and he is the Pranava, for he moves along uttering 'Om'.
Verse 7
एतमु एवाहमभ्यगासिषं तस्मान्मम त्वमेकोऽसीति ह कौषीतकिः पुत्रमुवाच रश्मीꣳ स्त्वं पर्यावर्तयाद्बहवो वै ते भविष्यन्तीत्यधिदैवतम् ॥ २ ॥
etamu evāhamabhyagāsiṣaṃ tasmānmama tvameko'sīti ha kauṣītakiḥ putramuvāca raśmīṃstvaṃ paryāvartayādbahavo vai te bhaviṣyantītyadhidaivatam
Kaushitaki said to his son: 'I sang in praise of the sun as one with all its rays; therefore you are my only son. Meditate upon the rays individually, and you will have many sons.' This is with respect to the divine sphere.
Verse 8
अथाध्यात्मं य एवायं मुख्यः प्राणस्तमुद्गीथमुपासीतोमिति ह्येष स्वरन्नेति ॥ ३ ॥
athādhyātmaṃ ya evāyaṃ mukhyaḥ prāṇastamudgīthamupāsītomiti hyeṣa svaranneti
Now with respect to the body: One should meditate on the principal vital breath as the Udgitha, for it moves along uttering 'Om'.
Verse 9
एतमु एवाहमभ्यगासिषं तस्मान्मम त्वमेकोऽसीति ह कौषीतकिः पुत्रमुवाच प्राणाꣳ स्त्वं भूमानमभिगायताद्बहवो वै मे भविष्यन्तीति ॥ ४ ॥
etamu evāhamabhyagāsiṣaṃ tasmānmama tvameko'sīti ha kauṣītakiḥ putramuvāca prāṇāṃstvaṃ bhūmānamabhigāyatādbahavo vai me bhaviṣyantīti
Kaushitaki said to his son: 'I sang in praise of the principal breath as one; therefore you are my only son. Sing in praise of the vital breaths in their multiplicity, and you will have many sons.'
Verse 10
अथ खलु य उद्गीथः स प्रणवो यः प्रणवः स उद्गीथ इति होतृषदनाद्धैवापि दुरुद्गीतमनुसमाहरतीत्यनुसमाहरतीति ॥ ५ ॥
atha khalu ya udgīthaḥ sa praṇavo yaḥ praṇavaḥ sa udgītha iti hotṛṣadanāddhaivāpi durudgītamanusamāharatītyanusamāharatīti
Now, that which is the Udgitha is the Pranava, and that which is the Pranava is the Udgitha. Even from the seat of the Hotr priest, any error in the chanting of the Udgitha is corrected; yes, it is corrected.
Verse 11
अन्तरिक्षमेवर्ग्वायुः साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयतेऽन्तरिक्षमेव सा वायुरमस्तत्साम ॥ २ ॥
antarikṣamevargvāyuḥ sāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate'ntarikṣameva sā vāyuramastatsāma
The intermediate space is Rik, air is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. Intermediate space is "sā", air is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 12
द्यौरेवर्गादित्यः साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते द्यौरेव सादित्योऽमस्तत्साम ॥ ३ ॥
dyaurevargādityaḥ sāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate dyaureva sādityo'mastatsāma
Heaven is Rik, the sun is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. Heaven is "sā", the sun is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 13
नक्षत्राण्येवर्क्चन्द्रमाः साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते नक्षत्राण्येव सा चन्द्रमा अमस्तत्साम ॥ ४ ॥
nakṣatrāṇyevarkcandramāḥ sāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate nakṣatrāṇyeva sā candramā amastatsāma
The stars are Rik, the moon is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. The stars are "sā", the moon is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 14
अथ यदेतदादित्यस्य शुक्लं भाः सैवर्गथ यन्नीलं परः कृष्णं तत्साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते ॥ ५ ॥
atha yadetadādityasya śuklaṃ bhāḥ saivargatha yannīlaṃ paraḥ kṛṣṇaṃ tatsāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate
Now, the white light of the sun is Rik, and the dark, deep blue light is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik.
Verse 15
अथ यदेवैतदादित्यस्य शुक्लं भाः सैव साथ यन्नीलं परः कृष्णं तदमस्तत्सामाथ य एषोऽन्तरादित्ये हिरण्मयः पुरुषो दृश्यते हिरण्यश्मश्रुर्हिरण्यकेश आप्रणखात्सर्व एव सुवर्णः ॥ ६ ॥
atha yadevaitadādityasya śuklaṃ bhāḥ saiva sātha yannīlaṃ paraḥ kṛṣṇaṃ tadamastatsāmātha ya eṣo'ntarāditye hiraṇmayaḥ puruṣo dṛśyate hiraṇyaśmaśrurhiraṇyakeśa āpraṇakhātsarva eva suvarṇaḥ
Now, the white light of the sun is "sā", and the dark, deep blue light is "ama"; that makes Saman. Now, this golden Person who is seen within the sun, with a golden beard and golden hair, is golden all over, right to the tips of his nails.
Verse 16
तस्य यथा कप्यासं पुण्डरीकमेवमक्षिणी तस्योदिति नाम स एष सर्वेभ्यः पाप्मभ्य उदित उदेति ह वै सर्वेभ्यः पाप्मभ्यो य एवं वेद ॥ ७ ॥
tasya yathā kapyāsaṃ puṇḍarīkamevamakṣiṇī tasyoditi nāma sa eṣa sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhya udita udeti ha vai sarvebhyaḥ pāpmabhyo ya evaṃ veda
His eyes are like a lotus blossom opened by the sun. His name is "Ut", for he has risen above all sins. He who knows this rises above all sins.
Verse 17
तस्यर्क्च साम च गेष्णौ तस्मादुद्गीथस्तस्मात्त्वेवोद्गातैतस्य हि गाता स एष ये चामुष्मात्पराञ्चो लोकास्तेषां चेष्टे देवकामानां चेत्यधिदैवतम् ॥ ८ ॥
tasyarkca sāma ca geṣṇau tasmādudgīthastasmāttvevodgātaitasya hi gātā sa eṣa ye cāmuṣmātparāñco lokāsteṣāṃ ceṣṭe devakāmānāṃ cetyadhidaivatam
Rik and Saman are his joints; therefore he is Udgitha. For this reason, the Udgatri priest sings of him, for he is the singer of this. He rules over the worlds beyond the sun and over the desires of the gods. This is regarding the divine realm.
Verse 18
चक्षुरेवर्गात्मा साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते । चक्षुरेव सात्मामस्तत्साम ॥ २ ॥
cakṣurevargātmā sāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | cakṣureva sātmāmastatsāma
Now regarding the self: The eye is Rik, the self is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. The eye is "sā", the self is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 19
श्रोत्रमेवर्ङ्मनः साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते । श्रोत्रमेव सा मनोऽमस्तत्साम ॥ ३ ॥
śrotramevarṅmanaḥ sāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | śrotrameva sā mano'mastatsāma
The ear is Rik, the mind is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. The ear is "sā", the mind is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 20
अथ यदेतदक्ष्णः शुक्लं भाः सैवर्गथ यम्नीलं परः कृष्णं तत्साम तदेतदेतस्यामृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम तस्मादृच्यध्यूढꣳ साम गीयते । अथ यदेवैतदक्ष्णः शुक्लं भाः सैव साथ यन्नीलं परः कृष्णं तदमस्तत्साम ॥ ४ ॥
atha yadetadakṣṇaḥ śuklaṃ bhāḥ saivargatha yamnīlaṃ paraḥ kṛṣṇaṃ tatsāma tadetadetasyāmṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma tasmādṛcyadhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | atha yadevaitadakṣṇaḥ śuklaṃ bhāḥ saiva sātha yannīlaṃ paraḥ kṛṣṇaṃ tadamastatsāma
Now, the white light of the eye is Rik, and the dark, deep blue light is Saman. This Saman rests upon that Rik. Therefore, the Saman is sung as resting upon the Rik. The white light of the eye is "sā", and the dark, deep blue light is "ama"; that makes Saman.
Verse 21
अथ य एषोऽन्तरक्षिणि पुरुषो दृश्यते सैवर्क्तत्साम तदुक्थं तद्यजुस्तद्ब्रह्म तस्यैतस्य तदेव रूपं यदमुष्य रूपं यावमुष्य गेष्णौ तौ गेष्णौ यन्नाम तन्नाम ॥ ५ ॥
atha ya eṣo'ntarakṣiṇi puruṣo dṛśyate saivark tatsāma tadukthaṃ tadyajustadbrahma tasyaitasya tadeva rūpaṃ yadamuṣya rūpaṃ yāvamuṣya geṣṇau tau geṣṇau yannāma tannāma
Now, the Person who is seen within the eye is the Ṛc, the Sāman, the Uktha, the Yajus, and the Brahman. The form of this one in the eye is the same as the form of that one in the sun; the musical tunes of that one are the tunes of this one, and the name of that one is the name of this one.
Verse 22
स एष ये चैतस्मादर्वाञ्चो लोकास्तेषां चेष्टे मनुष्यकामानां चेति तद्य इमे वीणायां गायन्त्येतं ते गायन्ति तस्मात्ते धनसनयः ॥ ६ ॥
sa eṣa ye caitasmādarvāñco lokāsteṣāṃ ceṣṭe manuṣyakāmānāṃ ceti tadya ime vīṇāyāṃ gāyantyetaṃ te gāyanti tasmātte dhanasanayaḥ
He is the lord of all the worlds that are below him, and also of human desires. Therefore, those who sing to the accompaniment of the lute sing of him alone, and for that reason they obtain wealth.
Verse 23
अथ य एतदेवं विद्वान्साम गायत्युभौ स गायति सोऽमुनैव स एष ये चामुष्मात्पराञ्चो लोकास्ताꣳश्चाप्नोति देवकामाꣳश्च ॥ ७ ॥
atha ya etadevaṃ vidvānsāma gāyatyubhau sa gāyati so'munaiva sa eṣa ye cāmuṣmātparāñco lokāstāṃścāpnoti devakāmāṃśca
Now, he who sings the Sāman knowing it thus sings of both. Through that Person in the sun, he obtains the worlds beyond that and the desires of the gods.
Verse 24
अथानेनैव ये चैतस्मादर्वाञ्चो लोकास्ताꣳश्चाप्नोति मनुष्यकामाꣳश्च तस्मादु हैवंविदुद्गाता ब्रूयात् ॥ ८ ॥
athānenaiva ye caitasmādarvāñco lokāstāṃścāpnoti manuṣyakāmāṃśca tasmādu haivaṃvidudgātā brūyāt
And through this Person in the eye, he obtains the worlds below that and human desires. Therefore, an Udgātṛ priest who knows this should say:
Verse 25
कं ते काममागायानीत्येष ह्येव कामागानस्येष्टे य एवं विद्वान्साम गायति साम गायति ॥ ९ ॥
kaṃ te kāmamāgāyānītyeṣa hyeva kāmāgānasyīṣṭe ya evaṃ vidvānsāma gāyati sāma gāyati
"Which desire of yours shall I fulfill for you by singing?" For he who sings the Sāman knowing it thus is capable of fulfilling desires through singing—yes, he who sings the Sāman.
Verse 26
तथेति ह समुपविविशुः स ह प्रवाहणो जैवलिरुवाच भगवन्तावग्रे वदतां ब्राह्मणयोर्वदतोर्वाचꣳ श्रोष्यामीति ॥ २ ॥
tatheti ha samupaviviśuḥ sa ha pravāhaṇo jaivaliruvāca bhagavantāvagre vadatāṃ brāhmaṇayorvudatorvācaṃ śroṣyāmīti
"So be it," they said and sat down. Pravāhaṇa Jaivali said: "Venerable sirs, you two speak first. I shall listen to two Learned Brāhmaṇas speaking to each other."
Verse 27
स ह शिलकः शालावत्यश्चैकितायनं दाल्भ्यमुवाच हन्त त्वा पृच्छानीति पृच्छेति होवाच ॥ ३ ॥
sa ha śilakaḥ śālāvatyaścaikitāyanaṃ dālbhyamuvāca hanta tvā pṛcchānīti pṛccheti hovāca
Then Śilaka Śālāvatya said to Caikitāyana Dālbhya: "May I question you?" Dālbhya replied: "Ask."
Verse 28
का साम्नो गतिरिति स्वर इति होवाच स्वरस्य का गतिरिति प्राण इति होवाच प्राणस्य का गतिरित्यन्नमिति होवाचान्नस्य का गतिरित्याप इति होवाच ॥ ४ ॥
kā sāmno gatiriti svara iti hovāca svarasya kā gatiriti prāṇa iti hovāca prāṇasya kā gatirityannamiti hovācānnasya kā gatirityāpa iti hovāca
"What is the goal of Sāman?" "Tone (Svara)," he replied. "What is the goal of tone?" "Breath (Prāṇa)," he replied. "What is the goal of breath?" "Food (Anna)," he replied. "What is the goal of food?" "Water (Āpas)," he replied.
Verse 29
अपां का गतिरित्यसौ लोक इति होवाचामुष्य लोकस्य का गतिरिति न स्वर्गं लोकमति नयेदिति होवाच स्वर्गं वयं लोकं सामाभिसंस्थापयामः स्वर्गसꣳ स्तावꣳ हि सामेति ॥ ५ ॥
apāṃ kā gatirityasau loka iti hovācāmuṣya lokasya kā gatiriti na svargaṃ lokamati nayediti hovāca svargaṃ vayaṃ lokaṃ sāmābhisamsthāpayāmaḥ svargasamstāvaṃ hi sāmeti
"What is the goal of water?" "Yonder world (heaven)," he replied. "What is the goal of yonder world?" "One should not carry the Sāman beyond the heavenly world," he replied. "We establish the Sāman upon the heavenly world, for Sāman is praised as heaven."
Verse 30
तꣳ ह शिलकः शालावत्यश्चैकितायनं दाल्भ्यमुवाचाप्रतिष्ठितं वै किल ते दाल्भ्य साम यस्त्वेतर्हि ब्रूयान्मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मूर्धा ते विपतेदिति ॥ ६ ॥
taṃ ha śilakaḥ śālāvatyaścaikitāyanaṃ dālbhyamuvācāpratiṣṭhitaṃ vai kila te dālbhya sāma yastvetarhi brūyānmūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mūrdhā te vipatediti
Then Śilaka Śālāvatya said to Caikitāyana Dālbhya: "Your Sāman, O Dālbhya, is without a firm support. If anyone were to say to you at this time, 'Your head will fall off,' your head would indeed fall off."
Verse 31
हन्ताहमेतद्भगवत्तो वेदानीति विद्धीति होवाचामुष्य लोकस्य का गतिरित्ययं लोक इति होवाचास्य लोकस्य का गतिरिति न प्रतिष्ठां लोकमति नयेदिति होवाच प्रतिष्ठां वयं लोकꣳ सामाभिसꣳ स्थापयामः प्रतिष्ठासꣳ स्तावꣳ हि सामेति ॥ ७ ॥
hantāham etad bhagavatto vedānīti viddhīti hovācāmuṣya lokasya kā gatir ityayaṃ loka iti hovācāsya lokasya kā gatir iti na pratiṣṭhāṃ lokam ati nayed iti hovāca pratiṣṭhāṃ vayaṃ lokaṃ sāmābhisandhāpayāmaḥ pratiṣṭhāsaṃstāvaṃ hi sāmeti
"Well then, let me learn this from you, revered sir," said Śālāvatya. "Know it," replied Pravāhaṇa. "What is the goal of that world?" "This world," he said. "What is the goal of this world?" "One should not carry the Sāman beyond this world of support," he said. "We establish the Sāman in the world as its support, for the Sāman is praised as a support."
Verse 32
तꣳ ह प्रवाहणो जैवलिरुवाचान्तवद्वै किल ते शालावत्य साम यस्त्वेतर्हि ब्रूयान्मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मूर्धा ते विपतेदिति हन्ताहमेतद्भगवत्तो वेदानीति विद्धीति होवाच ॥ ८ ॥
taṃ ha pravāhaṇo jaivalir uvācāntavad vai kila te śālāvatya sāma yas tv etarhi brūyān mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mūrdhā te vipated iti hantāham etad bhagavatto vedānīti viddhīti hovāca
Then Pravāhaṇa Jaivali said to him: "Your Sāman, O Śālāvatya, has indeed an end. If anyone were now to say, 'Your head shall fall off,' your head would surely fall off." Śālāvatya said: "Well then, let me learn this from you, revered sir." "Know it," he replied.
Verse 33
स एष परोवरीयानुद्गीथः स एषोऽनन्तः परोवरीयो हास्य भवति परोवरीयसो ह लोकाञ्जयति य एतदेवं विद्वान्परोवरीयाꣳसमुद्गीथमुपास्ते ॥ २ ॥
sa eṣa parovarīyān udgīthaḥ sa eṣo'nantaḥ parovarīyo hāsya bhavati parovarīyaso ha lokāñ jayati ya etad evaṃ vidvān parovarīyāṃsam udgītham upāste
This Udgītha is the most excellent and infinite. He who, knowing it thus, meditates on the Udgītha as the most excellent, obtains what is most excellent and wins most excellent worlds.
Verse 34
तꣳ हैतमतिधन्वा शौनक उदरशाण्डिल्यायोक्त्वोवाच यावत्त एनं प्रजायामुद्गीथं वेदिष्यन्ते परोवरीयो हैभ्यस्तावदस्मिंल्लोके जीवनं भविष्यति ॥ ३ ॥
taṃ haitam atidhanvā śaunaka udaraśāṇḍilyāyoktvovāca yāvat ta enaṃ prajāyām udgīthaṃ vediṣyante parovarīyo haibhyas tāvad asmiṃlloke jīvanaṃ bhaviṣyati
Atidhanvan Śaunaka, having taught this to Udaraśāṇḍilya, said: "As long as your descendants know this Udgītha, their life in this world will be most excellent."
Verse 35
तथामुष्मिंल्लोके लोक इति स य एतमेवं विद्वानुपास्ते परोवरीय एव हास्यास्मिंल्लोके जीवनं भवति तथामुष्मिंल्लोके लोक इति लोके लोक इति ॥ ४ ॥
tathāmuṣmiṃlloke loka iti sa ya etam evaṃ vidvān upāste parovarīya eva hāsyāsmiṃlloke jīvanaṃ bhavati tathāmuṣmiṃlloke loka iti loke loka iti
"And likewise, their state in that heavenly world will be most excellent." He who knows it thus and meditates on it—his life in this world becomes most excellent, and likewise his state in that world, yes, in that world.
Verse 36
स हेभ्यं कुल्माषान्खादन्तं बिभिक्षे तꣳ होवाच । नेतोऽन्ये विद्यन्ते यच्च ये म इम उपनिहिता इति ॥ २ ॥
sa hebhyaṃ kulmāṣān khādantaṃ bibhikṣe taṃ hovāca neto'nye vidyante yac ca ye ma ima upanihitā iti
He (Uṣasta Cākrāyaṇa) begged of an elephant-driver who was eating poor-quality beans. The elephant-driver said to him: "I have no other beans than these which are set before me."
Verse 37
एतेषां मे देहीति होवाच तानस्मै प्रददौ हन्तानुपानमित्युच्छिष्टं वै मे पीतꣳ स्यादिति होवाच ॥ ३ ॥
eteṣāṃ me dehīti hovāca tān asmai pradadau hantānupānam ity ucchiṣṭaṃ vai me pītaṃ syād iti hovāca
"Give me some of these," Uṣasta said. The driver gave them to him and added: "Here is drink as well." Uṣasta replied: "If I drank that, I would be drinking water left over by another (polluted)."
Verse 38
न स्विदेतेऽप्युच्छिष्टा इति न वा अजीविष्यमिमानखादन्निति होवाच कामो म उदपानमिति ॥ ४ ॥
na svid ete'py ucchiṣṭā iti na vā ajīviṣyam imān akhādann iti hovāca kāmo ma udapānam iti
"Are not these beans also left over?" asked the driver. Uṣasta replied: "I could not have lived if I had not eaten these. But drinking water is a matter of optional choice for me."
Verse 39
स ह खादित्वातिशेषाञ्जायाया आजहार साग्र एव सुभिक्षा बभूव तान्प्रतिगृह्य निदधौ ॥ ५ ॥
sa ha khāditvātiśeṣāñ jāyāyā ājahāra sāgra eva subhikṣā babhūva tān pratigṛhya nidadhau
Having eaten them, he brought the remainder to his wife. She had already obtained food by begging, so she accepted the remaining beans and put them away.
Verse 40
स ह प्रातः सञ्जिहान उवाच यद्बतान्नस्य लभेमहि लभेमहि धनमात्राꣳ राजासौ यक्ष्यते स मा सर्वैरार्त्विज्यैर्वृणीतेति ॥ ६ ॥
sa ha prātaḥ sañjihāna uvāca yad batānnasya labhemahi labhemahi dhanamātrāṃ rājāsau yakṣyate sa mā sarvair ārtvijyair vṛṇītet
Rising in the morning, Uṣasta said: "Ah, if we could get some food, we might gain some wealth! Yonder king is going to perform a sacrifice; he might select me for all the priestly duties."
Verse 41
तं जायोवाच हन्त पत इम एव कुल्माषा इति तान्खादित्वामुं यज्ञं विततमेयाय ॥ ७ ॥
taṃ jāyovāca hanta pata ima eva kulmāṣā iti tān khāditvāmuṃ yajñaṃ vitatameyāya
His wife said to him, "Here, my lord, are these remaining beans." Eating them, he went to that sacrifice which was being performed.
Verse 42
तत्रोद्गातॄनास्तावे स्तोष्यमाणानुपोपविवेश स ह प्रस्तोतारमुवाच ॥ ८ ॥
tatrodgātṝnāstāve stoṣyamāṇānupopaviveśa sa ha prastotāramuvāca
There he sat down near the Udgātṛ priests in the place of chanting, as they were about to sing praises. He then said to the Prastotṛ priest:
Verse 43
प्रस्तोतर्या देवता प्रस्तावमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रस्तोष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति ॥ ९ ॥
prastotaryā devatā prastāvamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānprastoṣyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti
"O Prastotṛ, if you sing the Prastāva without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off."
Verse 44
एवमेवोद्गातारमुवाचोद्गातर्या देवतोद्गीथमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वानुद्गास्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति ॥ १० ॥
evamevodgātāramuvācodgātaryā devatodgīthamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānudgāsyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti
In the same way he said to the Udgātṛ: "O Udgātṛ, if you chant the Udgītha without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off."
Verse 45
एवमेव प्रतिहर्तारमुवाच प्रतिहर्तर्या देवता प्रतिहारमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रतिहरिष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति ते ह समारतास्तूष्णीमासाञ्चक्रिरे ॥ ११ ॥
evameva pratihartāramuvāca pratihartaryā devatā pratihāramanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānpratihariṣyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti te ha samāratāstūṣṇīmāsāñcakrire
In the same way he said to the Pratihartṛ: "O Pratihartṛ, if you chant the Pratihāra without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off." Ceasing from their duties, they all sat in silence.
Verse 46
स होवाच भगवन्तं वा अहमेभिः सर्वैरार्त्विज्यैः पर्यैषिषं भगवतो वा अहमवित्त्यान्यानवृषि ॥ २ ॥
sa hovāca bhagavantaṃ vā ahamebhiḥ sarvairārtvijyaiḥ paryaiṣiṣaṃ bhagavato vā ahamavittyānyānavṛṣi
The sacrificer said to him: "I searched for you, revered sir, to perform all these priestly duties. But since I could not find you, I appointed others."
Verse 47
भगवाꣳस्त्वेव मे सर्वैरार्त्विज्यैरिति तथेत्यथ तर्ह्येत एव समतिसृष्टाः स्तुवतां यावत्त्वेभ्यो धनं दद्यास्तावन्मम दद्या इति तथेति ह यजमान उवाच ॥ ३ ॥
bhagavāṁstveva me sarvairārtvijyairiti tathetyatha tarhyeta eva samatisṛṣṭāḥ stuvatāṃ yāvattvebhyo dhanaṃ dadyāstāvanmama dadyā iti tatheti ha yajamāna uvāca
"May revered sir now perform all these priestly duties for me." Ushasta replied, "Very well. But let these priests chant, permitted by me. Give me as much wealth as you give them." "Very well," said the sacrificer.
Verse 48
अथ हैनं प्रस्तोतोपससाद प्रस्तोतर्या देवता प्रस्तावमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रस्तोष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मा भगवानवोचत्कतमा सा देवतेति ॥ ४ ॥
atha hainaṃ prastotopasasāda prastotaryā devatā prastāvamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānprastoṣyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mā bhagavānavocatkatamā sā devateti
Then the Prastotṛ approached him and said: "Revered sir, you told me, 'O Prastotṛ, if you sing the Prastāva without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off.' Which is that deity?"
Verse 49
प्राण इति होवाच सर्वाणि ह वा इमानि भूतानि प्राणमेवाभिसंविशन्तिप्राणमभ्युज्जिहते सैषा देवता प्रस्तावमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रास्तोष्यो मूर्धा ते व्यपतिष्यत्तथोक्तस्य मयेति ॥ ५ ॥
prāṇa iti hovāca sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtāni prāṇamevābhisaṃviśantiprāṇamabhyujjihate saiṣā devatā prastāvamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānprāstoṣyo mūrdhā te vyapatiṣyattathoktasya mayeti
He said: "Prāṇa (the Life-force). For all these beings enter into Prāṇa alone [at dissolution] and arise from Prāṇa alone [at creation]. This is the deity associated with the Prastāva. If you had chanted without knowing it after being warned by me, your head would have fallen off."
Verse 50
अथ हैनमुद्गातोपससादोद्गातर्या देवतोद्गीथमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वानुद्गास्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मा भगवानवोचत्कतमा सा देवतेति ॥ ६ ॥
atha hainamudgātopasasādodgātaryā devatodgīthamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānudgāsyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mā bhagavānavocatkatamā sā devateti
Then the Udgātṛ approached him and said: "Revered sir, you told me, 'O Udgātṛ, if you chant the Udgītha without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off.' Which is that deity?"
Verse 51
आदित्य इति होवाच सर्वाणि ह वा इमानि भूतान्यादित्यमुच्चैः सन्तं गायन्ति सैषा देवतोद्गीथमन्वायत्ता तां चेतविद्वानुदगास्यो मूर्धा ते व्यपतिष्यत्तथोक्तस्य मयेति ॥ ७ ॥
āditya iti hovāca sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtānyādityamuccaiḥ santaṃ gāyanti saiṣā devatodgīthamanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānudagāsyo mūrdhā te vyapatiṣyattathoktasya mayeti
"The Sun," he said. "All these beings sing praise to the Sun when it is up high. This is the deity associated with the Udgītha. If you had chanted the Udgītha without knowing this deity, your head would have fallen off, as I warned you."
Verse 52
अथ हैनं प्रतिहर्तोपससाद प्रतिहर्तर्या देवता प्रतिहारमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रतिहरिष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मा भगवानवोचत्कतमा सा देवतेति ॥ ८ ॥
atha hainaṃ pratihartopasasāda pratihartaryā devatā pratihāramanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānpratihariṣyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mā bhagavānavocatkatamā sā devateti
Then the Pratihartṛ priest approached him and said, "Venerable Sir, you told me: 'O Pratihartṛ, if you sing the Pratihāra without knowing the deity associated with it, your head will fall off.' Which is that deity?"
Verse 53
अन्नमिति होवाच सर्वाणि ह वा इमानि भूतान्यन्नमेव प्रतिहरमाणानि जीवन्ति सैषा देवता प्रतिहारमन्वायत्ता तां चेदविद्वान्प्रत्यहरिष्यो मूर्धा ते व्यपतिष्यत्तथोक्तस्य मयेति तथोक्तस्य मयेति ॥ ९ ॥
annamiti hovāca sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtānyannameva pratiharamāṇāni jīvanti saiṣā devatā pratihāramanvāyattā tāṃ cedavidvānpratyahariṣyo mūrdhā te vyapatiṣyattathoktasya mayeti tathoktasya mayeti
"Food," he said. "All these beings live by taking in food. This is the deity associated with the Pratihāra. If you had sung the Pratihāra without knowing this deity, your head would have fallen off, as I warned you."
Verse 54
अथातः शौव उद्गीथस्तद्ध बको दाल्भ्यो ग्लावो वा मैत्रेयः स्वाध्यायमुद्वव्राज ॥ १ ॥
athātaḥ śauva udgīthastaddha bako dālbhyo glāvo vā maitreyaḥ svādhyāyamudvavrāja
Now begins the Udgītha of the dogs. Baka Dālbhya, or Glāva Maitreya, went forth to a quiet place to study the Vedas.
Verse 55
तस्मै श्वा श्वेतः प्रादुर्बभूव तमन्ये श्वान उपसमेत्योचुरन्नं नो भगवानागायत्वशनायामवा इति ॥ २ ॥
tasmai śvā śvetaḥ prādurbabhūva tamanye śvāna upasametyocurannaṃ no bhagavānāgāyatvaśanāyamavā iti
A white dog appeared before him. Other dogs gathered around it and said, "Venerable Sir, sing for us to obtain food, for we are hungry."
Verse 56
तान्होवाचेहैव मा प्रातरुपसमीयातेति तद्ध बको दाल्भ्यो ग्लावो वा मैत्रेयः प्रतिपालयाञ्चकार ॥ ३ ॥
tānhovācehaiva mā prātarupasamīyāteti taddha bako dālbhyo glāvo vā maitreyaḥ pratipālayāñcakāra
The white dog said to them, "Meet me right here tomorrow morning." Baka Dālbhya, or Glāva Maitreya, waited there for them.
Verse 57
ते ह यथैवेदं बहिष्पवमानेन स्तोष्यमाणाः सꣳरब्धाः सर्पन्तीत्येवमाससृपुस्ते ह समुपविश्य हिं चक्रुः ॥ ४ ॥
te ha yathaivedaṃ bahiṣpavamānena stoṣyamāṇāḥ saṃrabdhāḥ sarpantītyevamāsasṛpuste ha samupaviṣya hiṃ cakruḥ
Just as priests about to chant the Bahiṣpavamāna hymn move forward holding onto each other, so did the dogs glide forward together. Then they sat down together and uttered the syllable "Hiṃ".
Verse 58
ओ३मदा३मों३ पिबा३मों३ देवो वरुणः प्रजापतिः सविता२न्नमहा२हरदन्नपते३ । न्नमिहा२हरा२हरो३मिति ॥ ५ ॥
om3 adā3m om3 pibā3m om3 devo varuṇaḥ prajāpatiḥ savitā2nnamahā2haradannapate3 nnamihā2harā2haro3miti
"Om, let us eat! Om, let us drink! Om, may the divine Varuṇa, Prajāpati, and Savitṛ bring food here! O Lord of food, bring food here, bring it here! Om!"
Verse 59
अयं वाव लोको हाउकारो वायुर्हाइकारश्चन्द्रमा अथकारः । आत्मेहकारोऽग्निरीकारः ॥ १ ॥
ayaṃ vāva loko hāukāro vāyurhāikāraścandramā athakāraḥ ātmehakāro'gnirīkāraḥ
This earth is the Stobha syllable 'hāu'; the wind is 'hāi'; the moon is 'atha'; the Self is 'iha'; fire is 'ī'.
Verse 60
आदित्य ऊकारो निहव एकारो विश्वेदेवा औहोयिकारः प्रजापतिर्हिङ्कारः प्राणः स्वरोऽन्नं या वाग्विराट् ॥ २ ॥
āditya ūkāro nihava ekāro viśvedevā auhoyikāraḥ prajāpatirhiṅkāraḥ prāṇaḥ svar o'nnaṃ yā vāgvirāṭ
The sun is the syllable 'ū'; the invocation is 'e'; the Viśvedevas are 'auhoi'; Prajāpati is 'hiṃ'; Prāṇa is tone (Svara); food is 'yā'; speech is Virāṭ.
Verse 61
अनिरुक्तस्त्रयोदशः स्तोभः सञ्चरो हुङ्कारः ॥ ३ ॥
aniruktastrayodaśaḥ stobhaḥ sañcaro huṅkāraḥ
The thirteenth stobha (interjectional chant) is the undefined, variable syllable 'huṃ'.
Verse 62
दुग्धेऽस्मै वाग्दोहं यो वाचो दोहोऽन्नवानन्नादो भवति य एतामेवꣳसाम्ना मुपनिषदं वेदोपनिषदं वेदेति ॥ ४ ॥
dugdhe'smai vāgdohaṃ yo vāco doho'nnavānannādo bhavati ya etāmevaṃ sāmnāmupaniṣadaṃ vedopaniṣadaṃ vedeti
Speech yields its milk to him—which is the ultimate milk of Speech—and he becomes rich in food and an eater of food, who thus knows this secret doctrine of the Sāmans, yes, who knows the secret doctrine.
Key Takeaways & AI Summary
This chapter explores the profound teachings of The Yoga of Meditation on the Udgitha. It includes 62 verses detailing core themes like "omityetadakṣaramudgīthamupāsītomiti hyudgāyati tasyopavyākhyānam", "devā vai mṛtyorbibhyatastrayīṃ vidyāṃ prāviśaṃste chandobhiracchādayanyadebhiracchādayaṃstacchandasāṃ chandastvam", "tānu tatra mṛtyuryathā matsyamudake paripaśyedevaṃ paryapaśyadṛci sāmni yajuṣi | te nu viditvūrdhvā ṛcaḥ sāmno yajuṣaḥ svarameva prāviśan".One of the oldest and largest Principal Upanishads from the Sama Veda — containing the foundational Mahāvākya "Tat Tvam Asi" (Thou Art That) and profound teachings on meditation, Prana, and the nature of Brahman through the dialogues of Uddalaka and Shvetaketu.