Kena Upanishad: Verse 2.3
यस्यामतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद सः । अविज्ञातं विजानतां विज्ञातमविजानताम् ॥३॥
यस्य । अमतम् । तस्य । मतम् । मतम् । यस्य । न । वेद । सः । अविज्ञातम् । विजानताम् । विज्ञातम् । अविजानताम् ॥
yasyāmataṃ tasya mataṃ mataṃ yasya na veda saḥ | avijñātaṃ vijānatāṃ vijñātam avijānatām ||3||
ผู้ใดที่พระองค์มิได้ถูกคิดเป็นวัตถุ ผู้นั้นย่อมรู้พระองค์อย่างแท้จริง; แต่ผู้ใดสำคัญว่า “เรารู้แล้ว” ผู้นั้นกลับไม่รู้ พระองค์ไม่เป็นที่รู้แก่ผู้ที่รู้พระองค์เป็นวัตถุ และเป็นที่รู้แก่ผู้ที่ไม่รู้พระองค์ในฐานะวัตถุ
For whom it is not thought (as an object), for him it is thought (truly); he who thinks he knows it not. It is unknown to those who know (it as an object), and known to those who do not know (it as an object).
- yasyāmataṃ → yasya amatam
- vijñātamavijānatām → vijñātam avijānatām (m + a → ma)
- other words largely unsandhied in citation
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Aparokṣa realization vs. parokṣa/conceptual knowledge; inobjectifiability of Brahman
- The mahavakyas
- Clarifies the intent behind ‘तत् त्वम् असि’ and ‘अहं ब्रह्मास्मि’: Brahman is realized as one’s own Self, not as an external object of thought; also resonates with ‘प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म’ as consciousness itself, not a knowable thing.
- Veda
- Sama
- Shakha
- Jaiminīya (Talavakāra)
- Chandas
- Prose (Upaniṣadic gadya with rhythmic cadence)
Yoga and practice
Guides meditation away from visualization/objectification toward resting as the witnessing awareness; supports practices of self-inquiry (ātma-vicāra) and disidentification from mental constructs; encourages surrender of ‘I am the knower’ ego (ahaṅkāra).
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