Verse 8

Mundaka

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

न चक्षुषा गृह्यते नापि वाचा नान्यैर्देवैस्तपसा कर्मण वा । ज्ञानप्रसादेन विशुद्धसत्त्वस्ततस्तु तं पश्यते निष्कलं ध्यायमानः ॥८॥

Padapatha (Word Split)

न । चक्षुषा । गृह्यते । न । अपि । वाचा । न । अन्यैः । देवैः । तपसा । कर्मणः । वा । ज्ञान-प्रसादेन । विशुद्ध-सत्त्वः । ततः । तु । तम् । पश्यते । निष्कलम् । ध्यायमानः ॥८॥

IAST Transliteration

na cakṣuṣā gṛhyate nāpi vācā nānyair devais tapasā karmaṇo vā | jñānaprasādena viśuddhasattvas tatas tu taṃ paśyate niṣkalaṃ dhyāyamānaḥ ||8||

Translation

அது கண்களால் பிடிக்கப்படாது; சொல்லாலும் அல்ல; பிற ‘தேவர்கள்’ எனப்படும் இந்திரியங்களாலும் அல்ல; தவத்தாலும் கர்மச் செயல்களாலும் அல்ல. ஆனால் ஞானத்தின் பிரசாதத்தால் சத்துவம் தூய்மையடைந்தவன் தியானத்தில் நிலைத்து, அந்த நிஷ்கல (அகண்ட) பிரம்மத்தைத் தரிசிக்கிறான்॥௮॥

Academic Translation

It is not grasped by the eye, nor even by speech, nor by other deities (i.e., senses); not by austerity, nor by ritual action. But by the clarity (grace) of knowledge, one whose sattva is purified—then, meditating, sees That partless (Brahman).

Verse Context

• Apperception of nirguṇa/niṣkala Brahman through jñāna and sattva-śuddhi; limits of sense/karma
• Mahavakya: Aligns with the import of ‘प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म’ (Aitareya) and ‘अहं ब्रह्मास्मि’: Brahman is known as immediate consciousness, not as a sensory object; emphasizes jñāna as the means rather than karma.
• Atharva
• Atharvaṇa (Śaunaka-śākhā; traditionally transmitted within Atharvavedic recensions) Shakha
• Chandas: Mixed/Upaniṣadic verse (non-strict; often aligned to Triṣṭubh/Jagatī-type cadence)