Mundaka 1, Khanda 2

1.2.1 This is the truth: the rites the seers discernedin the sacred verses spread in many forms among the three Vedas.Practice them faithfully, you who desire truth: this is yourpath to the world of good deeds.

1.2.2 When the flame dances in the kindled fire that bears the offering,place the offerings between the two portions of clarified butter.

1.2.3 If someone's fire offering lacks the new-moon and full-moon rites,the four-month observances, the first-fruits offering and hospitality;if offerings go unmade, if the rite for all the gods is omitted, or the offeringis made against the rule, it destroys that person's worlds through the seventh.

1.2.4 Kali, Karali and Manojava,Sulohita and the smoke-colored Sudhumravarna,Sphulingini and the divine Vishvaruchi:these are the seven dancing tongues.

1.2.5 Whoever makes offerings among these blazing tongues at the proper time—the offerings, taken up,lead that person as the sun's rays to the placewhere the one lord of the gods dwells.

1.2.6 “Come, come!” the radiant offerings call,bearing the sacrificer on the sun's rays.They honor him with loving words:“This is your holy world of Brahma, won by good deeds.”

1.2.7 Frail indeed are these rafts in the form of sacrifice,with their eighteen supports, on which the lower work is said to rest.Fools who delight in this as the highest goodreturn again to old age and death.

1.2.8 Living in the midst of ignorance,thinking themselves wise and learned,fools wander about, battered and bewildered,like the blind led by the blind.

1.2.9 Dwelling in ignorance in many forms, the childishimagine, “We have achieved our aim.”Because those devoted to rites do not understand, bound by attachment,they fall in misery when their worlds are exhausted.

1.2.10 The deluded, judging sacrifice and public benefaction supreme,know no other, higher good.After enjoying their good deeds on heaven's height, they enter thisworld again, or one still lower.

1.2.11 But those who dwell in the forest in ardor and faith,peaceful and wise, living on alms,pass, free of stain, through the sun's gateto the immortal Person, whose Self does not decay.

1.2.12 Having examined the worlds built by deeds, a Brahminshould turn away: what is unmade cannot be won by what is made.To understand that, let him approach a teacher,fuel in hand, learned in scripture and firmly rooted in Brahman.

1.2.13 To the pupil who had approached rightly,whose mind was peaceful and who possessed calm,the wise teacher faithfully imparted that knowledge of Brahmanby which one knows the imperishable Person, the truth.

Thus ends the second khanda of the first mundaka in the Mundaka Upanishad.

1.2.1 “This is the truth: the rites that the seerssaw in the sacred verses have spread in many forms in the threefold ritual.Practice them regularly, you who want the truth. This is yourpath to the world of good deeds.

1.2.2 When the flame flickers in the well-kindled fire that carries offerings,place the offerings between the two portions of clarified butter.

1.2.3 If someone's fire offering lacks the new-moon and full-moon rites,the four-monthly rites, the first-harvest rite, or hospitality to guests,if it has no offerings, lacks the rite for all the gods, or is offered against the rules,it destroys that person's worlds, up to the seventh.

1.2.4 Kali, the black one, Karali, the terrifying one, Manojava, swift as thought,Sulohita, deep red, and Sudhumravarna, the color of thick smoke,Sphulingini, scattering sparks, and the goddess Vishvaruchi, shining everywhere—these are the seven flickering tongues.

1.2.5 Whoever acts at the proper time among these shining flames,bringing the offerings—these offerings, the sun's rays, lead that person to wherethe one lord of the gods lives.

1.2.6 Calling, ‘Come, come,’ the brightly shining offeringscarry the sacrificer on the sun's rays.They honor the sacrificer with welcoming words:‘This is your holy world of Brahma, won by good deeds.’

1.2.7 But these eighteen supports in the form of sacrifice are unstable boats;the action described as resting on them is of the lower kind.The fools who welcome this as the highest goodreturn once again to old age and death.

1.2.8 Living in the middle of ignorance,thinking themselves wise and learned,the fools wander about, battered,like blind people led by someone blind.

1.2.9 Living in ignorance in many ways, these childish peopleproudly think, ‘We have achieved our goal.’Because attachment keeps those devoted to rites from understanding,they suffer and fall when their worlds are used up.

1.2.10 Thinking sacrifices and public works are best,these deluded people know no other, greater good.After enjoying the height of heaven, earned by good deeds, they enter thisworld or a lower one.

1.2.11 But those who practice austerity and faith in the forest,peaceful, knowledgeable, living by begging,go free from stain through the sun's doorto where that immortal Person is, whose Self does not decay.

1.2.12 After examining the worlds built up by action, a Brahminshould become disenchanted: action cannot produce what is unmade.To understand that, one should go to a teacher,carrying firewood in hand, a teacher learned in scripture and grounded in Brahman.

1.2.13 To the student who has approached properly, the learned teacher—to one whose mind is peaceful and who has self-control—explained the knowledge by which one knows the imperishable, the real Person:the knowledge of Brahman as it truly is.”

Here ends the second khanda of the first mundaka in the Mundaka Upanishad.