The sun is indeed the honey of the Devas. The heaven is the cross-beam (from which) the sky (hangs as) a hive, and the bright vapours are the eggs of the bees.
tasya ye prāñco raśmayas tā evāsya prācyo madhunāḍyaḥ | ṛca eva madhukṛtaḥ | ṛgveda eva puṣpam | tā amṛtā āpaḥ | tā vā etā ṛcaḥ
The eastern rays of the sun are the honey-cells in front. The Rik verses are the bees, the Rig-veda (sacrifice) is the flower, the water (of the sacrificial libations) is the nectar (of the flower).
Those very Rik verses then (as bees) brooded over the Rig-veda sacrifice (the flower); and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
atha ye 'sya dakṣiṇā raśmayas tā evāsya dakṣiṇā madhunāḍyaḥ | yajūṃṣy eva madhukṛtaḥ | yajurveda eva puṣpam | tā amṛtā āpaḥ
The southern rays of the sun are the honey-cells on the right. The Yagus verses are the bees, the Yagur-veda sacrifice is the flower, the water (of the sacrificial libations) is the nectar (of the flower).
Those very Yagus verses (as bees) brooded over the Yagur-veda sacrifice (the flower); and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
Those very Sâman verses (as bees) brooded over the Sâma-veda sacrifice; and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
atha ye 'syodañco raśmayas tā evāsyodīcyo madhunāḍyaḥ | atharvāṅgirasa eva madhukṛtaḥ | itihāsapurāṇaṃ puṣpam | tā amṛtā āpaḥ
The northern rays of the sun are the honey-cells on the left. The (hymns of the) Atharvângiras are the bees, the Itihâsa-purâna (the reading of the old stories) is the flower, the water is the nectar.
Those very hymns of the Atharvângiras (as bees) brooded over the Itihâsa-purâna; and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
Those secret doctrines (as bees) brooded over Brahman (the Om); and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of countenance, brightness, vigour, strength, and health.
ते वा एते रसानां रसाः । वेदा हि रसाः । तेषाम् एते रसाः । तानि वा एतान्य् अमृतानाम् अमृतानि । वेदा ह्य् अमृताः । तेषाम् एतान्य् अमृतानि
te vā ete rasānāṃ rasāḥ | vedā hi rasāḥ | teṣām ete rasāḥ | tāni vā etāny amṛtānām amṛtāni | vedā hy amṛtāḥ | teṣām etāny amṛtāni
These (the different colours in the sun) are the essences of the essences. For the Vedas are essences (the best things in the world); and of them (after they have assumed the form of sacrifice) these (the colours rising to the sun) are again the essences. They are the nectar of the nectar. For the Vedas are nectar (immortal), and of them these are the nectar.
tad yat prathamam amṛtaṃ tad vasava upajīvanty agninā mukhena | na vai devā aśnanti na pibanti | etad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyanti
On the first of these nectars (the red light, which represents fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, health) the Vasus live, with Agni at their head. True, the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the nectar.
sa ya etad evam amṛtaṃ veda vasūnām evaiko bhūtvāgninaiva mukhenaitad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyati | sa etad eva rūpam abhisaṃviśati | etasmād rūpād udeti
He who thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Vasus, with Agni at their head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, too, having entered that colour, rises again from that colour.
sa ya etad evam amṛtaṃ veda rudrāṇām evaiko bhūtvendreṇaiva mukhenaitad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyati | sa etad eva rūpam abhisaṃviśati | etasmād rūpād udeti
He who thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Rudras, with Indra at their head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour, rises again from that colour.
sa yāvad ādityaḥ purastād udetā paścād astam etā dvis tāvad dakṣiṇata udetottarato 'stam etā rudrāṇām eva tāvad ādhipatyaṃ svārājyaṃ paryetā
So long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, twice as long does it rise in the south and set in the north; and so long does he follow the sovereign supremacy of the Rudras.
sa ya etad evam amṛtaṃ vedādityānām evaiko bhūtvā varuṇenaiva mukhenaitad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyati | sa etad eva rūpam abhisaṃviśati | etasmād rūpād udeti
He who thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Âdityas, with Varuna at their head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour, rises again from that colour.
sa yāvad ādityo dakṣiṇata udetottarato 'stam etā dvis tāvat paścād udetā purastād astam etādityānām eva tāvad ādhipatyaṃ svārājyaṃ paryetā
So long as the sun rises in the south and sets in the north, twice as long does it rise in the west and set in the east; and so long does he follow the sovereign supremacy of the Âdityas.
sa ya etad evam amṛtaṃ veda marutām evaiko bhūtvā somenaiva mukhenaitad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyati | sa etad eva rūpam abhisaṃviśati | etasmād rūpād udeti
He who thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Maruts, with Soma at their head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour, rises again from that colour.
So long as the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, twice as long does it rise in the north and set in the south; and so long does he follow the sovereign supremacy of the Maruts.
sa ya etad evam amṛtaṃ veda sādhyānām evaiko bhūtvā brahmaṇaiva mukhenaitad evāmṛtaṃ dṛṣṭvā tṛpyati | sa etad eva rūpam abhisaṃviśati | etasmād rūpād udeti
He who thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Sâdhyas, with Brahman at their head; he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour, rises again from that colour.
sa yāvad āditya uttarata udetā dakṣiṇato 'stam etā dvis tāvad ūrdhvam udetārvāg astam etā sādhyānām eva tāvad ādhipatyaṃ svārājyaṃ paryetā
So long as the sun rises in the north and sets in the south, twice as long does it rise above, and set below; and so long does he follow the sovereign power of the Sâdhyas.
गायत्री वा इदं सर्वं भूतं यद् इदम् किञ्च । वाग् वै गायत्री । वाग् वा इदं सर्वं भूतं गायति च त्रायते च
gāyatrī vā idaṃ sarvaṃ bhūtaṃ yad idam kiñca | vāg vai gāyatrī | vāg vā idaṃ sarvaṃ bhūtaṃ gāyati ca trāyate ca
The Gâyatrî (verse) is everything whatsoever here exists. Gâyatrî indeed is speech, for speech sings forth (gâya-ti) and protects (trâya-te) everything that here exists.
tāvān asya mahimā tato jyāyāṃś ca puruṣaḥ | pādo 'sya sarvā bhūtāni tripād asyāmṛtaṃ divīti
'Such is the greatness of it (of Brahman, under the disguise of Gâyatrî); greater than it is the Person (purusha). His feet are all things. The immortal with three feet is in heaven (i.e. in himself).'
अयं वाव स यो ऽयम् अन्तर्हृदय आकाशः । तद् एतत् पूर्णम् अप्रवर्ति । पूर्णम् अप्रवर्तिनीं श्रियं लभते य एवं वेद
ayaṃ vāva sa yo 'yam antarhṛdaya ākāśaḥ | tad etat pūrṇam apravarti | pūrṇam apravartinīṃ śriyaṃ labhate ya evaṃ veda
That is the ether within the heart. That ether in the heart (as Brahman) is omnipresent and unchanging. He who knows this obtains omnipresent and unchangeable happiness.
तस्य ह वा एतस्य हृदयस्य पञ्च देवसुषयः । स यो ऽस्य प्राङ् सुषिः स प्राणः । तच् चक्षुः । स आदित्यः । तद् एतत् तेजो ऽन्नाद्यम् इत्य् उपासीत । तेजस्व्य् अन्नादो भवति य एवं वेद
tasya ha vā etasya hṛdayasya pañca devasuṣayaḥ | sa yo 'sya prāṅ suṣiḥ sa prāṇaḥ | tac cakṣuḥ | sa ādityaḥ | tad etat tejo 'nnādyam ity upāsīta | tejasvy annādo bhavati ya evaṃ veda
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
All this is Brahman (n.) Let a man meditate on that (visible world) as beginning, ending, and breathing in it (the Brahman). Now man is a creature of will. According to what his will is in this world, so will he be when he has departed this life. Let him therefore have this will and belief:
The intelligent, whose body is spirit, whose form is light, whose thoughts are true, whose nature is like ether (omnipresent and invisible), from whom all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed; he who embraces all this, who never speaks, and is never surprised,
एष म आत्मा अन्तर्हृदये ऽणीयान् व्रीहेर् वा यवाद् वा सर्षपाद् वा श्यामाकाद् वा श्यामाकतण्डुलाद् वा । एष म आत्मा अन्तर्हृदये ज्यायान् पृथिव्या ज्यायान् अन्तरिक्षाज् ज्यायान् दिवो ज्यायान् एभ्यो लोकेभ्यः
He is my self within the heart, smaller than a corn of rice, smaller than a corn of barley, smaller than a mustard seed, smaller than a canary seed or the kernel of a canary seed. He also is my self within the heart, greater than the earth, greater than the sky, greater than heaven, greater than all these worlds.
sarvakarmā sarvakāmaḥ sarvagandhaḥ sarvarasaḥ sarvam idam abhyatto 'vākyanādaraḥ | eṣa ma ātmā antarhṛdaye | etad brahma | etam itaḥ pretyābhisaṃbhavitā asmīti yasya syād addhā na vicikitsā asti | iti ha smāha śāṇḍilyaḥ śāṇḍilyaḥ
He from whom all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed, who embraces all this, who never speaks and who is never surprised, he, my self within the heart, is that Brahman (n.) When I shall have departed from hence, I shall obtain him (that Self). He who has this faith has no doubt; thus said Sândilya, yea, thus he said.
तस्य प्राची दिग् जुहूर् नाम । सहमाना नाम दक्षिणा । राज्ञी नाम प्रतीची । सुभूता नामोदीची । तासां वायुर् वत्सः । स य एतम् एवं वायुं दिशां वत्सं वेद न पुत्ररोदं रोदिति । सो ऽहम् एतम् एवं वायुं दिशां वत्सं वेद । मा पुत्ररोदं रुदम्
tasya prācī dig juhūr nāma | sahamānā nāma dakṣiṇā | rājñī nāma pratīcī | subhūtā nāmodīcī | tāsāṃ vāyur vatsaḥ | sa ya etam evaṃ vāyuṃ diśāṃ vatsaṃ veda na putrarodaṃ roditi | so 'ham etam evaṃ vāyuṃ diśāṃ vatsaṃ veda | mā putrarodaṃ rudam
Sanskrit only: no published translation is held for this verse.
puruṣo vāva yajñaḥ | tasya yāni caturviṃśativarṣāṇi tat prātaḥsavanam | caturviṃśatyakṣarā gāyatrī | gāyatraṃ prātaḥsavanam | tad asya vasavo 'nvāyattāḥ | prāṇā vāva vasavaḥ | ete hīdaṃ sarvaṃ vāsayanti
Man is sacrifice. His (first) twenty-four years are the morning-libation. The Gâyatrî has twenty-four syllables, the morning-libation is offered with Gâyatrî hymns. The Vasus are connected with that part of the sacrifice. The Prânas (the five senses) are the Vasus, for they make all this to abide (vâsayanti).
taṃ ced etasmin vayasi kiṃcid upatapet sa brūyāt | prāṇā vasava idaṃ me prātaḥsavanaṃ mādhyaṃdinaṃ savanam anusaṃtanuteti māhaṃ prāṇānāṃ vasūnāṃ madhye yajño vilopsīyeti | ud dhaiva tata ety agado ha bhavati
If anything ails him in that (early) age, let him say: 'Ye Prânas, ye Vasus, extend this my morning-libation unto the midday-libation, that I, the sacrifices may not perish in the midst of the Prânas or Vasus.' Thus he recovers from his illness, and becomes whole.
atha yāni catuścatvāriṃśad varṣāṇi tan mādhyaṃdinaṃ savanam | catuścatvāriṃśadakṣarā triṣṭup | traiṣṭubhaṃ mādhyaṃdinaṃ savanam | tad asya rudrā anvāyattāḥ | prāṇā vāva rudrāḥ | ete hīdaṃ sarvaṃ rodayanti
The next forty-four years are the midday-libation. The Trishtubh has forty-four syllables, the midday-libation is offered with Trishtubh hymns. The Rudras are connected with that part of it. The Prânas are the Rudras, for they make all this to cry (rodayanti).
taṃ ced etasmin vayasi kiṃcid upatapet sa brūyāt | prāṇā rudrā idaṃ me mādhyaṃdinaṃ savanaṃ tṛtīyasavanam anusaṃtanuteti māhaṃ prāṇānāṃ rudrāṇāṃ madhye yajño vilopsīyeti | ud dhaiva tata ety agado ha bhavati
If anything ails him in that (second) age, let him say: 'Ye Prânas, ye Rudras, extend this my midday-libation unto the third libation, that I, the sacrificer, may not perish in the midst of the Prânas or Rudras.' Thus he recovers from his illness, and becomes whole.
The next forty-eight years are the third libation. The Gagatî has forty-eight syllables, the third libation is offered with Gagatî hymns. The Âdityas are connected with that part of it. The Prânas are the Âdityas, for they take up all this (âdadate).
तं चेद् एतस्मिन् वयसि किंचिद् उपतपेत् स ब्रूयात् । प्राणा आदित्या इदं मे तृतीयसवनम् आयुर् अनुसंतनुतेति माहं प्राणानाम् आदित्यानां मध्ये यज्ञो विलोप्सीयेति । उद् धैव तत एत्य् अगदो हैव भवति
taṃ ced etasmin vayasi kiṃcid upatapet sa brūyāt | prāṇā ādityā idaṃ me tṛtīyasavanam āyur anusaṃtanuteti māhaṃ prāṇānām ādityānāṃ madhye yajño vilopsīyeti | ud dhaiva tata ety agado haiva bhavati
If anything ails him in that (third) age, let him say: 'Ye Prânas, ye Âdityas, extend this my third libation unto the full age, that I, the sacrificer, may not perish in the midst of the Prânas or Âdityas.' Thus he recovers from his illness, and becomes whole.
एतद् ध स्म वै तद् विद्वान् आह महिदास ऐतरेयः । स किं म एतद् उपतपसि यो ऽहम् अनेन न प्रेष्याम् इति । स ह षोडशं वर्षशतम् अजीवत् । प्र ह षोडशं वर्षशतं जीवति य एवं वेद
etad dha sma vai tad vidvān āha mahidāsa aitareyaḥ | sa kiṃ ma etad upatapasi yo 'ham anena na preṣyām iti | sa ha ṣoḍaśaṃ varṣaśatam ajīvat | pra ha ṣoḍaśaṃ varṣaśataṃ jīvati ya evaṃ veda
Mahidâsa Aitareya (the son of Itarâ), who knew this, said (addressing a disease): 'Why dost thou afflict me, as I shall not die by it?' He lived a hundred and sixteen years (i.e. 24+44+48). He, too, who knows this lives on to a hundred and sixteen years.
atha yad aśnāti yat pibati yad ramate tad upasadair eti
When a man eats, drinks, and enjoys pleasures, he does it with the Upasadas (the sacrificial days on which the sacrificer is allowed to partake of food).
Therefore when they say, 'There will be a birth,' and 'there has been a birth' (words used at the Soma-sacrifice, and really meaning, 'He will pour out the Soma-juice,' and 'he has poured out the Soma-juice'), that is his new birth. His death is the Avabhritha ceremony (when the sacrificial vessels are carried away to be cleansed).
tad dhaitad ghora āṅgirasaḥ kṛṣṇāya devakīputrāyoktvovāca | apipāsa eva sa babhūva | so 'ntavelāyām etat trayaṃ pratipadyetākṣitam asy acyutam asi prāṇasaṃśitam asīti | tatraite dve ṛcau bhavataḥ
Ghora Ângirasa, after having communicated this (view of the sacrifice) to Krishna, the son of Devaki— and he never thirsted again (after other knowledge)— said: "Let a man, when his end approaches, take refuge with this Triad:'Thou art the imperishable;' 'Thou art the unchangeable,' 'Thou art the edge of Prâna.' On this subject there are two Rik verses (Rig-veda VIII,,):—
'Then they see (within themselves) the everpresent light of the old seed (of the world, the Sat), the highest, which is lighted in the brilliant (Brahman)." Rig-veda I,,:— 'Perceiving above the darkness (of ignorance) the higher light (in the sun), as the higher light within the heart, the bright source (of light and life) among the gods, we have reached the highest light, yea, the highest light.'
mano brahmety upāsīta | ity adhyātmam | athādhidaivatam | ākāśo brahma | ity ubhayam ādiṣṭaṃ bhavaty adhyātmaṃ cādhidaivataṃ ca
Let a man meditate on mind as Brahman (n.), this is said with reference to the body. Let a man meditate on the ether as Brahman (n.), this is said with reference to the Devas. Thus both the meditation which has reference to the body, and the meditation which has reference to the Devas, has been taught.
That Brahman (mind) has four feet (quarters). Speech is one foot, breath is one foot, the eye is one foot, the ear is one foot—so much with reference to the body. Then with reference to the gods, Agni (fire) is one foot, Vâyu (air) is one foot, Âditya (sun) is one foot, the quarters are one foot. Thus both the worship which has reference to the body, and the worship which has reference to the Devas, has been taught.
वाग् एव ब्रह्मणश् चतुर्थः पादः । सो ऽग्निना ज्योतिषा भाति च तपति च । भाति च तपति च कीर्त्या यशसा ब्रह्मवर्चसेन य एवं वेद
vāg eva brahmaṇaś caturthaḥ pādaḥ | so 'gninā jyotiṣā bhāti ca tapati ca | bhāti ca tapati ca kīrtyā yaśasā brahmavarcasena ya evaṃ veda
Speech is indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Agni (fire) as its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
प्राण एव ब्रह्मणश् चतुर्थः पादः । स वायुना ज्योतिषा भाति च तपति च । भाति च तपति च कीर्त्या यशसा ब्रह्मवर्चसेन य एवं वेद
prāṇa eva brahmaṇaś caturthaḥ pādaḥ | sa vāyunā jyotiṣā bhāti ca tapati ca | bhāti ca tapati ca kīrtyā yaśasā brahmavarcasena ya evaṃ veda
Breath is indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Vâyu (air) as its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
चक्षुर् एव ब्रह्मणश् चतुर्थः पादः । स आदित्येन ज्योतिषा भाति च तपति च । भाति च तपति च कीर्त्या यशसा ब्रह्मवर्चसेन य एवं वेद
cakṣur eva brahmaṇaś caturthaḥ pādaḥ | sa ādityena jyotiṣā bhāti ca tapati ca | bhāti ca tapati ca kīrtyā yaśasā brahmavarcasena ya evaṃ veda
The eye is indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Âditya (sun) as its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
श्रोत्रम् एव ब्रह्मणश् चतुर्थः पादः । स दिग्भिर् ज्योतिषा भाति च तपति च । भाति च तपति च कीर्त्या यशसा ब्रह्मवर्चसेन य एवं वेद य एवं वेद
śrotram eva brahmaṇaś caturthaḥ pādaḥ | sa digbhir jyotiṣā bhāti ca tapati ca | bhāti ca tapati ca kīrtyā yaśasā brahmavarcasena ya evaṃ veda ya evaṃ veda
The ear is indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with the quarters as its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
ādityo brahmety ādeśaḥ | tasyopavyākhyānam | asad evedam agra āsīt | tat sad āsīt | tat samabhavat | tad āṇḍaṃ niravartata | tat saṃvatsarasya mātrām aśayata | tan nirabhidyata | te āṇḍakapāle rajataṃ ca suvarṇaṃ cābhavatām
Âditya (the sun) is Brahman, this is the doctrine, and this is the fuller account of it:— In the beginning this was non-existent. It be came existent, it grew. It turned into an egg. The egg lay for the time of a year. The egg broke open. The two halves were one of silver, the other of gold.
tad yad rajataṃ seyaṃ pṛthivī | yat suvarṇaṃ sā dyauḥ | yaj jarāyu te parvatāḥ | yad ulbaṃ (sa) samegho nīhāraḥ | yā dhamanayas tā nadyaḥ | yad vāsteyam udakaṃ sa samudraḥ
The silver one became this earth, the golden one the sky, the thick membrane (of the white) the mountains, the thin membrane (of the yoke) the mist with the clouds, the small veins the rivers, the fluid the sea.
अथ यत् तद् अजायत सो ऽसाव् आदित्यः । तं जायमानं घोषा उलूलवो ऽनूदतिष्ठन्त् सर्वाणि च भूतानि सर्वे च कामाः । तस्मात् तस्योदयं प्रति प्रत्यायनं प्रति घोषा उलूलवो ऽनूत्तिष्ठन्ति सर्वाणि च भूतानि सर्वे च कामाः
atha yat tad ajāyata so 'sāv ādityaḥ | taṃ jāyamānaṃ ghoṣā ulūlavo 'nūdatiṣṭhant sarvāṇi ca bhūtāni sarve ca kāmāḥ | tasmāt tasyodayaṃ prati pratyāyanaṃ prati ghoṣā ulūlavo 'nūttiṣṭhanti sarvāṇi ca bhūtāni sarve ca kāmāḥ
And what was born from it that was Âditya, the sun. When he was born shouts of hurrah arose, and all beings arose, and all things which they desired. Therefore whenever the sun rises and sets, shouts of hurrah arise, and all beings arise, and all things which they desire.