Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.

2017

मुण्डकोपनिषद्
Muṇḍakopaniṣad1《髡发奥义书》

Third Muṇḍaka: First Khaṇḍa

m du nom m du nom m du nom m du nom

1. dvā2 suparṇā3 sayujā4 sakhāyā5
two birds close-associates friends

adj m sg acc m sg acc perf 3rd du

samānaṁ vṛkṣaṁ pariṣasvajāte6 |
same tree clasped

tad m du gen pn-adj m sg nom m sg acc adj n sg acc √ad pres 3rd sg
r 7 8 9v y
tayoḥ anyaḥ pippalaṁ svādu atti
of these two the one ‘fruit’ sweet eats

pap m sg nom pn-adj int 3rd sg

anaśnan anyo’bhicākaśīti11 ||
10n

not eating the other keeps looking on

Two birds, close companion and friends, perched on the same tree.
One eats the sweet fruit while the other, not eating, keeps looking on.12

汉译文、译注：《五十奥义书 （修訂本）》徐梵澄译，中国社会科学出版社 2007

第三书 上篇
美羽亲心侣，同树栖一枝，
一啄果实甘，一止唯视之13。（一）

1
muṇḍaka [m] the shaven-headed
2
Vedic for dvau
3
Vedic for suparṇau, suṣṭu [adv] aptly, well; -parṇaṃ [n] wing, feather; lit. fair-winged
4
Vedic for sayujau, sa [pfx] having similar, √juj to unite, sayuj [m] companion
5
Vedic for sakhyau, sakha [m] friend, note sakhāyā
6
pari-√svaj to clasp, hug, embrace; perfect formed through reduplication pariṣasvajāte, note 3rd dual ending -āte
7
anyaḥ … anyaḥ “the one … the other”
8
Ficus religiosa sacred Peepal, here contextually “fruit”
9
su-ad “eat-well” =tasty, svādu [adj] sweet , savoury, tasty
10
anaśna [adj] having no food, anaśnant [pap stem], anaśnan [pap m sg nom], anaśnann-anyaḥ [sandhi]
11
abhi-√cakṣ to look, behold, inspect; abhicākaśīti intensive (or frequentative) =keep on looking, note change of ṣ to ś
12
The two birds are the Jīvātman (individual soul, or the mind) and the Paramātman (God or Pure Consciousness). The former is but the
image of the latter. Hence the two are closely bound.
13
一鸟为静性神我，另一鸟为入乎静性中之神我。——参《薄伽梵歌疏•僧伽与瑜伽章》。余注见《白书》4.6 注。【笔者：“止”
指“不食”？anaśnan。】
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

m sg loc m sg loc m sg nom adj pp m sg nom

2. samāne vṛkṣe puruṣo14 nimagno15
on the same tree person drown

f dg inst pres 3rd sg pmp 3rd m sg nom

'nīśayā śocati muhyamānaḥ18 |
16 17

by helplessness grieves being deluded

n sg acc ind pres 3rd sg pn-adj m acc sg m sg acc m sg gen

19 y 20
juṣṭaṁ yadā paśyati anyam īśam asya
adorable when sees the other Lord of this

~an m sg acc pcl [bahu] adj m sg nom

mahimānam iti vīta-śokah21 ||
glory thus free from sorrow

On the same tree, the individual (soul) grieves,

being deluded and drowned by helplessness.
(But) when he sees the other – the adorable Lord,
the glory of (all) this – he is thus free from sorrow.22

人神共此树，
独没沦无明，
昧觉不为主，
怅惘伤内情；
若见余一时，
主，可敬爱者，
万物皆其荣，
忧患斯用舍。（二）

14
contextually “the individual (bird or soul)”
15
√majj to sink, magna [pp] sunken, drown
16
√īś to control, rule
17
√śuc to grief
18
√muh or √muhya to be deluded
19
√juṣ to rejoice, relish, be pleased , delighted or favourable (hence adorable) juṣta [pp]
20
√īś to control, rule
21
√śuc to grief, śokaḥ [m] sorrow
22
i.e. when the individual comes to realize the transcendental nature of this own Self.
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

ind m sg nom pres 3rd sg adj n sg acc

3. yadā paśyaḥ paśyate24 rukma-varṇaṁ25
23

when the seer sees the golden

~ṛ m sg acc m sg acc m sg acc [tatpu] m sg acc

kartāram īśaṁ puruṣaṁ brahma-yoniṁ26 |
creator Lord Puruṣa (of) Brahman-progenitor

ind m sg nom [dvanda] n du acc √dhū ger

tadā vidvān27puṇya-pāpe vidhūya
then the knower virtue-and-sin having shaken off

adj m sg nom n sg acc n sg acc √i pres 3rd sg

nirañjanaḥ paramaṁ sāmyam upaiti ||
28 29

taintless supreme unity attains

When the seer sees the golden

creator Lord Puruṣa – the progenitor of Brahman30,
then the knower, having shaken off (the duality of) virtue-and-sin,
(is) taintless, and attains great equanimity (non-duality).

见者若见彼，
颜色黄金辉，
上帝，创造主，
神我，大梵胎31；
时乃为哲士，
功罪双脱出，
皭32然无垢尘，
至上臻太一33。（三）

23
√dṛś, -ya [sfx] usually forms neuter abstract noun but here [m], cf. vidvān [m] below
24
Vedic paśyati
25
rukma [n] gold, -varṇa [m] appearance, colour; rukma-varṇa golden-colour, =self-effulgent
26
yoni [f] womb, source, origin, birth place; brahma~ the progenitor (source) of Brahman (Hiraṇyagarbha) i.e. Puruṣa
27
√vid to know, -at [sfx] possessing knowledge, vidvān [m sg nom]
28
añjana [n] ointment
29
oneness, equanimity, non-duality
30
cf. “puruṣa alone is all this – sacrificial works, austerity, Brahman” 2.1.10
31
“梵金胎”即“大梵源頭”，“以大梵为原本者”。商羯罗谓为“低等大梵之渊源”。
32
【笔者：“皭” jìao：洁白，干净。】
33
“太一”又为“同一”，亦“平等之一”。此颂前六句（原文三行），亦见《弥书》6.18。
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m sg nom m m sg nom pn-adj m pl inst √bhā pres 3rd sg

34 y r 35
4. prāṇo hi eṣa yaḥ sarva-bhūtaiḥ vibhāti
Prāṇa this he who by all beings manifests

adj pap m sg nom ~at m sg nom pres 3rd sg adj m sg nom

vijānan vidvān bhavate na ativādī38 |
36 37

knowing well knower becomes babbling

adj pp m sg nom adj m sg nom m sg nom

ātma-krīḍa39 ātma-ratiḥ40 kriyāvān41 ||
Self-revelling Self-delighting doer of pious work

m m pl gen adj spv n sg

eṣa brahmavidāṁ42 viriṣṭhaḥ
this among Brahman-knowers best

Verily, he who is this Prāṇa, manifests by all beings.

Knowing this well, the knower becomes non-babbling.
This performer of pious work, Ātman-revelling, Ātman-delighting,
is the best among (all) Brahman-knowers.

彼以此43群有，
辉光示生命，
哲士谅知之，
乃能无议诤，
逍遥性灵化，
乐与自我游44，
行其敬祀业，
卓兮知梵流！（四）

34
here used as an equivalent of Īśvara or Supreme Being
35
√bhā to shine, appear, manifest, exist
36
vi-√jñā vijānant [pap stem]
37
Vedic for bhavati
38
ati-√vad talk loud, talk down; vādin [adj or m] a vain babbler
39
√krīḍ to play, jest, dally; krīḍa [pp]
40
√ram to delight, rati [f] pleasure
41
~vat [sfx] ”possessing”
42
brahmavit [m] Brahman-knower -vit from √vid
43
【笔者：“此”原文为 prāṇa ，他处指“气息”，此处指“至高无上者”。】
44
参《唱书》7.25.2，“自我”即“性灵”。【笔者：“逍遥性灵化” ātma-krīḍa“乐与自我游 ātma-ratiḥ”；“性灵”与“自我”
皆 ātman 也。】
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

ऄन्तःशरररे ज्योनतममयो नि शुभ्रो यं पश्यनन्त यतयः निणदोष ः ||५||

m sg inst fpp m sg nom ~as n sg inst m ~an m sg nom
5. satyena labhyaḥstapasā hiyeṣa ātmā
with truth to be attained with austerity this Self

adj [karma] n sg inst n sg inst adv

samyakg-jñānena45 brahmacaryeṇa nityaṁ |
with proper knowledge with continence (restrain) always

ind m sg loc adj m sg nom adj m sg nom

antarḥśarīre jyotirmayo46 hi śubhro
inside body resplendent pure

m sg acc pres 3rd pl yati m pl nom [bahu] adj m pl nom

yaṁ paśyanti yatayaḥ47 kṣīṇa-doṣāḥ48 ||
Him see ascetics sinless

This Ātman is to be attained with truth, austerity49,

proper knowledge, and continence, always.
The sinless ascetics behold Him –
resplendent and pure – within (the) very body.

以真理，苦行，
斯可见性灵50，
亦以正妙智51，
贞清守常经；
彼在此身内，
光明又纯洁，
修士得见之，
良由垢氛灭52！（五）

45
samyak [adj] true, complete, correct
46
jyotis [n] light, -maya [sfx] filled with, made of; jyotirmaya light-filled
47
√yaj to sacrifice, worship, honour; =sannyāsin
48
√kṣi to exhaust, kṣina[pp] exhausted, doṣā [m] defect, blemish
49
The most difficult form of austerity is concentration: withdrawing the senses & the mind fr their objects & concentrate them on the Self.
50
【笔者：“性灵”ātmā。】
51
【笔者：“正妙智”samyag-jñāna。】
52
参《大林书》4.3.7；《唱书》2.23.1。【笔者：“垢氛灭” kṣīṇa-doṣa。】
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adj n sg nom pcl √ji pres 3rd sg adj pp n sg nom

6. satyam eva jayate na anṛtaṁ53
the truthful only conquers the untruthful

adj n sg inst m sg nom adj m sg nom [tatpu] m sg nom

satyena panthā vitato54 deva-yānaḥ |
by truth path spread divine-way (course)

m sg inst pres 3rd pl ṛṣi m pl nom √āp pp [bahu] adj m pl nom

yena ākramanti55yṛṣayo56 hiyāpta-kāmā
by wh. ascend (reach) seers fulfilled-desires

pcl n sg nom n sg gen adj n sg nom n sg nom

yatra tat satyasya paramaṁ nidhānaṁ57 ||
where that of truth supreme abode

Only the truthful wins, not the untruthful.

By truth is laid the path of the divine-way,
by which the seers, their desires fulfilled58,
ascend to where the supreme abode of the truth is.

唯真理战胜，
而非是虚伪，
信是由真理，
天路59斯广被。
圣贤愿圆满，
由此而上升，
乃达于真理，
至上安立层。（六）

53
√ṛ to raise, ṛta [pp] upright
54
√tan to spread, tata [pp] spread
55
Vedic for ākramante, ā-√kram to transgress, pass beyond
56
Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary: √ṛṣ to go, move, push, thrust; “but ṛṣi is perhaps from an obsolete √ṛṣ for √dṛś , to see?”
57
a place of cessation or rest (cf nidhana residence)
58
hence desire-free
59
“天路”即“天乘道”。参《大林书》6.2.15。【笔者：“天路”deva-yāna，“广被”vitata。】
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adj n sg nom n adj n sg nom fpp [bahu] adj n sg nom

7. bṛhatcca tatddivyam acintya-rūpaṁ60
great that divine inconceivable-nature

m sg abl n adj cpv [bahu] n sg nom √bhā pres 3rd sg

sūkṣmāt ca tat sūkṣma-taraṁ vibhati |
c 61

than subtle that subtler shines

[bahu] adj m sg loc ind ind

dūrāt-sudūre62 tad iha antike63 ca
far from among the far away here close by

pap m pl loc ind pcl adj n sg nom f sg loc

paśyatsuvihaaieva nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ64 ||
among those seeing here just resided hidden place (‘heart’)

That (which is) great, divine, of inconceivable nature,

subtler than subtle, shines.
That (which is) far among the very far, (yet) here close by
among those who see, is resided just here in the hidden place (of the heart).

大哉至神圣，
形相超思量，
微逾妙微者，
发越腾光芒，
远过至远者，
而又近在迩，
见士知在斯，
斯心秘安止。（七）

60
√cin to think, acintya [fpp, adj] not to be conceived; acintya-rūpa [karma cpd] turns [bahu, adj]
61
-tara [cpv] more than; sūkṣma-tara [karm cpd] turns [bahu, adj]
62
dūra [n] or [adj] distance, distant; dūrāt [ind] from afar; sudūra [adj] very remote or distant; note: Monier Williams Sanskrit English
Dictionary: dūrāt sudūre [ind] ‘very far way’; here glossed [karma cpd] turns [bahu cpd] as [adj]
63
antika [adj] near, proximate; antike [ind] near, close by, in the proximity or presence of
64
guhā [f] secret hiding place (i.e. the heart)
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

~us n sg inst pass 3rd sg f sg inst

8. na cakṣuṣā gṛhyate65 na api vācā
by eye comprehended by speech

pn-adj m pl inst m pl inst n sg inst n sg inst pcl

na anyaiḥrdevaiḥ66stapasā karmaṇā vā |
by other sense organs by austerity by karma or

n [tatpu] m sg inst [karma] m sg nom

jñāna-prasādena67 viśuddha-sattvaḥ68s
(of) understanding -with clearness pure-being

pcl pcl n sg acc pres 3rd sg adj n sg acc √dhyai pmp m sg nom
tatas tu taṁ paśyate69 niṣkalaṁ70 dhyāyamānaḥ ||
thereupon but it sees part-less meditating

(Ātman) is not comprehended by the eye(s), word(s),

other sense organs, austerity or karma.
But a pure-minded being, with clarity of understanding
thereupon sees the part-less It (Ātman) while meditating.

不可以眼见，
亦非语言摄，
不由余诸天71，
苦行或事业；
唯由智清净，
心地化纯洁72，
静定乃见彼，
无分是太一。（八）

65
√grah to comprehend
66
devā is here glossed “senses”
67
prasāda[m] clearness
68
vi-√śudh to purify, vi-śuddha [pp] purified; sattva being
69
Vedic for paśyati
70
kala [ifc] for kalā [f] small part
71
“诸天”，说者谓是其余诸识。
72
参《唱书》7.26.2。
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

m sg nom adj m sg nom m ~as n sg inst fpp m sg nom

9. eṣo’ṇuḥrātmā cetasā veditavyo
this subtle Self by the mind to be understood

n sg loc m nom ind √viś perf 3rd sg

yasmin prāṇaḥ pañcadhā saṁviveśa | 73

into which Prāṇa in fivefold entered

m pl inst n sg nom pn-adj n sg nom adj pp n f pl gen

praṇaiḥ74ścittaṁ sarvaṁ otaṁ75 prajānāṁ
with senses mind all woven of creatures

n sg loc √śudh pp n sg loc pres 3rd sg m sg nom m sg nom

yasmin viśuddhe vibhavatiyeṣaḥ ātmā ||
which when pure reveals this Self

This subtle Ātman is to be understood by the mind,

into which Prāṇa, in fivefold, entered.
All the mind of creatures is interwoven with (their) senses
When that (mind) is purified, this Ātman reveals (itself).

此一微妙灵76，
唯当以心悟，
生命之气息，
五分此中77赴。
凡一切众生，
心与气交织，
其内78倘净化，
性灵自辉赫79。（九）

73
Indian concept of five basic bodily winds: prāṇa, apāna, vyāna, udāna and samāna. Chāndogya Upaniṣad (1.3.3): yad vai prāṇiti sa
prāṇaḥ | yad apāniti so ‘pānaḥ | atha yaḥ prāṇāpānayoḥ saṁdhiḥ sa vyānaḥ | yo vyānaḥ sā vāk | tasmād aprāṇann anapānan vācam
abhivyāharati || “The prāṇa is the out-breath, the apāna is the in-breath. The vyāna is where the prāṇa and the apāna meet. This vyāna is
speech. Therefore, when one speaks, one stops the prāṇa and the apāna”. Samāna is the breath in the abdomen (abdominal breathing)
and is associated with the digestion of food and nourishment of the body (Maitrī Upaniṣad 2.6). Udāna is the upward breath, that which is
in the throat and rises upwards.
74
prāṇa “vital breath” here glossed: senses
75
√ve to weave, ā-ve to interweave, ota [pp] inter-woven
76
【笔者：“灵”ātmā。】
77
“此中”谓“心思中”。【笔者：“心思”citta；“五分”：五种气息，见英文注解 72。】
78
【笔者：“其内”yasmin “彼”(处格) 指 “心思”。】
79
“辉赫”，义为发挥其权能。阿罗频多注，谓义为“显示其充分之权能与弥漫之当体”。
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m sg acc m sg acc ~as n sg inst pres 3rd sg

10. yaṁ yaṁ lokaṁ manasā saṁvibhāti80
whatever world by mind he desires

[karma] m sg nom pres 3rd sg m pl acc m pl acc

viśuddha-sattvaḥ kāmayate yānṁśca kāmān |
purified-being he desires what desires

m sg acc m sg nom √jan 4Ā pres 3rd sg tān m pl acc ~ān m pl acc

taṁ taṁ lokaṁ jāyate81 tānṁśca kāmānṁs
that sphere he gains that desires

ind [karma] m sg acc √arch impr 3rd sg [karma] m sg nom

d
tasmāt ātma-jñaṁ hi arcayet bhūti-kāmaḥ y d 82
||
therefore to the Self-realized should worship prosperity-desirer

Whatever world the pure-minded being desires

with (his) mind; what desires he wishes,
that very world and desires he gets.
Therefore he who is desirous of prosperity should pay homage to the Ātman-realized person.

清净之萨埵，
游心彼彼世，
思念光所被，
一一皆克致；
凡所愿望界，
取之得胜利；
故知性灵人，
求福宜敬事83。（十）

80
saṃ-vi-bhāti, to form ideas about, meditate on [acc] =saṃkalpayati to wish, long for, be desirous of -kalpayati [cau]
81
Vedic for jāyati gains, wins, conquers
82
bhūti [f] wealth, prosperity, in contrast to akāmaḥ one with no desires in 3.2.1
83
末句谓求福者，当敬事此知性灵之人，即清净萨埵也。【笔者：“求福者” bhūti-kāma。】
Muṇḍakopaniṣad 3.1.1 - 3.1.10 26.4.2017

Grammatical Abbreviations

st nd rd
<masculine feminine neuter> <singular dual plural> <1 2 3 person>
<nominative accusative instrumental dative ablative genitive locative vocative>
<present imperfect perfect periphrastic-perfect aorist future periphrastic-future >
<imperative optative conditional subjunctive injunctive>
<passive causative desiderative intensive denominative>
<adjective adverb indecline numeral comparative superlative>
<adjective adverb preposition indeclinable particle prefix suffix comparative superlative>
<numeral cardinal ordinal > <locative absolute, genitive absolute>
o o
<compound: (ibc) start of cpd, (ifc) end of cpd, tatpuruṣa, karmadhāraya, bahuvrīhi, dvanda, upapada>
<pronoun: ppn personal, dpn demonstrative, rpn relative, ipn interrogative,
rfpn reflexive, pn-adj pronominal adjective>
<participle: pap present active, pmp present middle, ppp present passive;
psap past active, pp past passive;
fap future active, fmp future middle, fpp future passive;
pfap perfect active, pfmp perfect middle
gerund (absolutive/indeclinable past participle) infinitive>