Brahmavidya Upanishad: Verse 37
पुष्पवत्सकलं विद्याद्गन्धस्तस्य तु निष्कलः । वृक्षस्तु सकलं विद्याच्छाया तस्य तु निष्कला ॥३७॥
पुष्प-वत् । सकलम् । विद्यात् । गन्धः । तस्य । तु । निष्कलः । वृक्षः । तु । सकलम् । विद्यात् । छाया । तस्य । तु । निष्कला ॥३७॥
puṣpavat sakalaṃ vidyād gandhas tasya tu niṣkalaḥ | vṛkṣas tu sakalaṃ vidyāc chāyā tasya tu niṣkalā ||37||
फूल के बारे में सोचो। फूल के हिस्से होते हैं, पर उसकी खुशबू कोई हिस्सा नहीं है। पेड़ भी ऐसा ही है। पेड़ बड़ा होता है, पर उसकी छाया कोई हिस्सा नहीं। यह दोनों चीज़ें बिना हिस्से वाली हैं।
One should know the ‘with-parts’ (sakala) as like a flower; but its fragrance is indeed ‘partless’ (niṣkala). One should know the ‘with-parts’ as like a tree; but its shade is indeed partless.
- vidyād gandhas → vidyāt gandhaḥ (final -t before g; visarga restored)
- vidyāc chāyā → vidyāt chāyā (t + ch)
- no other significant sandhi
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Sakala/niṣkala distinction; nirguṇa Brahman as partless essence underlying the manifest
- The mahavakyas
- Indirectly supports ‘तत् त्वम् असि’ (Tat tvam asi): the subtle, partless reality (niṣkala) is the essence of the apparent, partite (sakala) person/world.
- Veda
- Atharva
- Chandas
- Anuṣṭubh (śloka)
Yoga and practice
Meditation on the subtle essence: shift attention from gross forms (nāma-rūpa) to the formless presence; cultivate viveka between perceptible objects and the non-objectifiable ground.
Ask anything about this verse
Answers come straight from the texts, with the shlokas they draw on. Ask in your own words.
A free sign-in with Google or Apple keeps your chat saved across web and the app.
Read Upanishads in the Vedapath app
Scan the QR code to open this directly in the app, with word-by-word meanings, Sanskrit recitation where available, and more.
