Section 1.4
Original Sanskrit
1.4.1 ओमित्येतदक्षरमुद्गीथमुपासीतोमिति ह्युद्गायति तस्योपव्याख्यानम् ॥ १ ॥
1.4.2 देवा वै मृत्योर्बिभ्यतस्त्रयीं विद्यां प्राविशꣳस्ते छन्दोभिरच्छादयन्यदेभिरच्छादयꣳस्तच्छन्दसां छन्दस्त्वम् ॥ २ ॥
1.4.3 तानु तत्र मृत्युर्यथा मत्स्यमुदके परिपश्येदेवं पर्यपश्यदृचि साम्नि यजुषि । ते नु विदित्वोर्ध्वा ऋचः साम्नो यजुषः स्वरमेव प्राविशन् ॥ ३ ॥
1.4.4 यदा वा ऋचमाप्नोत्योमित्येवातिस्वरत्येवꣳ सामैवं यजुरेष उ स्वरो यदेतदक्षरमेतदमृतमभयं तत्प्रविश्य देवा अमृता अभया अभवन् ॥ ४ ॥
1.4.5 स य एतदेवं विद्वानक्षरं प्रणौत्येतदेवाक्षरꣳ स्वरममृतमभयं प्रविशति तत्प्रविश्य यदमृता देवास्तदमृतो भवति ॥ 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.
1.4.1 One should meditate on this syllable Om as the Udgitha, for with Om one sings the Udgitha. Here is its explanation.
1.4.2 Fearing death, the gods entered the threefold sacred knowledge. They covered themselves with the meters. Because they covered themselves with them, the meters are called chandas.
1.4.3 But death saw them there, in the Rig verse, the Saman, and the Yajus formula, as one might see a fish in water. Realizing this, they rose beyond the Rig verse, the Saman, and the Yajus formula, and entered sound itself.
1.4.4 When one takes up a Rig verse, one sounds Om; so also with a Saman and a Yajus formula. This syllable is that sound, immortal and fearless. Entering it, the gods became immortal and fearless.
1.4.5 Whoever knows thus and sounds this syllable enters this very syllable, this sound, immortal and fearless. Entering it, that person becomes immortal as the gods are immortal.
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.
1.4.1 Meditate on the syllable Om as the Udgitha. The singer begins the Udgitha with Om. Here is its explanation.
1.4.2 Afraid of death, the gods entered the threefold Vedic knowledge. They covered themselves with the meters. Because they covered themselves, achchhadayan, with them, the meters are called chhandas.
1.4.3 But death saw them there, in Rig verse, Saman, and Yajus formula, as clearly as someone sees a fish in water. Recognizing this, they rose beyond Rig verse, Saman, and Yajus formula and entered the sound itself.
1.4.4 When someone begins a Rig verse, they sound Om first. The same happens with a Saman and a Yajus formula. This syllable is that sound. It is immortal and free from fear. By entering it, the gods became immortal and free from fear.
1.4.5 Someone who knows this and sounds the syllable enters that very sound, the immortal and fearless syllable. By entering it, that person becomes immortal, as the gods are immortal.
About this section
Section 1.4 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 4 of 154 in the work, which is kept in the Hindu tradition.
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