Taittiriya Upanishad - Bhrugu Valli - English

taittirīya upaniṣad - bhṛgu vallī is the third vallI of the Taittiriya Upanishad and presents knowledge as a living inquiry between Bhrigu and his father Varuna. Bhrigu asks about Brahman, and Varuna gives a concise definition: that from which beings are born, by which they live, and into which they enter.

The central ideas are tapas as focused inquiry, anna as sacred support of life, the progressive refinement of the self-sense, and the recognition of ānanda as Brahman's deepest pointer. The closing teachings on food are not merely dietary rules; they show that reverence for life-support is part of Brahman-knowledge.

(tai.ā.9.1.1)

Translation (bhāvārtha):
This source marker identifies the Taittiriya Aranyaka section for the Bhrigu Valli recitation.

ōṃ sa̠ha nā̍vavatu । sa̠ha nau̍ bhunaktu । sa̠ha vī̠rya̍-ṅkaravāvahai । tē̠ja̠svinā̠vadhī̍tamastu̠ mā vi̍dviṣā̠vahai̎ । ōṃ śānti̠-śśānti̠-śśānti̍ḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The opening peace prayer asks that teacher and student be protected, nourished, strengthened, made brilliant, and free from mutual hostility.

bhṛgu̠rvai vā̍ru̠ṇiḥ । varu̍ṇa̠-mpita̍ra̠mupa̍sasāra । adhī̍hi bhagavō̠ brahmēti̍ । tasmā̍ ē̠tatprō̍vācha । anna̍-mprā̠ṇa-ñchakṣu̠śśrōtra̠-mmanō̠ vācha̠miti̍ । tagṃ hō̍vācha । yatō̠ vā i̠māni̠ bhūtā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । yēna̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । yatpraya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śanti । tadviji̍jñāsasva । tadbrahmēti̍ । sa tapō̍-'tapyata । sa tapa̍sta̠ptvā ॥ 1 ॥
iti prathamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Bhrigu approaches Varuna and asks for Brahman; Varuna points to food, prana, sight, hearing, mind, and speech, and defines Brahman as the source, sustainer, and end of beings.

anna̠-mbrahmēti̠ vya̍jānāt । a̠nnāddhyē̍va khalvi̠māni̠ bhutā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । annē̍na̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । anna̠-mpraya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śa̠ntīti̍ । tadvi̠jñāya̍ । puna̍rē̠va varu̍ṇa̠-mpita̍ra̠mupa̍sasāra । adhī̍hi bhagavō̠ brahmēti̍ । tagṃ hō̍vācha । tapa̍sā̠ brahma̠ viji̍jñāsasva । tapō̠ brahmēti̍ । sa tapō̍-'tapyata । sa tapa̍sta̠ptvā ॥ 1 ॥
iti dvitīyō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through tapas Bhrigu first understands food as Brahman, because beings are born from food, live by food, and return to food.

prā̠ṇō bra̠hmēti̠ vya̍jānāt । prā̠ṇāddhyē̍va khalvi̠māni̠ bhūtā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । prā̠ṇēna̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । prā̠ṇa-mpraya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śa̠ntīti̍ । tadvi̠jñāya̍ । puna̍rē̠va varu̍ṇa̠-mpita̍ra̠mupa̍sasāra । adhī̍hi bhagavō̠ brahmēti̍ । tagṃ hō̍vācha । tapa̍sā̠ brahma̠ viji̍jñāsasva । tapō̠ brahmēti̍ । sa tapō̍-'tapyata । sa tapa̍sta̠ptvā ॥ 1 ॥
iti tṛtīyō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through deeper tapas he understands prana as Brahman, since beings arise, live, and return through life-force.

manō̠ brahmēti̠ vya̍jānāt । mana̍sō̠ hyē̍va khalvi̠māni̠ bhūtā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । mana̍sā̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । mana̠ḥ praya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śa̠ntīti̍ । tadvi̠jñāya̍ । puna̍rē̠va varu̍ṇa̠-mpita̍ra̠mupa̍sasāra । adhī̍hi bhagavō̠ brahmēti̍ । tagṃ hō̍vācha । tapa̍sā̠ brahma̠ viji̍jñāsasva । tapō̠ brahmēti̍ । sa tapō̍-'tapyata । sa tapa̍sta̠ptvā ॥ 1 ॥
iti chaturthō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through further inquiry he understands mind as Brahman, since beings are organized and experienced through mind.

vi̠jñāna̠-mbrahmēti̠ vya̍jānāt । vi̠jñānā̠ddhyē̍va khalvi̠māni̠ bhūtā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । vi̠jñānē̍na̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । vi̠jñāna̠-mpraya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śa̠ntīti̍ । tadvi̠jñāya̍ । puna̍rē̠va varu̍ṇa̠-mpita̍ra̠mupa̍sasāra । adhī̍hi bhagavō̠ brahmēti̍ । tagṃ hō̍vācha । tapa̍sā̠ brahma̠ viji̍jñāsasva । tapō̠ brahmēti̍ । sa tapō̍-'tapyata । sa tapa̍sta̠ptvā ॥ 1 ॥
iti pañchamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through deeper inquiry he understands knowledge as Brahman, because understanding governs sacrifice, action, and experience.

ā̠na̠ndō bra̠hmēti̠ vya̍jānāt । ā̠nandā̠ddhyē̍va khalvi̠māni̠ bhūtā̍ni̠ jāya̍ntē । ā̠na̠ndēna̠ jātā̍ni̠ jīva̍nti । ā̠na̠nda-mpraya̍ntya̠bhisaṃvi̍śa̠ntīti̍ । saiṣā bhā̎rga̠vī vā̍ru̠ṇī vi̠dyā । pa̠ra̠mē vyō̍ma̠nprati̍ṣṭhitā । sa ya ē̠vaṃ vēda̠ prati̍tiṣṭhati । anna̍vānannā̠dō bha̍vati । ma̠hānbha̍vati pra̠jayā̍ pa̠śubhi̍rbrahmavarcha̠sēna̍ । ma̠hānkī̠rtyā ॥ 1 ॥
iti ṣaṣṭhō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Through final inquiry he understands bliss as Brahman, because beings arise from bliss, live by bliss, and return to bliss.

anna̠-nna ni̍ndyāt । tadvra̠tam । prā̠ṇō vā annam̎ । śarī̍ramannā̠dam । prā̠ṇē śarī̍ra̠-mprati̍ṣṭhitam । śarī̍rē prā̠ṇaḥ prati̍ṣṭhitaḥ । tadē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhitam । sa ya ē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhita̠ṃ vēda̠ prati̍tiṣṭhati । anna̍vānannā̠dō bha̍vati । ma̠hānbha̍vati pra̠jayā̍ pa̠śubhi̍rbrahmavarcha̠sēna̍ । ma̠hānkī̠rtyā ॥ 1 ॥
iti saptamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The teaching declares that food should not be despised, for food and prana are mutually established.

anna̠-nna pari̍chakṣīta । tadvra̠tam । āpō̠ vā annam̎ । jyōti̍rannā̠dam । a̠psu jyōti̠ḥ prati̍ṣṭhitam । jyōti̠ṣyāpa̠ḥ prati̍ṣṭhitāḥ । tadē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhitam । sa ya ē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhita̠ṃ vēda̠ prati̍tiṣṭhati । anna̍vānannā̠dō bha̍vati । mahā̠nbha̍vati pra̠jayā̍ pa̠śubhi̍rbrahmavarcha̠sēna̍ । ma̠hānkī̠rtyā ॥ 1 ॥
ityaṣṭamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Food should not be rejected; water and light, earth and space, and their mutual relation are contemplated as sacred support.

anna̍-mba̠hu ku̍rvīta । tadvra̠tam । pṛ̠thi̠vī vā annam̎ । ā̠kā̠śō̎-'nnā̠daḥ । pṛ̠thi̠vyāmā̍kā̠śaḥ prati̍ṣṭhitaḥ । ā̠kā̠śē pṛ̍thi̠vī prati̍ṣṭhitā । tadē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhitam । sa ya ē̠tadanna̠mannē̠ prati̍ṣṭhita̠ṃ vēda̠ prati̍tiṣṭhati । anna̍vānannā̠dō bha̍vati । ma̠hānbha̍vati pra̠jayā̍ pa̠śubhi̍rbrahmavarcha̠sēna̍ । ma̠hānkī̠rtyā ॥ 1 ॥
iti navamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Food should be increased; earth and space are contemplated as the stabilizing and abundant field of nourishment.

na kañchana vasatau pratyā̍chakṣī̠ta । tadvra̠tam । tasmādyayā kayā cha vidhayā bahva̍nna-mprā̠pnuyāt । arādhyasmā annami̍tyācha̠kṣatē । ētadvai mukhatō̎-'nnagṃ rā̠ddham । mukhatō-'smā a̍nnagṃ rā̠dhyatē । ētadvai madhyatō̎-'nnagṃ rā̠ddham । madhyatō-'smā a̍nnagṃ rā̠dhyatē । ētadvā antatō̎-'nnagṃ rā̠ddham । antatō-'smā a̍nnagṃ rā̠dhyatē ॥ 1 ॥
ya ē̍vaṃ vē̠da । kṣēma i̍ti vā̠chi । yōgakṣēma iti prā̍ṇāpā̠nayōḥ । karmē̍ti ha̠stayōḥ । gatiri̍ti pā̠dayōḥ । vimuktiri̍ti pā̠yau । iti mānuṣī̎ssamā̠jñāḥ । atha dai̠vīḥ । tṛptiri̍ti vṛ̠ṣṭau । balami̍ti vi̠dyuti ॥ 2 ॥
yaśa i̍ti pa̠śuṣu । jyōtiriti na̍kṣatrē̠ṣu । prajātiramṛtamānanda i̍tyupa̠sthē । sarvami̍tyākā̠śē । tatpratiṣṭhētyu̍pāsī̠ta । pratiṣṭhā̍vānbha̠vati । tanmaha ityu̍pāsī̠ta । ma̍hānbha̠vati । tanmana ityu̍pāsī̠ta । māna̍vānbha̠vati ॥ 3 ॥
tannama ityu̍pāsī̠ta । namyantē̎-'smai kā̠māḥ । tadbrahmētyu̍pāsī̠ta । brahma̍vānbha̠vati । tadbrahmaṇaḥ parimara ityu̍pāsī̠ta । paryēṇa-mmriyantē dviṣanta̍ssapa̠tnāḥ । pari yē̎-'priyā̎ bhrātṛ̠vyāḥ । sa yaśchā̍ya-mpu̠ruṣē । yaśchāsā̍vādi̠tyē । sa ēka̍ḥ ॥ 4 ॥
sa ya̍ ēva̠ṃ vit । asmāṃllō̍kātprē̠tya । ētamannamaya-mātmānamupa̍saṅkra̠mya । ēta-mprāṇamaya-mātmānamupa̍saṅkra̠mya । ēta-mmanōmaya-mātmānamupa̍saṅkra̠mya । ētaṃ vijñānamaya-mātmānamupa̍saṅkra̠mya । ētamānandamaya-mātmānamupa̍saṅkra̠mya । imāṃllōkānkāmānnī -kāmarūpya̍nu-sa̠ñcharann । ētathsāma gā̍yannā̠stē । hā(3) vu̠ hā(3) vu̠ hā(3) vu̍ ॥ 5 ॥
a̠hamanna-ma̠hamanna-ma̠hamannam । a̠hamannā̠dō(3)-'̠hamannā̠dō(3)-'̠hamannā̠daḥ । a̠hagg ślōka̠kṛda̠hagg ślōka̠kṛda̠hagg ślōka̠kṛt । a̠hamasmi prathamajā ṛtā(3) sya̠ । pūrva-ndēvēbhyō amṛtasya nā(3) bhā̠yi̠ । yō mā dadāti sa idēva mā(3) vā̠ḥ । a̠hamanna̠-manna̍-ma̠danta̠mā(3) dmi̠ । aha̠ṃ viśva̠-mbhuva̍na̠-mabhya̍bha̠vām । suva̠rna jyōtī̎ḥ । ya ē̠vaṃ vēda̍ । ityu̍pa̠niṣa̍t ॥ 6 ॥
iti daśamō-'nuvākaḥ ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
Hospitality is commanded: do not turn away one who comes for food, recognize food in the powers of body and cosmos, and realize the unity expressed by 'I am food, I am the eater of food, I am the maker of the hymn.'

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The closing peace prayer again asks that teacher and student be protected, nourished, strengthened, made radiant in study, and free from hostility.

॥ hari̍ḥ ōm ॥
॥ śrī kṛṣṇārpaṇamastu ॥

Translation (bhāvārtha):
The traditional closing offers the recitation to Hari and Sri Krishna.

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