sloka:upanisads

Synonyms saḥ — He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); aikṣata — glanced.

Translation He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) glanced over the material creation.

Synonyms saḥ — He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead); imān — all these; lokān — worlds; asṛjata — created.

Translation He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead) created this entire material world.

Synonyms aham — I; brahmāsmi — (I) am Brahman or spirit.

Translation I (the spirit soul) am Brahman (spirit).

Synonyms asataḥ — in untruth; mā — do not; sat — truth or reality; gamaḥ — go to; tamasi — in the darkness; mā — do not; jyotiḥ — the light; gamaḥ — go to; mṛtaḥ — in death; mā — do not; amṛta — immortality; gamaḥ — go to.

Translation Do not stay in illusion; go to the eternal reality. Do not stay in darkness; go to the light. Do not keep taking material bodies; become immortal!

Synonyms yaḥ — he who; vā — either; etat — that; akṣaram — spiritual life; gārgi — O Gārgī (daughter of Gargācārya); aviditvā — without knowing the solution to the problem of life; asmāt — from this; lokāt — material world; praiti — he quits (like cats and dogs); saḥ — he is; kṛpaṇaḥ — a miserly man; yaḥ — he who; etad — that; akṣaram — spiritual life; gārgi — O Gārgī; viditvā — knowing the solution to the problem of life; asmāt — from this; lokāt — material world; praiti — he quits; saḥ — he is; brāhmaṇaḥ — a brāhmaṇa.

Translation He is a miserly man who does not solve the problems of life as a human and who thus quits this world like the cats and dogs, without understanding the science of self-realization. He is a wise brāhmaṇa who leaves this world knowing the solution to life's problems.

Synonyms sarvam — everything; khalu — indeed; idam — this; brahma — the Supreme Spirit (Brahman).

Translation Everything, both matter and spirit, is non-different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead who is the Supreme Brahman.

Synonyms tat — this; aikṣata — glanced; bahu — many; syām — become.

Translation When the Supreme Lord wishes to become many He glances (and produces the material manifestation).

Synonyms ācārya — the ācārya; vān — possesses (follows); puruṣaḥ — a person; veda — knows.

Translation One who follows the disciplic succession of ācāryas knows things as they are.

Synonyms oṁ — the Complete Whole; pūrṇam — perfectly complete; adaḥ — that; pūrṇam — perfectly complete; idam — this phenomenal world; pūrṇāt — from the all-perfect; pūrṇam — complete unit; udacyate — is produced; pūrṇasya — of the Complete Whole; pūrṇam — completely, all; ādāya — having been taken away; pūrṇam — the complete balance; eva — even; avaśiṣyate — is remaining.

Translation The Personality of Godhead is perfect and complete, and because He is completely perfect, all emanations from Him, such as this phenomenal world, are perfectly equipped as complete wholes. Whatever is produced of the Complete Whole is also complete in itself. Because He is the Complete Whole, even though so many complete units emanate from Him, He remains the complete balance.

Synonyms īśa — by the Lord; āvāsyam — controlled; idam — this; sarvam — all; yat kiñca — whatever; jagatyām — within the universe; jagat — all that is animate or inanimate; tena — by Him; tyaktena — set-apart quota; bhuñjīthāḥ — you should accept; mā — do not; gṛdhaḥ — endeavor to gain; kasya svit — of anyone else; dhanam — the wealth.

Translation Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.

Synonyms kurvan — doing continuously; eva — thus; iha — during this span of life; karmāṇi — work; jijīviṣet — one should desire to live; śatam — one hundred; samāḥ — years; evam — so living; tvayi — unto you; na — no; anyathā — alternative; itaḥ — from this path; asti — there is; na — not; karma — work; lipyate — can be bound; nare — unto a man.

Translation One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.

Synonyms asuryāḥ — meant for the asuras; nāma — famous by the name; te — those; lokāḥ — planets; andhena — by ignorance; tamasā — by darkness; āvṛtāḥ — covered; tān — those planets; te — they; pretya — after death; abhigacchanti — enter into; ye — anyone; ke — everyone; ca — and; ātma-hanaḥ — the killers of the soul; janāḥ — persons.

Translation The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.

Synonyms anejat — fixed; ekam — one; manasaḥ — than the mind; javīyaḥ — more swift; na — not; enat — this Supreme Lord; devāḥ — the demigods like Indra, etc.; āpnuvan — can approach; pūrvam — in front; arṣat — moving quickly; tat — He; dhāvataḥ — those who are running; anyān — others; atyeti — surpasses; tiṣṭhat — remaining in one place; tasmin — in Him; apaḥ — rain; mātariśvā — the gods who control the wind and rain; dadhāti — supply.

Translation Although fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than the mind and can overcome all others running. The powerful demigods cannot approach Him. Although in one place, He controls those who supply the air and rain. He surpasses all in excellence.

Synonyms tat — this Supreme Lord; ejati — walks; tat — He; na — not; ejati — walks; tat — He; dūre — far away; tat — He; u — also; antike — very near; tat — He; antaḥ — within; asya — of this; sarvasya — of all; tat — He; u — also; sarvasya — of all; asya — of this; bāhyataḥ — external to.

Translation The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is very near as well. He is within everything, and yet He is outside of everything.

Synonyms yaḥ — he who; tu — but; sarvāṇi — all; bhūtāni — living entities; ātmani — in relation to the Supreme Lord; eva — only; anupaśyati — observes in a systematic way; sarva-bhūteṣu — in every living being; ca — and; ātmānam — the Supersoul; tataḥ — thereafter; na — not; vijugupsate — hates anyone.

Translation He who systematically sees everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything nor any being.

Synonyms yasmin — in the situation; sarvāṇi — all; bhūtāni — living entities; ātmā — the cit-kaṇa, or spiritual spark; eva — only; abhūt — exist as; vijānataḥ — of one who knows; tatra — therein; kaḥ — what; mohaḥ — illusion; kaḥ — what; śokaḥ — anxiety; ekatvam — oneness in quality; anupaśyataḥ — of one who sees through authority, or one who sees constantly like that.

Translation One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?

Synonyms saḥ — that person; paryagāt — must know in fact; śukram — the omnipotent; akāyam — unembodied; avraṇam — without reproach; asnāviram — without veins; śuddham — antiseptic; apāpa-viddham — prophylactic; kaviḥ — omniscient; manīṣī — philosopher; paribhūḥ — the greatest of all; svayambhūḥ — self-sufficient; yāthātathyataḥ — just in pursuance of; arthān — desirables; vyadadhāt — awards; śāśvatībhyaḥ — immemorial; samābhyaḥ — time.

Translation Such a person must factually know the greatest of all, the Personality of Godhead, who is unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher who has been fulfilling everyone's desire since time immemorial.

Synonyms andham — gross ignorance; tamaḥ — darkness; praviśanti — enter into; ye — those who; avidyām — nescience; upāsate — worship; tataḥ — than that; bhūyaḥ — still more; iva — like; te — they; tamaḥ — darkness; ye — those who; u — also; vidyāyām — in the culture of knowledge; ratāḥ — engaged.

Translation Those who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge.

Synonyms anyat — different; eva — certainly; āhuḥ — said; vidyayā — by culture of knowledge; anyat — different; āhuḥ — said; avidyayā — by culture of nescience; iti — thus; śuśruma — I heard; dhīrāṇām — from the sober; ye — who; naḥ — to us; tat — that; vicacakṣire — explained.

Translation The wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of nescience.

Synonyms vidyām — knowledge in fact; ca — and; avidyām — nescience; ca — and; yaḥ — a person who; tat — that; veda — knows; ubhayam — both; saha — simultaneously; avidyayā — by culture of nescience; mṛtyum — repeated death; tīrtvā — transcending; vidyayā — by culture of knowledge; amṛtam — deathlessness; aśnute — enjoys.

Translation Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality.

Synonyms andham — ignorance; tamaḥ — darkness; praviśanti — enter into; ye — those who; asambhūtim — demigods; upāsate — worship; tataḥ — than that; bhūyaḥ — still more; iva — like that; te — those; tamaḥ — darkness; ye — who; u — also; sambhūtyām — in the Absolute; ratāḥ — engaged.

Translation Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods enter into the darkest region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshipers of the impersonal Absolute.

Synonyms anyat — different; eva — certainly; āhuḥ — it is said; sambhavāt — by worshiping the Supreme Lord, the cause of all causes; anyat — different; āhuḥ — it is said; asambhavāt — by worshiping what is not the Supreme; iti — thus; śuśruma — I heard it; dhīrāṇām — from the undisturbed authorities; ye — who; naḥ — unto us; tat — about that subject matter; vicacakṣire — perfectly explained.

Translation It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause of all causes and that another result is obtained by worshiping what is not supreme. All this is heard from the undisturbed authorities, who clearly explained it.

Synonyms sambhūtim — the eternal Personality of Godhead, His transcendental name, form, pastimes, qualities and paraphernalia, the variegatedness of His abode, etc.; ca — and; vināśam — the temporary material manifestation of demigods, men, animals, etc., with their false names, fame, etc.; ca — also; yaḥ — one who; tat — that; veda — knows; ubhayam — both; saha — along with; vināśena — with everything liable to be vanquished; mṛtyum — death; tīrtvā — surpassing; sambhūtyā — in the eternal kingdom of God; amṛtam — deathlessness; aśnute — enjoys.

Translation One should know perfectly the personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes, as well as the temporary material creation with its temporary demigods, men and animals. When one knows these, he surpasses death and the ephemeral cosmic manifestation with it, and in the eternal kingdom of God he enjoys his eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

Synonyms hiraṇmayena — by a golden effulgence; pātreṇa — by a dazzling covering; satyasya — of the Supreme Truth; apihitam — covered; mukham — the face; tat — that covering; tvam — Yourself; pūṣan — O sustainer; apāvṛṇu — kindly remove; satya — pure; dharmāya — unto the devotee; dṛṣṭaye — for exhibiting.

Translation O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee.

Synonyms pūṣan — O maintainer; eka-ṛṣe — the primeval philosopher; yama — the regulating principle; sūrya — the destination of the sūris (great devotees); prājāpatya — the wellwisher of the prajāpatis (progenitors of mankind); vyūha — kindly remove; raśmīn — the rays; samūha — kindly withdraw; tejaḥ — effulgence; yat — so that; te — Your; rūpam — form; kalyāṇa-tamam — most auspicious; tat — that; te — Your; paśyāmi — I may see; yaḥ — one who is; asau — like the sun; asau — that; puruṣaḥ — Personality of Godhead; saḥ — myself; aham — I; asmi — am.

Translation O my Lord, O primeval philosopher, maintainer of the universe, O regulating principle, destination of the pure devotees, well-wisher of the progenitors of mankind, please remove the effulgence of Your transcendental rays so that I can see Your form of bliss. You are the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, like unto the sun, as am I.

Synonyms vāyuḥ — air of life; anilam — total reservoir of air; amṛtam — indestructible; atha — now; idam — this; bhasmāntam — after being turned to ashes; śarīram — body; oṁ — O Lord; krato — O enjoyer of all sacrifices; smara — please remember; kṛtam — all that has been done by me; smara — please remember; krato — O supreme beneficiary; smara — please remember; kṛtam — all that I have done for You; smara — please remember.

Translation Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please remember all that I have done for You.

Synonyms agne — O my Lord, as powerful as fire; naya — kindly lead; supathā — by the right path; rāye — for reaching You; asmān — us; viśvāni — all; deva — O my Lord; vayunāni — actions; vidvān — the knower; yuyodhi — kindly remove; asmat — from us; juhurāṇam — all hindrances on the path; enaḥ — all vices; bhūyiṣṭhām — most numerous; te — unto You; namaḥ-uktiṁ — words of obeisance; vidhema — I do.

Translation O my Lord, as powerful as fire, O omnipotent one, now I offer You all obeisances, falling on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress.

Synonyms iti — this; ṣoḍaśakam — sixteen; nāmnām — of the holy names; kali — age of Kali; kalmaṣa — sins (dirt); nāśanam — destroying (counteracting); na — not; ataḥ — then; paratara — better; upayaḥ — method; sarva — all; vedeṣu — in the Vedas; dṛśyate — it is found.

Translation The sixteen words of the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra are especially meant for counteracting the sins of the age of Kali. To save oneself from the contamination of this age there is no alternative but to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra. After searching through all the Vedic literatures one cannot find a method of religion for this age so sublime as the chanting of Hare Kṛṣṇa. (Lord Brahmā instructs Nārada)

Synonyms anoḥ-aṇīyān — the smallest of the small; mahata-mahīyān — the greatest of the great; ātmāsya — of the self; jantoḥ — of the embodied being; nihitaḥ — situated; guhāyām — in the heart.

Translation Both the Supersoul and the atomic soul are situated in the same heart of the living being.

Synonyms nāyam — mundane knowledge; ātmā — knowledge of the self; pravacanena — by discussing; labhyaḥ — comprehensible; na — not; medhayā — by mental power; na — not; bahunā — much; śrutena — by hearing; yam — for such a person; eva — indeed; eṣa — this knowledge; vṛṇute — is concealed; tena — by Him; labhyaḥ — comprehensible; tasya — His; eṣa — this; ātmā — the science of the self; vivṛṇute — He reveals; tanūm — His own form; svām — by His own will.

Translation The Supreme Lord is not attained by expert explanations, by vast intelligence, nor even by much hearing. He is attained only by one whom He Himself chooses. To such a person He manifests His own form. (also the Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 3.2.3)

Synonyms uttiṣṭha — get up; jāgrata — awake; prāpya — having obtained; varān — the advantages (of a human body); nibodhata — just understand; kṣurasya — of a razor; dhārā — the edge; niśitā — regulations; duratyayā — very difficult; durgam — very difficult to traverse; pathaḥ — path; tat — that; kavayaḥ — learned scholars; vadanti — they say.

Translation Please wake up and try to understand the boon that you now have in this human form of life. The path of spiritual realization is very difficult; it is sharp like a razor's edge. That is the opinion of learned transcendental scholars.

Synonyms nityaḥ — the singular eternal; nityānām — of the plural eternals; cetanaḥ — the singular conscious being; cetanānām — of the plural conscious beings; ekaḥ — that one; bahūnām — of the many; yaḥ — He who; vidadhāti — supplies; kāmān — all desired necessities of life.

Translation The Supreme Lord is eternal and the living beings are eternal. The Supreme Lord is cognizant and the living beings are cognizant. The difference is that the Supreme Lord is supplying all the necessities of life for the many other living entities.

Synonyms tat-vijñāna-artham — to learn that transcendental subject matter; saḥ — one; gurum — a spiritual master; eva — certainly; ābhigacchet — must approach; samit-pāṇiḥ — carrying firewood in his hand; śrotriyam — expert in understanding the Vedic conclusion; brahma-niṣṭham — constantly engaged in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Translation To learn the transcendental subject matter, one must approach a spiritual master. In doing so, he should carry fuel to burn in sacrifice. The symptom of such a spiritual master is that he is expert in understanding the Vedic conclusion and therefore he constantly engages in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Synonyms yasmin — to him (or in whom); vijñāte — having been known (or by knowing); sarvam — everything; evam — thus/certainly; vijñātam — known; bhavati — becomes.

Translation If one can understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the controller of all controllers, one can understand everything else.

Synonyms dvā — two; suparṇā — birds; sayujā — together; sakhāyāḥ — friends; sa-mānam — along with love; vṛkṣam — tree; pariṣasvajāte — sitting; tayor — both; anyaḥ — one; pippalam — enjoying the fruits; svādv — tasting; atty — eats; anaśnann — while eating; anyaḥ — another; abhicākaśīti — is looking at.

Translation The Lord and the living entity are compared to two birds sitting in a tree. While the illusioned living entity eats the fruits of the material world, the Lord as Supersoul and best friend witnesses these activities.

Synonyms apāṇi — without material hands; pādo — or feet; javanaḥ — moving quickly; grahītā — He accepts; paśyati — He sees; acakṣuḥ — without material eyes; saḥ — He (the Supreme Person); śṛṇoti — hears; akarṇaḥ — without material ears; saḥ — He (the Supreme Person); vetti — knows; vedyam — the Vedas; na — not; ca — and; tasya — of Him; asti — there is; vettā — knower; tam — Him; āhuḥ — it is said; agryam — the best of all; puruṣam — person; mahāntam — the greatest.

Translation The Supreme Lord has no material hands and feet but accepts whatever is offered to Him and moves very quickly. The Supreme Person has no material ears and eyes but sees and hears everything. He is the knower of everything, and He is all that is to be known. It is said that He is the best and the greatest of all persons.

Synonyms bāla-agra — the tip of a hair; śata-bhāgasya — of one hundredth; śata-dhā — into one hundred parts; kalpitasyā — divided; ca — and; bhāgaḥ — minute portion; jīvaḥ — the living entity; saḥ — that; vijñeyaḥ — to be understood; iti — thus; ca — and; āha — have said; parā — chief; śrutiḥ — Vedic mantras.

Translation If we divide the tip of a hair into one hundred parts and then take one part and divide this into another one hundred parts, that ten-thousandth part is the dimension of the living entity. This is the verdict of the chief Vedic mantras. (quoted in Caitanya-caritāmṛta Madhya 19.140)

Synonyms na — not; tasya — of Him; kāryam — any duty; karaṇam — cause; ca — and; vidyate — there is; na — nor; tat — Him; samaḥ — equal to; ca — and; abhyadhikaḥ — superior (to Him); ca — and; dṛśyate — is seen; parasya — of the Supreme; śaktiḥ — potencies; vividhā — various; eva — certainly; śrūyate — is known; svabhāvikī — His spiritual nature of eternity, knowledge, bliss, etc.; jñāna — knowledge; bala — power; kriyā — the action; ca — also.

Translation The Supreme Lord has nothing to do. Nothing is equal to Him or greater than Him. He acts in different phases by manifesting His parts and parcels, which are all simultaneously differently situated by His unlimited, variegated potencies. Each potency acts quite naturally in sequences, providing Him full knowledge, power and pastimes.

Synonyms yasya — of whom; deve — in the Supreme Lord; parā — superior; bhaktiḥ — devotion; yathā-deve — as in the Lord; tathā — in the same way; gurau — in the spiritual master; tasya — to him; ete — these; kathitāḥ — as described; hi — certainly; arthāḥ — the imports; prakāśante — are revealed; mahātmanaḥ — of those great souls.

Translation Only unto those great souls who have implicit faith in both the Lord and the spiritual master are all the imports of Vedic knowledge automatically revealed.

Synonyms rasaḥ — (the reservoir of) transcendental mellows; vai — indeed; saḥ — He (the Supreme Personality of Godhead).

Translation The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the reservoir of transcendental mellows.

Synonyms bhīṣāsmāt — out of fear; vātaḥ — the wind; pavate — he blows (and purifies); bhīṣā — out of intimidation; udeti — he distributes heat; sūryaḥ — the sun; bhīṣāsmāt — out of fear; agniḥ — fire (is burning); candraḥ — the moon (is shining); ca — and; mṛtyuḥ — death; dhāvati — he is chasing; pañcamaḥ — the five life airs (i.e. the life-span of the living entities).

Translation It is out of fear of the Supreme Brahman that the wind is blowing, out of fear of Him that the sun regularly rises and sets, and out of fear of Him that fire acts. It is only due to fear of Him that death and Indra, the King of heaven, perform their respective duties.

Synonyms yataḥ — from where; vā — indeed; imāni — all these; bhūtāni — living entities; jāyante — are produced.

Translation The Supreme Absolute Truth is that from which everything is born.