om ity etad akṣaram udgītham upāsīta | om iti hy udgāyati | tasyopavyākhyānam
Let a man meditate on the syllable Om, called the udgîtha; for the udgîtha (a portion of the Sâma-veda) is sung, beginning with Om. The full account, however, of Om is this:—
The essence of all beings is the earth, the essence of the earth is water, the essence of water the plants, the essence of plants man, the essence of man speech, the essence of speech the Rig-veda, the essence of the Rig-veda the Sâma-veda, the essence of the Sâma-veda the udgîtha (which is Om).
tad vā etad anujñākṣaram | yad dhi kiṃcānujānāty om ity eva tad āha | eṣo eva samṛddhir yad anujñā | samardhayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etad evaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste
That syllable is a syllable of permission, for whenever we permit anything, we say Om, yes. Now permission is gratification. He who knowing this meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgîtha, becomes indeed a gratifier of desires.
teneyaṃ trayī vidyā vartate | om ity āśrāvayati | om iti śaṃsati | om ity udgāyati | etasyaiva akṣarasyāpacityai mahimnā rasena
By that syllable does the threefold knowledge (the sacrifice, more particularly the Soma-sacrifice, as founded on the three Vedas) proceed. When the Adhvaryu priest gives an order, he says Om. When the Hotri priest recites, he says Om. When the Udgâtri priest sings, he says Om, —all for the glory of that syllable. The threefold knowledge (the sacrifice) proceeds by the greatness of that syllable (the vital breaths), and by its essence (the oblations).
तेनोभौ कुरुतः । यश् चैतद् एवं वेद यश् च न वेद । नाना तु विद्या चाविद्या च । यद् एव विद्यया करोति श्रद्धयोपनिषदा तद् एव वीर्यवत्तरं भवतीति खल्व् एतस्यैवाक्षरस्योपव्याख्यानं भवति
tenobhau kurutaḥ | yaś caitad evaṃ veda yaś ca na veda | nānā tu vidyā cāvidyā ca | yad eva vidyayā karoti śraddhayopaniṣadā tad eva vīryavattaraṃ bhavatīti khalv etasyaivākṣarasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhavati
Now therefore it would seem to follow, that both he who knows this (the true meaning of the syllable Om), and he who does not, perform the same sacrifice. But this is not so, for knowledge and ignorance are different. The sacrifice which a man performs with knowledge, faith, and the Upanishad is more powerful. This is the full account of the syllable Om.
ते ह नासिक्यं प्राणम् उद्गीथम् उपासां चक्रिरे । तं ह असुराः पाप्मना विविधुः । तस्मात् तेनोभयं जिघ्रति सुरभि च दुर्गन्धि च । पाप्मना ह्य् एष विद्धः
te ha nāsikyaṃ prāṇam udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | taṃ ha asurāḥ pāpmanā vividhuḥ | tasmāt tenobhayaṃ jighrati surabhi ca durgandhi ca | pāpmanā hy eṣa viddhaḥ
They meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as the breath (scent) in the nose, but the Asuras pierced it (the breath) with evil. Therefore we smell by the breath in the nose both what is good-smelling and what is bad-smelling. For the breath was pierced by evil.
atha ha vācam udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | tāṃ hāsurāḥ pāpmanā vividhuḥ | tasmāt tayobhayaṃ vadati satyaṃ cānṛtaṃ ca | pāpmanā hy eṣā viddhā
Then they meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as speech, but the Asuras pierced it with evil. Therefore we speak both truth and falsehood. For speech is pierced by evil.
atha ha cakṣur udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | tad dhāsurāḥ pāpmanā vividhuḥ | tasmāt tenobhayaṃ paśyati darśanīyaṃ cādarśanīyaṃ ca | pāpmanā hy etad viddham
Then they meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as the eye, but the Asuras pierced it with evil. There fore we see both what is sightly and unsightly. For the eye is pierced by evil.
atha ha śrotram udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | tad dhāsurāḥ pāpmanā vividhuḥ | tasmāt tenobhayaṃ śṛṇoti śravaṇīyaṃ cāśravaṇīyaṃ ca | pāpmanā hy etad viddham
Then they meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as the ear, but the Asuras pierced it with evil. Therefore we hear both what should be heard and what should not be heard. For the ear is pierced by evil.
atha ha mana udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | tad dhāsurāḥ pāpmanā vividhuḥ | tasmāt tenobhayaṃ saṃkalpayate saṃkalpanīyaṃ ca | pāpmanā hy etad viddham
Then they meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as the mind, but the Asuras pierced it with evil. Therefore we conceive both what should be conceived and what should not be conceived. For the mind is pierced by evil.
atha ha ya evāyaṃ mukhyaḥ prāṇas tam udgītham upāsāṃ cakrire | taṃ hāsurā ṛtvā vidadhvaṃsur yathāśmānam ākhaṇam ṛtvā vidhvaṃsetaivam
Then comes this breath (of life) in the mouth. They meditated on the udgîtha (Om) as that breath. When the Asuras came to it, they were scattered, as (a ball of earth) would be scattered when hitting a solid stone.
एवं यथाश्मानम् आखणम् ऋत्वा विध्वंसत एवं हैव स विध्वंसते य एवंविदि पापं कामयते यश् चैनम् अभिदासति । स एषो ऽश्माखणः
evaṃ yathāśmānam ākhaṇam ṛtvā vidhvaṃsata evaṃ haiva sa vidhvaṃsate ya evaṃvidi pāpaṃ kāmayate yaś cainam abhidāsati | sa eṣo 'śmākhaṇaḥ
Thus, as a ball of earth is scattered when hitting on a solid stone, will he be scattered who wishes evil to one who knows this, or who persecutes him; for he is a solid stone.
naivaitena surabhi na durgandhi vijānāti | apahatapāpmā hy eṣaḥ | tena yad aśnāti yat pibati tenetarān prāṇān avati | etam u evāntato 'vittvotkrāmati | vyādadāty evāntata iti
By it (the breath in the mouth) he distinguishes neither what is good nor what is bad-smelling, for that breath is free from evil. What we eat and drink with it supports the other vital breaths (i. e. the senses, such as smell, &c.) When at the time of death he does not find that breath (in the mouth, through which he eats and drinks and lives), then he departs. He opens the mouth at the time of death (as if wishing to eat).
tena taṃ ha bṛhaspatir udgītham upāsāṃ cakre | etam u eva bṛhaspatiṃ manyante | vāg ghi bṛhatī tasyā eṣapatiḥ
Therefore Brihaspati meditated on udgîtha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it to be Brihaspati, for speech is brihatî, and he (that breath) is the lord (pati) of speech;
āgātā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etad evaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste | ity adhyātmam
He who knows this, and meditates on the syllable Om (the imperishable udgîtha) as the breath of life in the mouth, he obtains all wishes by singing. So much for the udgîtha (Om) as meditated on with reference to the body.
athādhidaivatam | ya evāsau tapati tam udgītham upāsīta | udyan vā eṣa prajābhya udgāyati | udyaṃs tamo bhayam apahanti | apahantā ha vai bhayasya tamaso bhavati ya evaṃ veda
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
अथ खलु व्यानम् एवोद्गीथम् उपासीत । यद् वै प्राणिति स प्राणः । यद् अपानिति सो ऽपानः । अथ यः प्राणापानयोः संधिः स व्यानः । यो व्यानः सा वाक् । तस्माद् अप्राणन्न् अनपानन् वाचम् अभिव्याहरति
atha khalu vyānam evodgītham upāsīta | yad vai prāṇiti sa prāṇaḥ | yad apāniti so 'pānaḥ | atha yaḥ prāṇāpānayoḥ saṃdhiḥ sa vyānaḥ | yo vyānaḥ sā vāk | tasmād aprāṇann anapānan vācam abhivyāharati
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
etam u evāham abhyagāsiṣaṃ tasmān mama tvam eko 'sīti ha kauṣītakiḥ putram uvāca | raśmīṃs tvaṃ paryāvartayāt | bahavo vai te bhaviṣyanti | ity adhidaivatam
'Him I sang praises to, therefore art thou my only one,' thus said Kaushîtaki to his son. 'Do thou revolve his rays, then thou wilt have many sons.' So much in reference to the Devas.
etam u evāham abhyagāsiṣaṃ tasmān mama tvam eko 'sīti ha kauṣītakiḥ putram uvāca | prāṇāṃs tvaṃ bhūmānam abhigāyatād bahavo vai me bhaviṣyantīti
'Him I sang praises to, therefore art thou my only son,' thus said Kaushîtaki to his son. 'Do thou therefore sing praises to the breath as manifold, if thou wishest to have many sons.'
अथ खलु य उद्गीथः स प्रणवो यः प्रणवः स उद्गीथ इति । होतृषदनाद् ध एवापि दुरुद्गीथम् अनुसमाहरतीत्य् अनुसमाहरतीति
atha khalu ya udgīthaḥ sa praṇavo yaḥ praṇavaḥ sa udgītha iti | hotṛṣadanād dha evāpi durudgītham anusamāharatīty anusamāharatīti
He who knows that the udgîtha is the pranava, and the pranava the udgîtha, rectifies from the seat of the Hotri priest any mistake committed by the Udgâtri priest in performing the udgîtha, yea, in performing the udgîtha.
iyam evark | agniḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | iyam eva sā | agnir amaḥ | tat sāma
The Rik (veda) is this earth, the Sâman (veda) is fire. This Sâman (fire) rests on that Rik (earth). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is this earth, ama is fire, and that makes Sâma.
antarikṣam evark | vāyuḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | antarikṣam eva sā | vāyur amaḥ | tat sāma
The Rik is the sky, the Sâman air. This Sâman (air) rests on that Rik (sky). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is the sky, ama the air, and that makes Sâma.
dyaur evark | ādityaḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | dyaur eva sā | ādityo 'maḥ | tat sāma
Rik is heaven, Sâman the sun. This Sâman (sun) rests on that Rik (heaven). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is heaven, ama the sun, and that makes Sâma.
nakṣatrāny evark | candramāḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | nakṣatrāṇy eva sā | candramā amaḥ | tat sāma
Rik is the stars, Sâman the moon. This Sâman (moon) rests on that Rik (stars). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is the stars, ama the moon, and that makes Sâma.
atha yad etad ādityasya śuklaṃ bhāḥ saivark | atha yan nīlaṃ paraḥkṛṣṇaṃ tat sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmad ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate
Rik is the white light of the sun, Sâman the blue exceeding darkness (in the sun). This Sâman (darkness) rests on that Rik (brightness). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik.
atha yad evaitad ādityasya śuklaṃ bhāḥ saiva sā | atha yan nīlaṃ paraḥkṛṣṇaṃ tad amaḥ | tat sāma | atha ya eṣo 'ntarāditye hiraṇmayaḥ puruṣo dṛśyate hiraṇyaśmaśrur hiraṇyakeśa ā praṇakhāt sarva eva suvarnaḥ
Sâ is the white light of the sun, ama the blue exceeding darkness, and that makes Sâma. Now that golden person, who is seen within the sun, with golden beard and golden hair, golden altogether to the very tips of his nails,
तस्यर्क् च साम च गेष्णौ । तस्माद् उद्गीथः । तस्मात् त्व् एव उद्गाता । एतस्य हि गाता । स एष ये चामुष्मात् पराञ्चो लोकास् तेषां चेष्ट देवकामानां च । इत्य् अधिदैवतम्
tasyark ca sāma ca geṣṇau | tasmād udgīthaḥ | tasmāt tv eva udgātā | etasya hi gātā | sa eṣa ye cāmuṣmāt parāñco lokās teṣāṃ ceṣṭa devakāmānāṃ ca | ity adhidaivatam
Rik and Sâman are his joints, and therefore he is udgîtha. And therefore he who praises him (the ut) is called the Ud-gâtri (the out-singer). He (the golden person, called ut) is lord of the worlds beyond that (sun), and of all the wishes of the Devas (inhabiting those worlds). So much with reference to the Devas.
athādhyātmam | vāg evark | prāṇaḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | vāg eva sā | prāṇo 'maḥ | tat sāma
Now with reference to the body. Rik is speech, Sâman breath. This Sâman (breath) rests on that Rik (speech). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is speech, ama is breath, and that makes Sâma.
cakṣur evark | ātmā sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | cakṣur eva sā | ātmāmaḥ | tat sāma
Rik is the eye, Sâman the self. This Sâman (shadow) rests on that Rik (eye). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is the eye, ama the self, and that makes Sâma.
śrotram evark | manaḥ sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | śrotram eva sā | mano 'maḥ | tat sāma
Rik is the ear, Sâman the mind. This Sâman (mind) rests on that Rik (ear). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is the ear, ama the mind, and that makes Sâma.
atha yad etad akṣnaḥ śuklaṃ bhāḥ saivark | atha yan nīlaṃ paraḥkṛṣṇaṃ tat sāma | tad etad etasyām ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma | tasmād ṛcy adhyūḍhaṃ sāma gīyate | atha yad evaitad akṣṇaḥ śuklaṃ bhāḥ saiva sā | atha yan nīlaṃ paraḥkṛṣṇaṃ tad amaḥ | tat sāma
Rik is the white light of the eye, Sâman the blue exceeding darkness. This Sâman (darkness) rests on the Rik (brightness). Therefore the Sâman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sâ is the white light of the eye, ama the blue exceeding darkness, and that makes Sâma.
atha ya eṣo 'ntar akṣiṇi puruṣo dṛśyate saivark | tat sāma | tad uktham | tad yajuḥ | tad brahma | tasya etasya tad eva rūpaṃ yad amuṣya rūpam | yāv amuṣya geṣṇau tau tau goṣṇau | yan nāma tan nāma
Now the person who is seen in the eye, he is Rik, he is Sâman, Uktha, Yagus, Brahman. The form of that person (in the eye) is the same as the form of the other person (in the sun), the joints of the one (Rik and Sâman) are the joints of the other, the name of the one (ut) is the name of the other.
स एष ये चैतस्माद् अर्वाञ्चो लोकास् तेषां चेष्टे मनुष्यकामानां चेति । तद् य इमे वीणायां गायन्त्य् एतं ते गायन्ति । तस्मात् ते धनसनयः
sa eṣa ye caitasmād arvāñco lokās teṣāṃ ceṣṭe manuṣyakāmānāṃ ceti | tad ya ime vīṇāyāṃ gāyanty etaṃ te gāyanti | tasmāt te dhanasanayaḥ
He is lord of the worlds beneath that (the self in the eye), and of all the wishes of men. Therefore all who sing to the vînâ (lyre), sing him, and from him also they obtain wealth.
अथ य एतद् एवं विद्वान् साम गायत्य् उभौ स गायति । सो ऽमुनैव स एष ये चामुष्मात् पराञ्चो लोकास् तांश् चाप्नोति देवकामांश् च
atha ya etad evaṃ vidvān sāma gāyaty ubhau sa gāyati | so 'munaiva sa eṣa ye cāmuṣmāt parāñco lokās tāṃś cāpnoti devakāmāṃś ca
He who knowing this sings a Sâman, sings to both (the adhidaivata and adhyâtma self, the person in the sun and the person in the eye, as one and the same person). He obtains through the one, yea, he obtains the worlds beyond that, and the wishes of the Devas;
अथानेनैव ये चैतस्माद् अर्वाञ्चो लोकास् तांश् चाप्नोति मनुष्यकामांश् च । तस्माद् उ हैवंविद् उद्गाता ब्रूयात्
athānenaiva ye caitasmād arvāñco lokās tāṃś cāpnoti manuṣyakāmāṃś ca | tasmād u haivaṃvid udgātā brūyāt
And he obtains through the other the worlds beneath that, and the wishes of men. Therefore an Udgâtri priest who knows this, may say (to the sacrificer for whom he officiates);
कं ते कामम् आगायानीति । एष ह्य् एव कामागानस्येष्टे य एवं विद्वान् साम गायति साम गायति
kaṃ te kāmam āgāyānīti | eṣa hy eva kāmāgānasyeṣṭe ya evaṃ vidvān sāma gāyati sāma gāyati
"What wish shall I obtain for you by my songs?" For he who knowing this sings a Sâman is able to obtain wishes through his song, yea, through his song.
का साम्नो गतिर् इति । स्वर इति होवाच । स्वरस्य का गतिर् इति । प्राण इति होवाच । अन्नस्य का गतिर् इति । अन्नम् इति होवाच । अन्नस्य का गतिर् इति । आप इति होवाच
kā sāmno gatir iti | svara iti hovāca | svarasya kā gatir iti | prāṇa iti hovāca | annasya kā gatir iti | annam iti hovāca | annasya kā gatir iti | āpa iti hovāca
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
तं ह शिलकः शालावत्यश् चैकितायनं दाल्भ्यम् उवाचाप्रतिष्ठितं वै किल ते दाल्भ्य साम । यस् त्व् एतर्हि ब्रूयान् मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मूर्धा ते विपतेद् इति
taṃ ha śilakaḥ śālāvatyaś caikitāyanaṃ dālbhyam uvācāpratiṣṭhitaṃ vai kila te dālbhya sāma | yas tv etarhi brūyān mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mūrdhā te vipated iti
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
taṃ ha pravāhaṇo jaivalir uvāca | antavad vai kila te śālāvatya sāma | yas tv etarhi brūyān mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti mūrdhā te vipated iti | hantāham etad bhagavatto vedānīti | viddhīti hovāca
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
asya lokasya kā gatir iti | ākāśa iti hovāca | sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtāny ākāśād eva samutpadyante | ākāśaṃ praty astaṃ yanti | ākāśo hy evaibhyo jyāyān | ākāśaḥ parāyaṇam
'What is the origin of this world?' 'Ether,' he replied. For all these beings take their rise from the ether, and return into the ether. Ether is older than these, ether is their rest.
स एष परोवरीयान् उद्गीथः । स एषो ऽनन्तः । परोवरीयो हास्य भवति परोवरीयसो ह लोकाञ् जयति य एतद् एवं विद्वान् परोवरीयांसम् उद्गीथम् उपास्ते
sa eṣa parovarīyān udgīthaḥ | sa eṣo 'nantaḥ | parovarīyo hāsya bhavati parovarīyaso ha lokāñ jayati ya etad evaṃ vidvān parovarīyāṃsam udgītham upāste
He is indeed the udîttha (Om=Brahman), greater than great (parovarîyas), he is without end. He who knowing this meditates on the udgîtha, the greater than great, obtains what is greater than great, he conquers the worlds which are greater than great.
Atidhanvan Saunaka, having taught this udgîtha to Udara-sândilya, said: 'As long as they will know in your family this udgîtha, their life in this world will be greater than great.
एतेषां मे देहीति होवाच । तान् अस्मै प्रददौ । हन्तानुपानम् इति । उच्छिष्टं वै मे पीतं स्याद् इति होवाच
eteṣāṃ me dehīti hovāca | tān asmai pradadau | hantānupānam iti | ucchiṣṭaṃ vai me pītaṃ syād iti hovāca
Ushasti said: 'Give me to eat of them.' He gave him the beans, and said: 'There is something to drink also.' Then said Ushasti: 'If I drank of it, I should have drunk what was left by another, and is therefore unclean.'
न स्विद् एते ऽप्य् उच्छिष्टा इति । न वा अजीविष्यम् इमान् अखादन्न् इति होवाच । कामो म उदपानम् इति
na svid ete 'py ucchiṣṭā iti | na vā ajīviṣyam imān akhādann iti hovāca | kāmo ma udapānam iti
The chief said: 'Were not those beans also left over and therefore unclean?' 'No,' he replied; 'for I should not have lived, if I had not eaten them, but the drinking of water would be mere pleasure.'
स ह प्रातः संजिहान उवाच । यद् बतान्नस्य लभेमहि लभेमहि धनमात्राम् । राजासौ यक्ष्यते । स मा सर्वैर् आर्त्विज्यैर् वृणीतेति
sa ha prātaḥ saṃjihāna uvāca | yad batānnasya labhemahi labhemahi dhanamātrām | rājāsau yakṣyate | sa mā sarvair ārtvijyair vṛṇīteti
Rising the next morning, Ushasti said to her: 'Alas, if we could only get some food, we might gain a little wealth. The king here is going to offer a sacrifice, he should choose me for all the priestly offices.'
'Prastotri, if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the prastâva (the hymns &c. of the Prastotri), are going to sing it, your head will fall off.'
In the same manner he addressed the Udgâtri; 'Udgâtri, if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the udgtîha (the hymns of the Udgâtri), are going to sing it, your head will fall off.'
एवम् एव प्रतिहर्तारम् उवाच । प्रतिहर्तर् या देवता प्रतिहारम् अन्वायत्ता तां चेद् अविद्वान् प्रतिहरिष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति । ते ह समारतास् तूष्णीम् आसां चक्रिरे
evam eva pratihartāram uvāca | pratihartar yā devatā pratihāram anvāyattā tāṃ ced avidvān pratihariṣyasi mūrdhā te vipatiṣyatīti | te ha samāratās tūṣṇīm āsāṃ cakrire
In the same manner he addressed the Pratihartri; 'Pratihartri, if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the pratihâra (the hymns of the Pratihartri), are going to sing it, your head will fall off.' They stopped, and sat down in silence.
bhagavāṃs tv eva me sarvair ārtvijyair iti | tatheti | atha tarhy eta eva samatisṛṣṭāḥ stuvatām | yāvat tv ebhyo dhanaṃ dadyās tāvan mama dadyā iti | tatheti ha yajamāna uvāca
'But now, Sir, take all the sacrificial offices.' Ushasti said: "Very well; but let those, with my permission, perform the hymns of praise. Only as much wealth as you give to them, so much give to me also.' The sacrificer assented.
अथ हैनं प्रस्तोतोपससाद । प्रस्तोतर् या देवता प्रस्तावम् अन्वायत्ता तां चेद् अविद्वान् प्रस्तोष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मा भगवान् अवोचत् । कतमा सा देवतेति
Then the Prastotri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, "Prastotri, if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the prastâva, are going to sing it, your head will fall off,"—which then is that deity?'
He said: 'Breath (prâna). For all these beings merge into breath alone, and from breath they arise. This is the deity belonging to the prastâva. If, without knowing that deity, you had sung forth your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after you had been warned by me.'
Then the Udgâtri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, "Udgâtri, if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the udgîtha, are going to sing it, your head will fall off,"—which then is that deity?'
He said: 'The sun (âditya). For all these beings praise the sun when it stands on high. This is the deity belonging to the udgîtha. If without knowing that deity, you had sung out your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after you had been warned by me.'
अथ हैनं प्रतिहर्तोपससाद । प्रतिहर्तर् या देवता प्रतिहारम् अन्वायत्ता तां चेद् अविद्वान् प्रतिहरिष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति मा भगवान् अवोचत् । कतमा सा देवतेति
Then the Pratihartri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, "Pratihartri, if you, without knowing the deity belonging to the pratihâra, are going to sing it, your head will fall off,"—which then is that deity?'
अन्नम् इति होवाच । सर्वाणि ह वा इमानि भूतन्य् अन्नम् एव प्रतिहरमाणानि जीवन्ति । सैषा देवता प्रतिहारम् अन्वायत्ता । तां चेद् अविद्वान् प्रत्यहरिष्यो मूर्धा ते व्यपतिष्यत् तथोक्तस्य मयेति तथोक्तस्य मयेति
annam iti hovāca | sarvāṇi ha vā imāni bhūtany annam eva pratiharamāṇāni jīvanti | saiṣā devatā pratihāram anvāyattā | tāṃ ced avidvān pratyahariṣyo mūrdhā te vyapatiṣyat tathoktasya mayeti tathoktasya mayeti
He said: 'Food (anna). For all these beings live when they partake of food. This is the deity belonging to the pratihâra. If, without knowing that deity, you had sung your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after you had been warned by me.'
ते ह यथैवेदं बहिष्पवमानेन स्तोष्यमाणाः संरब्धाः सर्पन्तीत्य् एवम् आससृपुः । ते ह समुपविश्य हिञ् चक्रुः
te ha yathaivedaṃ bahiṣpavamānena stoṣyamāṇāḥ saṃrabdhāḥ sarpantīty evam āsasṛpuḥ | te ha samupaviśya hiñ cakruḥ
The dogs came on, holding together, each dog keeping the tail of the preceding dog in his mouth, as the priests do when they are going to sing praises with the Vahishpavamâna hymn. After they had settled down, they began to say Hin.
The syllable Hâu is this world (the earth), the syllable Hâi the air, the syllable Atha the moon, the syllable Iha the self, the syllable Î is Agni, fire.
The syllable Û is the sun, the syllable E is the Nihava or invocation, the syllable Auhoi is the Visve Devas, the syllable Hin is Pragâpati, Svara (tone) is breath (prâna), the syllable Yâ is food, the syllable Vâg is Virâg.
दुग्धे ऽस्मै वाग् दोहं यो वाचो दोहः । अन्नवान् अन्नादो भवति । य एताम् एवं साम्नाम् उपनिषदं वेदोपनिषदं वेद
dugdhe 'smai vāg dohaṃ yo vāco dohaḥ | annavān annādo bhavati | ya etām evaṃ sāmnām upaniṣadaṃ vedopaniṣadaṃ veda
Speech yields the milk, which is the milk of speech itself to him who knows this Upanishad (secret doctrine) of the Sâmans in this wise. He becomes rich in food, and able to eat food,—yea, able to eat food.