Section 3.16
Original Sanskrit
3.16.1 पुरुषो वाव यज्ञस्तस्य यानि चतुर्विꣳशतिवर्षाणि तत्प्रातःसवनं चतुर्विꣳशत्यक्षरा गायत्री गायत्रं प्रातःसवनं तदस्य वसवोऽन्वायत्ताः प्राणा वाव वसव एते हीदꣳसर्वं वासयन्ति ॥ १ ॥
3.16.2 तं चेदेतस्मिन्वयसि किञ्चिदुपतपेत्स ब्रूयात्प्राणा वसव इदं मे प्रातःसवनं माध्यन्दिनꣳसवनमनुसन्तनुतेति माहं प्राणानां वसूनां मध्ये यज्ञो विलोप्सीयेत्युद्धैव तत एत्यगदो ह भवति ॥ २ ॥
3.16.3 अथ यानि चतुश्चत्वारिꣳशद्वर्षाणि तन्माध्यंदिनꣳसवनं चतुश्चत्वारिꣳशदक्षरा त्रिष्टुप्त्रैष्टुभं माध्यन्दिनꣳसवनं तदस्य रुद्रा अन्वायत्ताः प्राणा वाव रुद्रा एते हीदꣳसर्वꣳरोदयन्ति ॥ ३ ॥
3.16.4 तं चेदेतस्मिन्वयसि किञ्चिदुपतपेत्स ब्रूयात्प्राणा रुद्रा इदं मे माध्यन्दिनꣳसवनं तृतीयसवनमनुसन्तनुतेति माहं प्राणानाꣳरुद्राणां मध्ये यज्ञो विलोप्सीयेत्युद्धैव तत एत्यगदो ह भवति ॥ ४ ॥
3.16.5 अथ यान्यष्टाचत्वारिꣳशद्वर्षाणि तत्तृतीयसवनमष्टाचत्वारिꣳशदक्षरा जगती जागतं तृतीयसवनं तदस्यादित्या अन्वायत्ताः प्राणा वावादित्या एते हीदꣳसर्वमाददते ॥ ५ ॥
3.16.6 तं चेदेतस्मिन्वयसि किञ्चिदुपतपेत्स ब्रूयात्प्राणा आदित्या इदं मे तृतीयसवनमायुरनुसंतनुतेति माहं प्राणानामादित्यानां मध्ये यज्ञो विलोप्सीयेत्युद्धैव तत एत्यगदो हैव भवति ॥ ६ ॥
3.16.7 एतद्ध स्म वै तद्विद्वानाह महिदास ऐतरेयः स किं म एतदुपतपसि योऽहमनेन न प्रेष्यामीति स ह षोडशं वर्षशतमजीवत्प्र ह षोडशं वर्षशतं जीवति य एवं वेद ॥ ७ ॥
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.
3.16.1 A person is a sacrifice. The first twenty-four years are the morning pressing. Gayatri has twenty-four syllables, and the morning pressing belongs to Gayatri. The Vasus are joined to this part of the sacrifice. The life-breaths are the Vasus, for they cause all this to dwell.
3.16.2 If some affliction should trouble a person at this age, that person should say, "Life-breaths, Vasus, extend this morning pressing of mine into the midday pressing. May I, the sacrifice, not be lost in the midst of the life-breaths, the Vasus." That person rises from the affliction and becomes free from disease.
3.16.3 The next forty-four years are the midday pressing. Trishtubh has forty-four syllables, and the midday pressing belongs to Trishtubh. The Rudras are joined to this part of the sacrifice. The life-breaths are the Rudras, for they make all this weep.
3.16.4 If some affliction should trouble a person at this age, that person should say, "Life-breaths, Rudras, extend this midday pressing of mine into the third pressing. May I, the sacrifice, not be lost in the midst of the life-breaths, the Rudras." That person rises from the affliction and becomes free from disease.
3.16.5 The next forty-eight years are the third pressing. Jagati has forty-eight syllables, and the third pressing belongs to Jagati. The Adityas are joined to this part of the sacrifice. The life-breaths are the Adityas, for they take all this to themselves.
3.16.6 If some affliction should trouble a person at this age, that person should say, "Life-breaths, Adityas, extend this third pressing of mine into the full span of life. May I, the sacrifice, not be lost in the midst of the life-breaths, the Adityas." That person rises from the affliction and becomes free from disease.
3.16.7 Knowing this, Mahidasa Aitareya said, "Why do you afflict me in this way? I shall not depart because of this." He lived a hundred and sixteen years. One who knows thus lives a hundred and sixteen years.
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.
3.16.1 A person is a sacrifice. His first twenty-four years are the morning pressing. The Gayatri meter has twenty-four syllables, and the morning pressing uses Gayatri. The Vasus are associated with this part of his life. The life-breaths are the Vasus, because they make everything live here.
3.16.2 If something troubles him at this age, he should say, "Life-breaths, Vasus, extend this morning pressing of mine into the midday pressing. May I, the sacrifice, not come to an end among the life-breaths, the Vasus." He rises out of that trouble and becomes well.
3.16.3 The next forty-four years are the midday pressing. The Trishtubh meter has forty-four syllables, and the midday pressing uses Trishtubh. The Rudras are associated with this part of his life. The life-breaths are the Rudras, because they make everything here weep.
3.16.4 If something troubles him at this age, he should say, "Life-breaths, Rudras, extend this midday pressing of mine into the third pressing. May I, the sacrifice, not come to an end among the life-breaths, the Rudras." He rises out of that trouble and becomes well.
3.16.5 The next forty-eight years are the third pressing. The Jagati meter has forty-eight syllables, and the third pressing uses Jagati. The Adityas are associated with this part of his life. The life-breaths are the Adityas, because they take up everything here.
3.16.6 If something troubles him at this age, he should say, "Life-breaths, Adityas, extend this third pressing of mine to the full span of life. May I, the sacrifice, not come to an end among the life-breaths, the Adityas." He rises out of that trouble and becomes well.
3.16.7 Knowing this, Mahidasa Aitareya said, "Why are you troubling me like this? I will not die from this." He lived for a hundred and sixteen years. Anyone who knows this lives for a hundred and sixteen years.
About this section
Section 3.16 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 53 of 154 in the work, which is kept in the Hindu tradition.
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