Section 3.17
Original Sanskrit
3.17.1 स यदशिशिषति यत्पिपासति यन्न रमते ता अस्य दीक्षाः ॥ १ ॥
3.17.2 अथ यदश्नाति यत्पिबति यद्रमते तदुपसदैरेति ॥ २ ॥
3.17.3 अथ यद्धसति यज्जक्षति यन्मैथुनं चरति स्तुतशस्त्रैरेव तदेति ॥ ३ ॥
3.17.4 अथ यत्तपो दानमार्जवमहिꣳसा सत्यवचनमिति ता अस्य दक्षिणाः ॥ ४ ॥
3.17.5 तस्मादाहुः सोष्यत्यसोष्टेति पुनरुत्पादनमेवास्य तन्मरणमेवास्यावभृथः ॥ ५ ॥
3.17.6 तद्धैतद्घोर् आङ्गिरसः कृष्णाय देवकीपुत्रायोक्त्वोवाचापिपास एव स बभूव सोऽन्तवेलायामेतत्त्रयं प्रतिपद्येताक्षितमस्यच्युतमसि प्राणसꣳशितमसीति तत्रैते द्वे ऋचौ भवतः ॥ ६ ॥
3.17.7 आदित्प्रत्नस्य रेतसः । उद्वयन्तमसस्परि ज्योतिः पश्यन्त उत्तरꣳस्वः पश्यन्त उत्तरं देवं देवत्रा सूर्यमगन्म ज्योतिरुत्तममिति ज्योतिरुत्तममिति ॥ 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.
3.17.1 When a person desires food, thirsts, and finds no pleasure, these are that person's initiations.
3.17.2 When that person eats, drinks, and finds pleasure, that corresponds to the Upasad rites.
3.17.3 When that person laughs, eats, and has sexual intercourse, that corresponds to the chanted and recited praises.
3.17.4 Austerity, giving, straightforwardness, nonviolence, and truthful speech are that person's sacrificial gifts.
3.17.5 Thus people say, "He will bring forth," and "He has brought forth." This is that person's renewed bringing forth; death is that person's final ritual bath.
3.17.6 Ghora Angirasa, after telling this to Krishna, Devaki's son, said this; and Krishna became free from thirst. At the final hour one should turn to these three: "You are imperishable; you are unfailing; you are strengthened by life-breath." On this there are two Rig verses:
3.17.7 Then, from the ancient seed.Rising beyond the darkness, beholding the higher light, beholding the higher heaven,we have reached the Sun, the god among gods, the highest light,the highest light.
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.
3.17.1 When a person is hungry, thirsty, or has no pleasure, these are his initiation rites.
3.17.2 When he eats, drinks, or enjoys himself, he takes part in the preparatory rites.
3.17.3 When he laughs, eats, or has sex, he takes part in the sung and recited praises.
3.17.4 His austerity, giving, honesty, not harming others, and speaking the truth are his gifts to the priests.
3.17.5 That is why people say, "He will bring forth," and "He has brought forth." This is his being born again. His death is his final ritual bath.
3.17.6 After teaching this to Krishna, Devaki's son, Ghora Angirasa said, "At the final hour, one should turn to these three sayings: 'You are imperishable. You are unshaken. You are made strong by life-breath.'" Krishna became free of thirst. There are these two Rig verses about this:
3.17.7 "Then, from the seed of the ancient one.""Seeing the higher light beyond the darkness, seeing the higher sunlight,we have reached the sun, the god among the gods, the highest light.""The highest light."
About this section
Section 3.17 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 54 of 154 in the work, which is kept in the Hindu tradition.
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