Brahman (The Absolute)

kena upaniṣad - prathamaḥ khaṇḍaḥ

(Kena Upanishad - First Khanda in English (IAST))

From Samaveda (Talavakara Brahmana)

The Kena Upanishad is a seminal Vedantic text belonging to the Samaveda, exploring the nature of the Supreme Brahman. It famously begins by questioning the source of our cognitive faculties, ultimately revealing that true divinity transcends the limitations of the mind and senses. The first khanda serves as an inquiry into the ultimate reality that empowers the eyes, ears, and speech. Chanting or contemplating this Upanishad is considered highly auspicious for seekers, as it removes ignorance, sharpens intellectual insight, and facilitates the realization of the indestructible, eternal self, leading to ultimate spiritual liberation.

|| atha kenopaniṣat ||
oṃ sa॒ha nā̭vavatu | sa॒ha naṷ bhunaktu | sa॒ha vī॒rya̭-ṅkaravāvahai | te॒ja॒svinā॒vadhī̭tamastu॒ mā vi̭dviṣā॒vahai᳚ |
oṃ śānti॒-śśānti॒-śśāntiḥ̭ ||
oṃ āpyāyantu mamāṅgāni vākprāṇaścakṣu-śśrotramatho balamindriyāṇi ca sarvāṇi | sarva-mbrahmaupaniṣada-mmā-'ha-mbrahma nirākuryā-mmā mā brahma nirākarodanirākaraṇamastvanirākaraṇa-mme-'stu | tadātmani nirate ya upaniṣatsu dharmāste mayi santu te mayi santu |
oṃ śānti॒-śśānti॒-śśāntiḥ̭ ||
keneṣita-mpatati preṣita-mmanaḥ
kena prāṇaḥ prathamaḥ praiti yuktaḥ |
keneṣitāṃ-vā~camimāṃ-va~danti
cakṣu-śśrotra-ṅka u devo yunakti || 1 ||
śrotrasya śrotra-mmanaso mano yad
vāco ha vācaṃ sa u prāṇasya prāṇaḥ |
cakṣuṣaścakṣuratimucya dhīrāḥ
pretyāsmāllokādamṛtā bhavanti || 2 ||
na tatra cakṣurgacchati na vāgacchati no manaḥ |
na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitadanuśiṣyāt || 3 ||
anyadeva tadviditādatho aviditādadhi |
iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṃ-ye~ nastadvyācacakṣire || 4 ||
yadvācā-'nabhyuditaṃ-ye~na vāgabhyudyate |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ-vi~ddhi nedaṃ-ya~didamupāsate || 5 ||
yanmanasā na manute yenāhurmano matam |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ-vi~ddhi nedaṃ-ya~didamupāsate || 6 ||
yaccakṣuṣā na paśyati yena cakṣūṃṣi paśyati |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ-vi~ddhi nedaṃ-ya~didamupāsate || 7 ||
yacchrotreṇa na śṛṇoti yena śrotramidaṃ śrutam |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ-vi~ddhi nedaṃ-ya~didamupāsate || 8 ||
yatprāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate |
tadeva brahma tvaṃ-vi~ddhi nedaṃ-ya~didamupāsate || 9 ||
|| iti kenopaniṣadi prathamaḥ khaṇḍaḥ ||

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