Kena Upanishad
केनोपनिषद्
A short Samaveda Upanishad in four sections (two in verse, two in prose). Opens with the profound question: By whom (Kena) is the mind impelled? It reveals that Brahman is the unmanifest power behind all the senses and faculties — the unseen Seer, the unheard Hearer.
Read Overview →Shlokas (29)
+ Add ShlokaBy Whose Will Does the Mind Go Forth?
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 1
केनेषितं पतति प्रेषितं मनः केन प्राणः प्रथमः प्रैति युक्तः । केनेषितां वाचमिमां वदन्ति चक्षुः श्रोत्रं क उ देवो युनक्ति ॥ १ ॥
keneṣitaṃ patati preṣitaṃ manaḥ kena prāṇaḥ prathamaḥ praiti yuktaḥ | keneṣitāṃ vācam imāṃ vadanti cakṣuḥ śrotraṃ ka u devo yunakti || 1 ||
By whose will does the mind go forth? By whose command does the first breath move? By whose will do people utter this speech? What god directs the eye and the ear?
The Ear of the Ear, the Mind of the Mind
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 2
श्रोत्रस्य श्रोत्रं मनसो मनो यद् वाचो ह वाचं स उ प्राणस्य प्राणः । चक्षुषश्चक्षुरतिमुच्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति ॥ २ ॥
śrotrasya śrotraṃ manaso mano yad vāco ha vācaṃ sa u prāṇasya prāṇaḥ | cakṣuṣaś cakṣur atimucya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāl lokād amṛtā bhavanti || 2 ||
That which is the ear of the ear, the mind of the mind, the speech of speech, the life of life, the eye of the eye — the wise, freed from the senses and departing this world, become immortal.
Not What the Eye Sees — That Is Brahman
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 3
न तत्र चक्षुर्गच्छति न वाग्गच्छति नो मनः । न विद्मो न विजानीमो यथैतदनुशिष्यात् ॥ ३ ॥
na tatra cakṣur gacchati na vāg gacchati no manaḥ | na vidmo na vijānīmo yathaitad anuśiṣyāt || 3 ||
The eye does not go there, nor speech, nor the mind. We do not know It; we do not understand how It can be taught.
Different from the Known, Beyond the Unknown
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 4
अन्यदेव तद्विदितादथो अविदितादधि । इति शुश्रुम पूर्वेषां ये नस्तद्व्याचचक्षिरे ॥ ४ ॥
anyad eva tad viditād atho aviditād adhi | iti śuśruma pūrveṣāṃ ye nas tad vyācacakṣire || 4 ||
That is different from the known; and also It is above the unknown. Thus we have heard from the ancients who explained it to us.
It Is Not Brahman If You Think You Know It
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 5
यन्मनसा न मनुते येनाहुर्मनो मतम् । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ५ ॥
yan manasā na manute yenāhur mano matam | tad eva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yad idam upāsate || 5 ||
That which is not thought by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is made to think — know that alone as Brahman, not this which people here worship.
It Is Not Brahman If You Think You See It
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 6
यच्चक्षुषा न पश्यति येन चक्षूंषि पश्यति । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ६ ॥
yac cakṣuṣā na paśyati yena cakṣūṃṣi paśyati | tad eva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yad idam upāsate || 6 ||
That which is not seen by the eye, but by which the eye is made to see — know that alone as Brahman, not this which people here worship.
It Is Not Brahman If You Think You Hear It
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 7
यच्छ्रोत्रेण न शृणोति येन श्रोत्रमिदं श्रुतम् । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ७ ॥
yac chrotreṇa na śṛṇoti yena śrotram idaṃ śrutam | tad eva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yad idam upāsate || 7 ||
That which is not heard by the ear, but by which the ear is made to hear — know that alone as Brahman, not this which people here worship.
It Is Not Brahman If You Think You Breathe It
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 1 · Verse 8
यत्प्राणेन न प्राणिति येन प्राणः प्रणीयते । तदेव ब्रह्म त्वं विद्धि नेदं यदिदमुपासते ॥ ८ ॥
yat prāṇena na prāṇiti yena prāṇaḥ praṇīyate | tad eva brahma tvaṃ viddhi nedaṃ yad idam upāsate || 8 ||
That which does not breathe through prana, but by which prana is made to breathe — know that alone as Brahman, not this which people here worship.
If You Think You Know Brahman Well
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 2 · Verse 9
यदि मन्यसे सुवेद इति दभ्रमेवापि नूनं त्वं वेत्थ ब्रह्मणो रूपम् । यदस्य त्वं यदस्य देवेष्वथ नु मीमाँस्यमेव ते मन्ये विदितम् ॥ ९ ॥
yadi manyase su-veda iti dabhr am evāpi nūnaṃ tvaṃ vettha brahmaṇo rūpam | yad asya tvaṃ yad asya deveṣv atha nu mīmāṃsyam eva te manye viditam || 9 ||
If you think "I know Brahman well" — then you know but little of Brahman's form. You know only that form among the gods and among men. What is Brahman — that alone deserves your inquiry.
I Do Not Think I Know Brahman Well
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 2 · Verse 10
नाहं मन्ये सुवेदेति नो न वेदेति वेद च । यो नस्तद्वेद तद्वेद नो न वेदेति वेद च ॥ १० ॥
nāhaṃ manye su-veda iti no na veda iti veda ca | yo nas tad veda tad veda no na veda iti veda ca || 10 ||
I do not think I know Brahman well; nor do I think I do not know It. Among us, one who knows that — knows It; and one who says "I do not know" — also knows.
Not Known by Those Who Know, Known by Those Who Don't
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 2 · Verse 11
यस्यामतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद सः । अविज्ञातं विजानतां विज्ञातमविजानताम् ॥ ११ ॥
yasyāmataṃ tasya mataṃ mataṃ yasya na veda saḥ | avijñātaṃ vijānatāṃ vijñātam avijānatām || 11 ||
By whom It is not known, by him It is known. By whom It is known, he does not know It. It is not understood by those who understand It; It is understood by those who do not understand It.
Brahman Is Known in Every State of Mind
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 2 · Verse 12
प्रतिबोधविदितं मतममृतत्वं हि विन्दते । आत्मना विन्दते वीर्यं विद्यया विन्दतेऽमृतम् ॥ १२ ॥
pratibodha viditaṃ matam amṛtatvaṃ hi vindate | ātmanā vindate vīryaṃ vidyayā vindateṃ mṛtam || 12 ||
Brahman is known through every state of consciousness — that is the true view; for by that one attains immortality. By the Self one attains strength; by knowledge one attains immortality.
If He Has Not Known It Here — Great Is the Loss
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 2 · Verse 13
इह चेदवेदीदथ सत्यमस्ति न चेदिहावेदीन्महती विनष्टिः । भूतेषु भूतेषु विचित्य धीराः प्रेत्यास्माल्लोकादमृता भवन्ति ॥ १३ ॥
iha ced avedīd atha satyam asti na ced ihāvedīn mahatī vinaṣṭiḥ | bhūteṣu bhūteṣu vicitya dhīrāḥ pretyāsmāl lokād amṛtā bhavanti || 13 ||
If one has known Brahman here — then there is truth; if one has not known It here — great is the loss. The wise, having perceived It in every being, become immortal on departing this world.
Brahman Won a Victory for the Gods — They Were Proud
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 14
ब्रह्म ह देवेभ्यो विजिग्ये तस्य ह ब्रह्मणो विजये देवा अमहीयन्त ॥ १४ ॥
brahma ha devebhyo vijigye tasya ha brahmaṇo vijaye devā amahīyanta || 14 ||
Brahman indeed won a victory for the gods. In Brahman's victory the gods rejoiced and were filled with pride.
They Did Not Know It Was Brahman's Victory
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 15
त ऐक्षन्त अस्माकमेवायं विजयोऽस्माकमेवेयं महिमेति ॥ १५ ॥
ta aikṣanta asmākam evāyaṃ vijayo'smākam eveyaṃ mahimeti || 15 ||
They thought: "This victory is ours indeed; this glory is ours alone." But Brahman understood their pride.
Brahman Appeared to Them as a Yaksha
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 16
तद्धैषां विजज्ञौ तेभ्यो ह प्रादुर्बभूव तन्न व्यजानत किमिदं यक्षमिति ॥ १६ ॥
tad dhaiṣāṃ vijajñau tebhyo ha prādur babhūva tan na vyajānata kim idaṃ yakṣam iti || 16 ||
Brahman knew their pride. It appeared before them. They did not understand it — "What is this Yaksha (spirit)?", they wondered.
Agni Goes to the Yaksha — Fails to Burn Grass
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 17
अग्निं जातवेदसमब्रुवन्नित्वं वेत्थ तद्यक्षमिति तथेति । तदभ्यद्रवत् तमभ्यवदत् कोऽसीत्यग्निर्वा अहमस्मि जातवेदा वा अहमस्मीति ॥
agniṃ jātavedasam abruvan nit tvaṃ vettha tad yakṣam iti tatheti | tad abhyadravat tam abhyavadat ko'sīty agnir vā aham asmi jātavedā vā aham asmīti ||
They said to Agni (Jatavedas): "Find out what this Yaksha is." He agreed and ran toward it. The Yaksha asked: "Who are you?" "I am Agni, Jatavedas," he replied.
Agni Cannot Burn a Blade of Grass
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 18
तस्मिन्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदꣳ सर्वं दहेयं यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति । तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतद्दहेति तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाक दग्धुं स तत एव निववृते नैतदशकं विज्ञातुमिति ॥
tasmin tvayi kiṃ vīryam ity apīdaṃ sarvaṃ daheyaṃ yad idaṃ pṛthivyām iti | tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāv etad dahetyatad upapreyāya sarvajvena tan na śaśāka dagdhuṃ sa tata eva nivavṛte naitad aśakaṃ vijñātum iti ||
The Yaksha asked: "What is your power?" Agni replied: "I can burn everything on earth." The Yaksha placed a blade of grass before him: "Burn this." Agni attacked with full force — he could not burn it. He returned: "I could not find out what that Yaksha is."
Vayu Cannot Move a Blade of Grass
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 19
अथ वायुमब्रुवन्वायो एतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति । तदभ्यद्रवत् तमभ्यवदत् कोऽसीति वायुर्वा अहमस्मि मातरिश्वा वा अहमस्मीति । तस्मिन्त्वयि किं वीर्यमित्यपीदꣳ सर्वमाददीय यदिदं पृथिव्यामिति । तस्मै तृणं निदधावेतदादत्स्वेति तदुपप्रेयाय सर्वजवेन तन्न शशाक आदातुम् ॥
atha vāyum abruvan vāyo etad vijānīhi kim etad yakṣam iti tatheti | tad abhyadravat tam abhyavadat ko'sīti vāyur vā aham asmi mātariśvā vā aham asmīti | tasmin tvayi kiṃ vīryam ity apīdaṃ sarvam ādadīya yad idaṃ pṛthivyām iti | tasmai tṛṇaṃ nidadhāv etad ādatsvetī tad upapreyāya sarvajvena tan na śaśāka ādātum ||
They asked Vayu: "Find out what this Yaksha is." He agreed and ran toward it. The Yaksha asked: "Who are you?" "I am Vayu, Matarishva." "What is your power?" "I can carry away everything on earth." The Yaksha placed grass before him. Vayu rushed with full force — he could not move it.
Indra Approaches — The Yaksha Vanishes
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 3 · Verse 20
अथेन्द्रमब्रुवन्मघवन्नेतद्विजानीहि किमेतद्यक्षमिति तथेति । तदभ्यद्रवत् तस्मात्तिरोदधे ॥
atha indram abruvan maghavann etad vijānīhi kim etad yakṣam iti tatheti | tad abhyadravat tasmāt tirodadhe ||
Then they said to Indra: "O Maghavan, find out what this Yaksha is." He agreed and ran toward it. But the Yaksha vanished from before him.
Indra Meets Uma Haimavati
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 21
स तस्मिन्नेवाकाशे स्त्रियमाजगाम बहुशोभमानामुमां हैमवतीं तां होवाच किमेतद्यक्षमिति ॥
sa tasminn evākāśe striyam ājagāma bahuśobhamānām umāṃ haimavatīṃ tāṃ hovāca kim etad yakṣam iti ||
In that very space he came upon a woman, shining with great splendor — Uma Haimavati. He asked her: "What is this Yaksha?"
Uma Reveals — It Is Brahman
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 22
ब्रह्मेति होवाच ब्रह्मणो वा एतद्विजये महीयध्वमिति । ततो हैव विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति ॥
brahmeti hovāca brahmaṇo vā etad vijaye mahīyadhvam iti | tato haiva vidāñcakāra brahmeti ||
She said: "It is Brahman. In Brahman's victory you were rejoicing." From that he came to know — It is Brahman.
Therefore Indra Excels Among the Gods
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 23
तस्माद्वा एते देवा अतितरामिवान्यान्देवानग्निर्वायुरिन्द्रस्ते ह्येनं नेदिष्ठं पस्पर्शुस्ते ह्येनं प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति ॥
tasmād vā ete devā atitarām ivānyān devān agnir vāyur indras te hy enaṃ nediṣṭhaṃ pasparśus te hy enaṃ prathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti ||
Therefore, these gods — Agni, Vayu, and Indra — surpass the other gods; for they touched Brahman most closely, and Indra first came to know: It is Brahman.
The Teaching of Brahman — As Lightning and as Blinking
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 24
तस्य ह वा एतस्य ब्रह्मणो नाम सत्यमिति । तद्ध्यन्तरादित्ये यत्तन्नामसत्यमित्युपासीत । अथाध्यात्मं यदेतद्विद्युत्यव्यनीमिमिषद् आद्युत इत्याध्यात्ममेव ॥
tasya ha vā etasya brahmaṇo nāma satyam iti | tad dhy antarāditye yat tan nāma satyam ity upāsīta | athādhyātmaṃ yad etad vidyuty avyanīmimiṣad ādyuta ity ādhyātmam eva ||
The name of this Brahman is "Satyam" — Truth. One should worship It as the Truth within the sun. And with regard to the body: it flashed like lightning in the blinking of an eye.
Brahman as Lightning, as a Flash in the Eye
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 25
अथाध्यात्मं यदेतद्विद्युत्यव्यनीमिमिषद् आद्युत इत्याध्यात्ममेव । तस्य ह वा एतस्याध्यात्मनः श्रेयः श्रेयो ह भवति यः सर्वेषु भूतेषु ब्रह्म पश्यति ॥
athādhyātmaṃ yad etad vidyuty avyanīmimiṣad ādyuta ity ādhyātmam eva | tasya ha vā etasyādhyātmanaḥ śreyaḥ śreyo ha bhavati yaḥ sarveṣu bhūteṣu brahma paśyati ||
With regard to the body — it flashed like lightning in a blink. Superior is the one who sees Brahman in all beings.
Brahman Desires to Be Known
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 26
तद्वनं नाम तद्वनमित्युपासितव्यं स य एतदेवं वेदाभि हैनं सर्वाणि भूतानि संवाञ्छन्ति ॥
tad vanaṃ nāma tad vanam ity upāsitavyaṃ sa ya etad evaṃ vedābhi hainaṃ sarvāṇi bhūtāni saṃvāñchanti ||
Its name is "Tadvanam" — that which is the object of all love. It should be worshipped as Tadvanam. All beings long for one who knows It thus.
The Student Asks — What Is the Teaching?
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 27
उपनिषद्ब्रूहीति उक्ता त उपनिषद्ब्राह्मीं वाव त उपनिषदमब्रूमेति ॥
upaniṣad brūhīti uktā ta upaniṣad brāhmīṃ vāva ta upaniṣadam abrūmeti ||
"Tell me the Upanishad (the secret teaching)." "The Upanishad has been told to you. We have told you the Brahmic Upanishad."
The Fourfold Foundation of Brahman's Teaching
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 28
तस्यै तपो दमः कर्मेति प्रतिष्ठा वेदाः सर्वाङ्गानि सत्यमायतनम् ॥
tasyai tapo damaḥ karmeti pratiṣṭhā vedāḥ sarvāṅgāni satyam āyatanam ||
Its foundation is Tapas (austerity), Dama (self-restraint), and Karma (work). Its limbs are all the Vedas. Its dwelling is Truth.
The Knower of Brahman Wards Off Sin
Kena Upanishad · Chapter Khanda 4 · Verse 29
यो वा एतामेवं विद्वानुपनिषदं वेद अपहते पाप्मानं ज्यायांश्च भवत्यनन्ते स्वर्गे लोके ज्यायान्भवतीति ॥
yo vā etām evaṃ vidvān upaniṣadaṃ veda apahate pāpmānaṃ jyāyāṃś ca bhavaty anante svarge loke jyāyān bhavatīti ||
Whoever knows this Upanishad as taught here — he drives away sin and becomes established in the boundless heavenly world.