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Kena Upanishad

Chapter 4

चतुर्थः खण्डः

Fourth Khanda

Verses

  1. Verse 1

    sā brahmeti hovāca brahmaṇo vā etadvijaye mahīyadhvamiti tato haiva vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 1||

    Meaning

    She said: 'It is Brahman. It is in the victory of Brahman that you have been glorying.' From that (alone) he knew for certain that It was Brahman.

  2. Verse 2

    tasmādvā ete devā atitarāmivānyāndevānyadagnirvāyurindraste hyenannediṣṭhaṃ pasparśuste hyenatprathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 2||

    Meaning

    Therefore these gods — Agni, Vayu, and Indra — surpassed the other gods, as it were, for they touched It most nearly, and they first knew It to be Brahman.

  3. Verse 3

    tasmādvā indro'titarāmivānyāndevānsa hyenannediṣṭhaṃ pasparśa sa hyenatprathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti || 3||

    Meaning

    Therefore Indra surpassed the other gods, as it were, for he touched It most nearly, and he first knew It to be Brahman.

  4. Verse 4

    tasyaiṣa ādeśo yadetadvidyuto vyadyutadā3 itīn nyamīmiṣadā3 ityadhidaivatam || 4||

    Meaning

    This is Its description with reference to the gods (adhidaivata): It is as when lightning has flashed forth — 'Ah!' — or as when the eye has winked. So much (is the illustration) concerning the deities.

  5. Verse 5

    athādhyātmaṃ yaddetadgacchatīva ca mano'nena caitadupasmaratyabhīkṣṇaṃ saṅkalpaḥ || 5||

    Meaning

    Now with reference to the self (adhyatma): that towards which the mind seems to move, and by which one remembers again and again — and the will (sankalpa) of the mind — (all point to Brahman).

  6. Verse 6

    taddha tadvanaṃ nāma tadvanamityupāsitavyaṃ sa ya etadevaṃ vedābhi hainaṃ sarvāṇi bhūtāni saṃvāñchanti || 6||

    Meaning

    That (Brahman) is named Tadvana ('the one to be longed for by all'); as Tadvana It should be worshipped. Towards him who knows It thus, all beings yearn (with love).

  7. Verse 7

    upaniṣadaṃ bho brūhītyuktā ta upaniṣadbrāhmīṃ vāva ta upaniṣadamabrūmeti || 7||

    Meaning

    (The pupil:) 'Teach me the Upanishad (the secret doctrine), sir.' (The teacher:) 'The Upanishad has been told to you; we have indeed told you the Upanishad pertaining to Brahman.'

  8. Verse 8

    tasyai tapo damaḥ karmeti pratiṣṭhā vedāḥ sarvāṅgāni satyamāyatanam || 8||

    Meaning

    Austerity, self-restraint, and (selfless) work are its support; the Vedas are all its limbs; truth is its abode.

  9. Verse 9

    yo vā etāmevaṃ vedāpahatya pāpmānamanante svarge loke jyeye pratitiṣṭhati pratitiṣṭhati || 9||

    Meaning

    He who thus knows this (Upanishad), having struck off sin, becomes firmly established in the boundless, blissful, highest heaven (the world of Brahman) — he becomes firmly established.

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