Section 2.22
Original Sanskrit
2.22.1 विनर्दि साम्नो वृणे पशव्यमित्यग्नेरुद्गीथोऽनिरुक्तः प्रजापतेर्निरुक्तः सोमस्य मृदु श्लक्ष्णं वायोः श्लक्ष्णं बलवदिन्द्रस्य क्रौञ्चं बृहस्पतेरपध्वान्तं वरुणस्य तान्सर्वानेवोपसेवेत वारुणं त्वेव वर्जयेत् ॥ १ ॥
2.22.2 अमृतत्वं देवेभ्य आगायानीत्यागायेत्स्वधां पितृभ्य आशां मनुष्येभ्यस्तृणोदकं पशुभ्यः स्वर्गं लोकं यजमानायान्नमात्मन आगायानीत्येतानि मनसा ध्यायन्नप्रमत्तः स्तुवीत ॥ २ ॥
2.22.3 सर्वे स्वरा इन्द्रस्यात्मानः सर्व ऊष्माणः प्रजापतेरात्मानः सर्वे स्पर्शा मृत्योरात्मानस्तं यदि स्वरेषूपालभेतेन्द्रꣳशरणं प्रपन्नोऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति वक्ष्यतीत्येनं ब्रूयात् ॥ ३ ॥
2.22.4 अथ यद्येनमूष्मसूपालभेत प्रजापतिꣳशरणं प्रपन्नोऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति पेक्ष्यतीत्येनं ब्रूयादथ यद्येनꣳ स्पर्शेषूपालभेत मृत्युꣳ शरणं प्रपन्नोऽभूवं स त्वा प्रति धक्ष्यतीत्येनं ब्रूयात् ॥ ४ ॥
2.22.5 सर्वे स्वरा घोषवन्तो बलवन्तो वक्तव्या इन्द्रे बलं ददानीति सर्व ऊष्माणोऽग्रस्ता अनिरस्ता विवृता वक्तव्याः प्रजापतेरात्मानं परिददानीति सर्वे स्पर्शा लेशेनानभिनिहिता वक्तव्या मृत्योरात्मानं परिहराणीति ॥ ५ ॥
Musean translation
Complete machine-assisted Musean translation made directly from the Sanskrit, independently of the Plain English edition. All eight books and the closing invocation are retained.
2.22.1 "I choose the bellowing voice of the Saman, favorable to livestock": this is Agni's Udgitha. Prajapati's is indistinct; Soma's is distinct; wind's is soft and smooth; Indra's is smooth and strong; Brihaspati's is crane-like; Varuna's is broken-voiced. One may employ them all, but should avoid Varuna's.
2.22.2 One should sing with this intent: "May I sing immortality for the gods, the ancestral offering for the ancestors, hope for humans, grass and water for livestock, the heavenly world for the sacrificer, and food for myself." Contemplating these in the mind, one should sing praise attentively.
2.22.3 All vowels are forms of Indra; all hissing and breath sounds are forms of Prajapati; all stop consonants are forms of Death. If someone criticizes the singer's vowels, the singer should answer, "I took refuge in Indra. He will answer you."
2.22.4 If someone criticizes the hissing and breath sounds, the singer should answer, "I took refuge in Prajapati. He will crush you." If someone criticizes the stop consonants, the singer should answer, "I took refuge in Death. He will burn you."
2.22.5 All vowels should be uttered resonantly and strongly, with the thought, "May I give strength to Indra." All hissing and breath sounds should be uttered openly, neither swallowed nor forced out, with the thought, "May I give myself to Prajapati." All stop consonants should be uttered lightly, without pressing them together, with the thought, "May I keep myself away from Death."
Plain English translation
Complete machine-assisted Plain English translation made independently and directly from the Sanskrit, not from the Musean edition. All eight books and the closing invocation are retained.
2.22.1 "I choose the Saman's resounding tone, which benefits livestock." This Udgitha belongs to fire. An undefined tone belongs to Prajapati; a clearly defined tone to Soma; a soft, smooth tone to wind; a smooth, strong tone to Indra; a crane-like tone to Brihaspati; and a broken tone to Varuna. Use all of these, but avoid Varuna's.
2.22.2 Sing with this intention: "May I sing immortality for the gods, offerings for the ancestors, hope for human beings, grass and water for livestock, the heavenly world for the patron of the sacrifice, and food for myself." Keep these things in mind and sing praise attentively.
2.22.3 All vowels are forms of Indra. All breathy sounds are forms of Prajapati. All stop consonants are forms of death. If someone criticizes your vowels, tell them, "I have taken refuge in Indra. He will answer you."
2.22.4 If someone criticizes your breathy sounds, tell them, "I have taken refuge in Prajapati. He will crush you." If someone criticizes your stop consonants, tell them, "I have taken refuge in death. He will burn you up."
2.22.5 Pronounce all vowels with resonance and strength, thinking, "May I give strength to Indra." Pronounce all breathy sounds openly, neither swallowing them nor forcing them out, thinking, "May I entrust myself to Prajapati." Pronounce all stop consonants lightly, without pressing them hard together, thinking, "May I keep myself away from death."
About this section
Section 2.22 is part of Chandogya Upanishad by Unknown. This page sets the Sanskrit original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 35 of 154 in the work, which is kept in the Hindu tradition.
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