Kena Upanishad: Verse 4.2
तस्माद्वा एते देवा अतितरामिव अन्यान्देवान् यदग्निर्वायुरिन्द्रः। ते ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं पस्पृशुः। ते ह्येनत्प्रथमो विदाञ्चकार ब्रह्मेति॥२॥
तस्मात् । वा । एते । देवाः । अतितराम्-इव । अन्यान् । देवान् । यत् । अग्निः । वायुः । इन्द्रः । ते । हि । एनत् । नेदिष्ठम् । पस्पृशुः । ते । हि । एनत् । प्रथमः । विदाञ्चकार । ब्रह्म । इति ॥२॥
tasmād vā ete devā atitarām iva anyān devān yad agnir vāyur indraḥ | te hy enan nediṣṭhaṃ paspṛśuḥ | te hy enat prathamo vidāñcakāra brahmeti ||2||
เพราะเหตุนั้น เทพเหล่านี้คือ อัคนี วายุ และอินทร์ จึงประหนึ่งว่าเลิศกว่าทวยเทพอื่น เพราะพวกเขาเข้าใกล้พระองค์ (พรหมัน) มากที่สุด และพระอินทร์เป็นผู้รู้ก่อนว่า “นั่นคือพรหมัน”
Therefore, indeed, these gods—Agni, Vāyu, and Indra—excel, as it were, the other gods, because they came nearest to it (that Brahman). For he (Indra) was the first to know it: “It is Brahman.”
- तस्माद्वा = तस्मात् + व
- अतितरामिव = अतितराम् + इव
- अन्यान्देवान् = अन्यान् + देवान्
- यदग्निर्वायुरिन्द्रः = यत् + अग्निः + वायुः + इन्द्रः
- ह्येनन्नेदिष्ठं = हि + एनम् + नेदिष्ठम्
- ह्येनत्प्रथमो = हि + एनत् + प्रथमः
- ब्रह्मेति = ब्रह्म + इति
About this Verse
- Central concept
- Proximity to Brahman through inquiry; hierarchy of deities as symbolic of faculties approaching the Absolute; primacy of knowledge over power
- The mahavakyas
- Indirect: underscores that realization (jñāna) is the distinguishing factor—supporting the Upaniṣadic thrust behind all Mahāvākyas without quoting one explicitly
- Veda
- Sama
- Shakha
- Talavakara (Jaiminiya)
- Chandas
- Prose
Yoga and practice
Encourages progressive interiorization: from gross powers (Agni—speech/digestion), to vital force (Vāyu—prāṇa), to integrative intellect (Indra—buddhi) culminating in knowledge of Brahman; useful as a meditative map of faculties approaching the Self
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