Shukla Yajurveda
शुक्ल यजुर्वेद
Vajasaneyi Samhita
The Shukla Yajurveda (Vajasaneyi Samhita) — 40 adhyayas of pure sacrificial mantras, separated from Brahmana commentary, covering the complete spectrum of Vedic ritual from Darshapurnamasa to the sublime Isha Upanishad.
Start ReadingAbout This Text
The Shukla Yajurveda represents the “White” or “pure” recension of the Yajurveda, where sacrificial mantras are presented without interspersed Brahmana commentary. The Vajasaneyi Samhita, attributed to the sage Yajnavalkya, is the principal text of this tradition. Its 40 adhyayas systematically cover the ritual liturgy — from the basic Darsha-Purnamasa rites through the elaborate Soma sacrifices, Rajasuya, and Ashvamedha, culminating in the profound Isha Upanishad (Adhyaya 40).
How This Text Is Organised
The Shukla Yajurveda follows a two-level hierarchy of adhyayas and mantras.
Adhyayas
40 chapters
Mantras
Individual verses (yajus)
Available Reading Features
This edition of the Shukla Yajurveda on Vedapath includes:
Samhita Patha (accented Devanagari)
IAST Transliteration
Padapatha (word analysis)
Translations in 30 languages
Ritual context, Vedic cosmology, and philosophical enrichments
Adhyayas of the Shukla Yajurveda
The Vajasaneyi Samhita is divided into 40 Adhyayas (chapters).
Adhyayas 1–25 cover the liturgy of the major sacrifices, while 26–39 deal with supplementary rites. Adhyaya 40 is the celebrated Isha Upanishad.
Adhyaya 1
Darsha-Purnamasa (new and full moon sacrifice) mantras.
Adhyaya 2
Continuation of the Darsha-Purnamasa rites.
Adhyaya 3
Agnihotra and daily fire offerings.
Adhyaya 4
Seasonal sacrifices (Chaturmasya).
Adhyaya 5
Soma purchase and preparation rites.
Adhyaya 6
Diksha (consecration) and Pravargya.
Adhyaya 7
Morning Soma pressing (Pratar-savana).
Adhyaya 8
Midday Soma pressing (Madhyandina-savana).
Adhyaya 9
Evening Soma pressing (Tritiya-savana).
Adhyaya 10
Sautramani and supplementary Soma rites.
Adhyaya 11
Agnicayana preliminaries and altar construction.
Adhyaya 12
First layer of the fire altar.
Adhyaya 13
Second and third layers of the fire altar.
Adhyaya 14
Fourth and fifth layers of the fire altar.
Adhyaya 15
Completion of the fire altar.
Adhyaya 16
Satarudriya -- the famous Rudra hymn (Namakam).
Adhyaya 17
Fire altar supplementary formulas.
Adhyaya 18
Agnicayana continuation and Vayu offerings.
Adhyaya 19
Sautramani and additional formulas.
Adhyaya 20
Royal consecration (Rajasuya) mantras.
Adhyaya 21
Rajasuya continuation.
Adhyaya 22
Ashvamedha (horse sacrifice) preliminaries.
Adhyaya 23
Ashvamedha continuation.
Adhyaya 24
Purushamedha and victim lists.
Adhyaya 25
Ashvamedha conclusion and Purushamedha.
Adhyaya 26
Supplementary Agnihotra and Soma formulas.
Adhyaya 27
Supplementary sacrificial mantras.
Adhyaya 28
Additional offering formulas.
Adhyaya 29
Supplementary Rudra mantras and hymns.
Adhyaya 30
Purushamedha victim lists.
Adhyaya 31
Purusha Sukta and cosmogonic hymns.
Adhyaya 32
Shivasankalpa and meditation mantras.
Adhyaya 33
Supplementary mantras for various rites.
Adhyaya 34
Mantras for Soma and Agni rites.
Adhyaya 35
Pitrmedha (funeral) mantras.
Adhyaya 36
Pitryajna and ancestral rites.
Adhyaya 37
Pravargya supplementary mantras.
Adhyaya 38
Mantras for various rituals.
Adhyaya 39
Additional sacrificial formulas.
Adhyaya 40
Isha Upanishad -- the crown jewel of the Vajasaneyi Samhita on the nature of the Self and renunciation.