Chapter 1: Shiksha Valli: the teacher's instruction
23 verses · 1 of 3
What happens in this chapter
Shiksha Valli: the teacher's instruction
The valli opens and closes with the peace chant to Mitra, Varuna, Aryaman, Indra, Brihaspati and Vishnu. It begins with phonetics: sound, accent, length, effort, evenness and joining. The teacher prays for wisdom and for students to come to him like waters running downhill. The four utterances Bhuh, Bhuvah, Suvah and Mahah are taught, and Om is praised. Rita, truth, tapas and self-control go together with study and teaching. Trishanku's words after realisation are given. At the close, the teacher sends the students home: speak the truth, follow dharma, never neglect study; treat mother, father, teacher and guest as gods; give with faith.
Om. May Mitra be gracious to us, and Varuna. May Aryaman be gracious to us. May Indra and Brihaspati be gracious to us, and Vishnu of the wide strides. Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to you, Vayu: you alone are Brahman made visible. You alone I shall call the visible Brahman. I shall speak what is right; I shall speak what is true. May That protect me, may That protect the teacher. May it protect me, may it protect the teacher. Om, peace, peace, peace.
Om. We shall now explain Shiksha, the science of pronunciation: the letter, the accent, the length of the sound, the force of utterance, evenness of delivery, and the joining of sounds. So the lesson on pronunciation is told.
saha nau yaśaḥ | saha nau brahmavarcasam | athātaḥ saṃhitāyā upaniṣadaṃ vyākhyāsyāmaḥ | pañcasvadhikaraṇeṣu | adhilokamadhijyautiṣamadhividyamadhiprajamadhyātmam | tā mahāsam̐hitā ityācakṣate | athādhilokam | pṛthivī pūrvarūpam | dyauruttararūpam | ākāśaḥ sandhiḥ
May glory come to us both, teacher and pupil, and the light of sacred learning to us both. Now we shall explain the inner meaning of samhita, the joining, under five heads: the worlds, the lights, knowledge, offspring and the self. These are called the great joinings. First, regarding the worlds: the earth is the first form, heaven the latter form, and space is their meeting point.
Air is what joins them. So much for the worlds. Next, regarding the lights: fire is the first form, the sun the latter form, the waters their meeting point, and lightning what joins them. So much for the lights. Next, regarding knowledge: the teacher is the first form.
The pupil is the latter form, knowledge the meeting point, and teaching what joins them. So much for knowledge. Next, regarding offspring: the mother is the first form, the father the latter form, the child the meeting point, and begetting what joins them. So much for offspring.
Next, regarding the self: the lower jaw is the first form, the upper jaw the latter form, speech the meeting point, and the tongue what joins them. So much for the self. These are the great joinings. Whoever knows these great joinings as explained is joined with offspring, with cattle, with the light of sacred learning, with food to eat and with the heavenly world.
यश्छन्दसामृषभो विश्वरूपः । छन्दोभ्योऽध्यमृतात्संबभूव । स मेन्द्रो मेधया स्पृणोतु । अमृतस्य देव धारणो भूयासम् । शरीरं मे विचर्षणम् । जिह्वा मे मधुमत्तमा । कर्णाभ्यां भूरि विश्रुवम् । ब्रह्मणः कोशोऽसि मेधया पिहितः । श्रुतं मे गोपाय
yaśchandasāmṛṣabho viśvarūpaḥ | chandobhyo'dhyamṛtātsaṃbabhūva | sa mendro medhayā spṛṇotu | amṛtasya deva dhāraṇo bhūyāsam | śarīraṃ me vicarṣaṇam | jihvā me madhumattamā | karṇābhyāṃ bhūri viśruvam | brahmaṇaḥ kośo'si medhayā pihitaḥ | śrutaṃ me gopāya
He who is the foremost of the Vedic metres, who takes every form, who arose from the immortal metres: may that Indra, Om, strengthen me with wisdom. O Deva, may I hold the immortal. May my body be fit and active, my tongue most sweet, and may I hear much with my ears. You are the sheath of Brahman, covered over by intellect. Guard what I have learned.
āvahantī vitanvānā kurvāṇā'cīramātmanaḥ | vāsām̐si mama gāvaśca | annapāne ca sarvadā | tato me śriyamāvaha | lomaśāṃ paśubhiḥ saha svāhā | āmāyantu brahmacāriṇaḥ svāhā | vimāyantu brahmacāriṇaḥ svāhā | pramāyantu brahmacāriṇaḥ svāhā | damāyantu brahmacāriṇaḥ svāhā | śamāyantu brahmacāriṇaḥ svāhā
Then bring me prosperity, the goddess who brings, spreads and quickly makes for me clothes and cattle, food and drink at all times; bring her with wool-bearing beasts. Svaha. May students of the Veda come to me from every side. Svaha. May they come in many ways. Svaha. May they come well prepared. Svaha. May they be self-controlled. Svaha. May they be at peace. Svaha.
May I be renowned among men. Svaha. May I be better than the wealthy. Svaha. Into you, O Lord, may I enter. Svaha. Into me, O Lord, may you enter. Svaha. In you of a thousand branches I cleanse myself. Svaha. As waters run downward, as months pass into the year, so may students come to me, O Creator, from all sides. Svaha. You are a resting place: shine upon me, come to me fully.
Bhuh, Bhuvah and Suvah are the three sacred utterances. Mahachamasya made known a fourth, Mahah. That is Brahman, that is the Self; the other devatas are its limbs. Bhuh is this world, Bhuvah the middle region, Suvah the world beyond.
Mahah is the sun, for by the sun all the worlds are made great. Bhuh is fire, Bhuvah is air, Suvah is the sun, and Mahah is the moon, for by the moon all the lights are made great. Bhuh is the Rig verses, Bhuvah the Sama chants, Suvah the Yajus formulas.
maha iti brahma | brahmaṇā vāva sarve vedā mahīyante | bhūriti vai prāṇaḥ | bhuva ityapānaḥ | suvariti vyānaḥ | maha ityannam | annena vāva sarve prāṇā mahīyante | tā vā etāścatasraścaturdhā | catasraścatasro vyāhṛtayaḥ | tā yo veda | sa veda brahma | sarve'smai devā balimāvahanti
Mahah is Brahman, for by Brahman all the Vedas are made great. Bhuh is the in-breath prana, Bhuvah the out-breath apana, Suvah the diffused breath vyana, and Mahah is food, for by food all the breaths are made great. So these four are each fourfold: four times four utterances. Whoever knows them knows Brahman, and all the devas bring him offerings.
In the space within the heart dwells this Purusha, made of mind, immortal and golden. Between the two palates hangs something like a nipple: that is the birthplace of Indra, the gateway of the Self. Where the roots of the hair part at the crown, it passes through the skull. Saying Bhuh, the knower rests in fire; saying Bhuvah, in air.
Saying Suvah, he rests in the sun; saying Mahah, in Brahman. He gains self-rule; he reaches the lord of the mind. He becomes lord of speech, of sight, of hearing and of understanding. Then he becomes this: Brahman whose body is space, whose self is truth, whose delight is life, whose mind is bliss, full of peace, immortal. So worship, O Prachinayogya.
Earth, sky, heaven, the quarters and the intermediate quarters; fire, air, sun, moon and stars; waters, plants, trees, space and the body: so much for the elements. Now regarding the person: prana, vyana, apana, udana and samana; eye, ear, mind, speech and touch; skin, flesh, sinew, bone and marrow. Having set these out, the rishi said: all this is fivefold. By the fivefold one fills the fivefold.
Om is Brahman. Om is all this. Om signals assent: when they say 'recite', the reply is Om. With Om they sing the Saman chants; with Om Shom they recite the hymns of praise. With Om the Adhvaryu priest gives his response, with Om the Brahma priest gives his consent, with Om one permits the Agnihotra. A Brahmana about to recite the Veda says Om, wishing to attain Brahman, and he attains Brahman.
ऋतं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । सत्यं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । तपश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । दमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । शमश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अग्नयश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अग्निहोत्रं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । अतिथयश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । मानुषं च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजा च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजनश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । प्रजातिश्च स्वाध्यायप्रवचने च । सत्यमिति सत्यवचा राथीतरः । तप इति तपोनित्यः पौरुशिष्टिः । स्वाध्यायप्रवचने एवेति नाको मौद्गल्यः । तद्धि तपस्तद्धि तपः
ṛtaṃ ca svādhyāyapravacane ca | satyaṃ ca svādhyāyapravacane ca | tapaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | damaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | śamaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | agnayaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | agnihotraṃ ca svādhyāyapravacane ca | atithayaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | mānuṣaṃ ca svādhyāyapravacane ca | prajā ca svādhyāyapravacane ca | prajanaśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | prajātiśca svādhyāyapravacane ca | satyamiti satyavacā rāthītaraḥ | tapa iti taponityaḥ pauruśiṣṭiḥ | svādhyāyapravacane eveti nāko maudgalyaḥ | taddhi tapastaddhi tapaḥ
Right conduct, together with study and teaching of the Veda. Truth, with study and teaching. Austerity, self-restraint, calm, the sacred fires, the Agnihotra, guests, duties to men, children, begetting and grandchildren, each with study and teaching. Satyavachas Rathitara says truth alone matters; Taponitya Paurushishti says austerity; Naka Maudgalya says study and teaching alone, for that is austerity, that is austerity.
I am the mover of the tree of the world. My fame is high as a mountain peak. I am pure on high, like the immortal in the sun, a shining treasure. I am wise, immortal, imperishable. So spoke the rishi Trishanku on attaining knowledge of the Veda.
वेदमनूच्याचार्योऽन्तेवासिनमनुशास्ति । सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः । आचार्याय प्रियं धनमाहृत्य प्रजातन्तुं मा व्यवच्छेत्सीः । सत्यान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । धर्मान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । कुशलान्न प्रमदितव्यम् । भूत्यै न प्रमदितव्यम् । स्वाध्यायप्रवचनाभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम् । देवपितृकार्याभ्यां न प्रमदितव्यम्
vedamanūcyācāryo'ntevāsinamanuśāsti | satyaṃ vada | dharmaṃ cara | svādhyāyānmā pramadaḥ | ācāryāya priyaṃ dhanamāhṛtya prajātantuṃ mā vyavacchetsīḥ | satyānna pramaditavyam | dharmānna pramaditavyam | kuśalānna pramaditavyam | bhūtyai na pramaditavyam | svādhyāyapravacanābhyāṃ na pramaditavyam | devapitṛkāryābhyāṃ na pramaditavyam
Having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: Speak the truth. Follow dharma. Do not neglect your daily study. After bringing your teacher the gift he values, do not cut the line of your family. Do not swerve from truth, nor from dharma, nor from what is good for you, nor from what brings prosperity. Do not neglect study and teaching, nor your duties to the devas and the ancestors.
Let your mother be a deva to you. Let your father be a deva to you. Let your teacher be a deva to you. Let your guest be a deva to you. Do the deeds that are blameless, not others. Follow those of our ways that are good, not others.
When Brahmanas greater than us come, refresh them with a seat. Give with faith; never give without faith. Give generously, give with modesty, give with awe, give with understanding. And if you are ever in doubt about a deed or about conduct,
ये यत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकामाः स्युः । यथा ते तत्र वर्तेरन् । तथा वर्तेथाः । अथाभ्याख्यातेषु । ये तत्र ब्राह्मणाः संमर्शिनः । युक्ता आयुक्ताः । अलूक्षा धर्मकायाः स्युः । यथा ते तेषु वर्तेरन् । तथा तेषु वर्तेथाः । एष आदेशः । एष उपदेशः । एषा वेदोपनिषत् । एतदनुशासनम् । एवमुपासितव्यम् । एवमु चैतदुपास्यम्
ye yatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāmāḥ syuḥ | yathā te tatra varteran | tathā vartethāḥ | athābhyākhyāteṣu | ye tatra brāhmaṇāḥ saṃmarśinaḥ | yuktā āyuktāḥ | alūkṣā dharmakāyāḥ syuḥ | yathā te teṣu varteran | tathā teṣu vartethāḥ | eṣa ādeśaḥ | eṣa upadeśaḥ | eṣā vedopaniṣat | etadanuśāsanam | evamupāsitavyam | evamu caitadupāsyam
then act as Brahmanas there would act who judge well, devoted, not led by others, gentle and lovers of dharma. And towards people accused of wrong, behave as such Brahmanas would behave. This is the command. This is the teaching. This is the secret of the Veda. This is the instruction. So should you live; so indeed should this be followed.
śaṃ no mitraḥ śaṃ varuṇaḥ | śaṃ no bhavatvaryamā | śaṃ na indro bṛhaspatiḥ | śaṃ no viṣṇururukramaḥ | namo brahmaṇe | namaste vāyo | tvameva pratyakṣaṃ brahmāsi | tvāmeva pratyakṣaṃ brahmāvādiṣam | ṛtamavādiṣam | satyamavādiṣam | tanmāmāvīt | tadvaktāramāvīt | āvīnmām | āvīdvaktāram | oṃ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ
May Mitra be gracious to us, and Varuna. May Aryaman be gracious to us. May Indra and Brihaspati be gracious to us, and Vishnu of the wide strides. Salutation to Brahman. Salutation to you, Vayu: you alone are Brahman made visible. You alone I have called the visible Brahman. I have spoken what is right; I have spoken what is true. That has protected me, That has protected the teacher. Om, peace, peace, peace.
English translation · F. Max Müller
THE CHAPTER ON SIKSHA (PRONUNCIATION).
First Anuvaka
1. HARIH, OM! May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuna, Aryaman also, Indra, Brihaspati, and the wide-striding Vishnu.
Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, O Vayu (air)! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim thee alone as the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim the right. I shall proclaim the true (scil. Brahman).
(1-5) May it protect me! May it protect the teacher! yes, may it protect me, and may it protect the teacher! Om! Peace! peace! peace!
Second Anuvaka
1. Om! Let us explain Siksha, the doctrine of pronunciation, viz. letter, accent, quantity, effort (in the formation of letters), modulation, and union of letters (sandhi). This is the lecture on Siksha.
Third Anuvaka
1. May glory come to both of us (teacher and pupil) together! May Vedic light belong to both of us!
Now let us explain the Upanishad (the secret meaning) of the union (samhita), under five heads, with regard to the worlds, the heavenly lights, knowledge, offspring, and self (body). People call these the great Samhitas.
First, with regard to the worlds. The earth is the former element, heaven the latter, ether their union;
2. That union takes place through Vayu (air). So much with regard to the worlds.
Next, with regard to the heavenly lights. Agni (fire) is the former element, Aditya (the sun) the latter, water their union. That union takes place through lightning. So much with regard to the heavenly lights.
Next, with regard to knowledge. The teacher is the former element,
3. The pupil the latter, knowledge their union. That union takes place through the recitation of the Veda. So much with regard to knowledge.
Next, with regard to offspring. The mother is the former element, the father the latter, offspring their union. That union takes place through procreation. So much with regard to offspring.
4. Next, with regard to the self (body). The lower jaw is the former element, the upper jaw the latter, speech their union. That union takes place through speech. So much with regard to the Self. These are the great Samhitas. He who knows these Samhitas (unions), as here explained, becomes united with offspring, cattle, Vedic light, food, and with the heavenly world.
Fourth Anuvaka
1. May he who is the strong bull of the Vedas, assuming all forms, who has risen from the Vedas, from the Immortal, may that Indra (lord) strengthen me with wisdom! May I, O God, become an upholder of the Immortal!
May my body be able, my tongue sweet, may I hear much with my ears! Thou (Om) art the shrine (of Brahman), covered by wisdom. Guard what I have learnt.
She (Sri, happiness) brings near and spreads,
2. And makes, without delay, garments for herself, cows, food, and drink at all times; therefore bring that Sri (happiness) hither to me, the woolly, with her cattle! Svaha! May the Brahman-students come to me, Svaha! May they come from all sides, Svaha! May they come forth to me, Svaha! May they practise restraint, Svaha! May they enjoy peace, Svaha!
3. May I be a glory among men, Svaha May I be better than the richest, Svaha! May I enter into thee, O treasure (Om), Svaha Thou, O treasure, enter into me, Svaha! As water runs downward, as the months go to the year, so, O preserver of the world, may B rahman-students always come to me from all sides, Svaha!
(1) Thou art a refuge! Enlighten me! Take possession of me!
Fifth Anuvaka
1. Bhu, Bhuvas, Suvas, these are the three sacred interjections (vyahriti). Mahakamasya taught a fourth, viz. Mahas, which is Brahman, which is the Self. The others (devatas) are its members.
Bhu is this world, Bhuvas is the sky, Suvas is the other world.
2. Mahas is the sun. All the worlds are increased by the sun. Bhu is Agni (fire), Bhuvas is Vayu (air), Suvas is Aditya (sun). Mahas is the moon. All the heavenly lights are increased by the moon.
Bhu is the Rik-verses, Bhuvas is the Saman-verses, Suvas is the Yagus-verses.
3. Mahas is Brahman. All theVedas are increased by the Brahman.
(1-2) Bhu is Prana (up-breathing), Bhuvas is Apana (down-breathing), Suvas is Vyana (backbreathing). Mahas is food. All breathings are increased by food.
Thus there are these four times four, the four and four sacred interjections. He who knows these,
(1-2) Knows the Brahman. All Devas bring offerings to him.
Sixth Anuvaka
1. There is the ether within the heart, and in it there is the Person (purusha) consisting of mind, immortal, golden.
Between the two palates there hangs the uvula, like a nipple-that is the starting-point of Indra (the lord). Where the root of the hair divides, there he opens the two sides of the head, and saying Bhu, he enters Agni (the fire); saying Bhuvas, he enters Vayu (air);
2. Saying Suvas, he enters Aditya (sun); saying Mahas, he enters Brahman. He there obtains lordship, he reaches the lord of the mind. He becomes lord of speech, lord of sight, lord of hearing, lord of knowledge. Nay, more than this. There is the Brahman whose body is ether, whose nature is true, rejoicing in the senses (prana), delighted in the mind, perfect in peace, and immortal.
(1) Worship thus, O Prakinayogya!
Seventh Anuvaka
1. 'The earth, the sky, heaven, the four quarters,and the intermediate quarters,'-'Agni (fire), Vayu (air), Aditya (sun), Kandramas (moon), and the stars,'-'Water, herbs, trees, ether, the universal Self (virag),'-so much with reference to material objects (bhuta).
Now with reference to the self (the body): 'Prana (up-breathing),Apana (down-breathing),Vyana (backbreathing), Udana (out-breathing), and.Samana (on-breathing),'-' The eye, the ear, mind, speech, and touch,'-'The skin, flesh, muscle, bone, and marrow.' Having dwelt on this (fivefold arrangement of the worlds, the gods, beings, breathings, senses, and elements of the body), a Rishi said: 'Whatever exists is fivefold (pankta).'
(1) By means of the one fivefold set (that referring to the body) he completes the other fivefold set.
Eight Anuvaka
1. Om means Brahman. 2. Om means all this. 3. Om means obedience. When they have been told, 'Om, speak,' they speak. 4. After Om they sing Samans. 5. After Om they recite hymns. 6. After Om the Adhvaryu gives the response. 7. After Om the Brahman-priest gives orders. 8. After Om he (the sacrificer) allows the performance of the Agnihotra. 9. When a Braahmana is going to begin his lecture, he says, 10. 'Om, may I acquire Brahman (the Veda).' He thus acquires the Veda.
Ninth Anuvaka
1. (What is necessary?) The right, and learning and practising the Veda. The true, and learning and practising the Veda. Penance, and learning and practising the Veda. Restraint, and learning and practising the Veda. Tranquillity, and learning and practising the Veda. The fires (to be consecrated), and learning and practising the Veda. The Agnihotra sacrifice, and learning and practising the Veda. Guests (to be entertained), and learning and practising theVeda. Man's duty, and learning and practising the Veda. Children, and learning and practising the Veda.
(1-6) Marriage, and learning and practising the Veda. Children's children, and learning and practising the Veda.
Satyavakas Rathitara thinks that the true only is necessary. Taponitya Paurasishti thinks that penance only is necessary. Naka Maudgalya thinks that learning and practising the Veda only are necessary,-for that is penance, that is penance.
Tenth Anuvaka
1. 'I am he who shakes the tree (i.e. the tree of the world, which has to be cut down by knowledge). 2. My glory is like the top of a mountain. 3. I, whose pure light (of knowledge) has risen high, am that which is truly immortal, as it resides in the sun. 4. I am the brightest treasure. 5. I am wise, immortal, imperishable,.' 6. This is the teaching of the Veda, by the poet Trisanku.
Eleventh Anuvaka
1. After having taught the Veda, the teacher instructs the pupil: 'Say what is true! Do thy duty! Do not neglect the study of the Veda! After having brought to thy teacher his proper reward, do not cut off the line of children! Do not swerve from the truth! Do not swerve from duty! Do not neglect what is useful! Do not neglect greatness! Do not neglect the learning and teaching of the Veda!
2. 'Do not neglect the (sacrificial) works due to the Gods and Fathers! Let thy mother be to thee like unto a god! Let thy father be to thee like unto a god! Let thy teacher be to thee like unto a god! Let thy guest be to thee like unto a god! Whatever actions are blameless, those should be regarded, not others. Whatever good works have been performed by us, those should be observed by thee,-
3. 'Not others. And there are some Brahmanas better than we. They should be comforted by thee by giving them a seat. Whatever is given should be given with faith, not without faith,-with joy, with modesty, with fear, with kindness. If there should be any doubt in thy mind with regard to any sacred act or with regard to conduct,-
4. 'In that case conduct thyself as Brahmanas who possess good judgment conduct themselves therein, whether they be appointed or not, as long as they are not too severe, but devoted to duty. And with regard to things that have been spoken against, as Brahmanas who possess good judgment conduct themselves therein, whether they be appointed or not, as long as they are not too severe, but devoted to duty,
(1-7) Thus conduct thyself. 'This is the rule. This is the teaching. This is the true purport (Upanishad) of the Veda. This is the command. Thus should you observe. Thus should this be observed.'
Twelfth Anuvaka
1. May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuna, Aryaman also, Indra, Brihaspati, and the wide-striding Vishnu! Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, O Vayu! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I proclaimed thee alone as the visible Brahman.
(1-5) I proclaimed the right. I proclaimed the true. It protected me. It protected the teacher. Yes, it protected me, it protected the teacher. Om! Peace! peace! peace!
Public-domain translation by F. Max Müller (1884).
Text source: Wikisource · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikisource transcription of a public-domain text)