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This celebrated chant is from Anuvaka XI, Lesson (or Chapter) 11, from ‘Shikshavalli’, ‘On Contemplation’, of the Taittiriya Upanishad. It is often chanted at schools and universities at the completion of a course of study. Traditionally, the first part of an education in Ancient India was simply to learn the Vedas “as is”. But their true impact lies behind a mere recitation or knowledge of the words. The Upanishads is the collected lessons of those deeper explanations. The word ‘Upanishad’ is taken from the Sanskrit meaning ‘to be seated near’. This chant begins by saying that once the teacher has taught the Vedas, the students are drawn near and told that they are not yet finished. There is more to come and their education will continue. There is a still deeper secret to be learned. That secret is the true meaning of the Vedas. It is the underlying mystery of reality. In order to learn it there are still a few things that must de done, and the chant indicates what the students must do to set off on that path of deeper and fuller learning.
Aum
`
vedam an¨cy˜c˜ryo 'ntev˜sinam anuþ˜sti
vedmnUCyacayaˆR=NtevaisnmnuzaiSt .
satyaÐ vada
sTy< vd ,
dharmaÐ cara
xmR< cr .
sv˜dhy˜y˜nm˜ pramada×
SvaXyayaNma àmd> ,
˜c˜ry˜ya priyaÐ dhanam ˜h®tya praj˜tantuÐ m˜ vyavacchetsŸ×
AacayaRy iày< xnmaÿTy àjatNtu< ma VyvCDeTsI> ,
saty˜nna pramaditavyam
sTyaÚ àmidtVym! ,
dharm˜nna pramaditavyam
xmaRÚ àmidtVym! ,
kuþal˜nna pramaditavyam
k…zlaÚ àmidtVym! ,
bh¨tyai na pramaditavyam
-UTyE n àmidtVym! ,
sv˜dhy˜ya pravacan˜bhy˜m na pramaditavyam
SvaXyayàvcna_ya< n àmidtVym! ,
deva pit®kary˜bhy˜m na pramaditavyam
dev ipt&kayaR_ya< n àmidtVym! .
m˜t®devo bhava
mat&devae -v,
pit®devo bhava
ipt&devae -v ,
˜c˜ryadevo bhava
AacayRdevae -v ,
atithidevo bhava
Aitiwdevae -v.
y˜nyanavady˜ni karm˜õi
yaNynv*ain kmaRi[ ,
t˜ni sevitavy˜ni
tain seivtVyain ,
no itar˜õi
nae #trai[ .
y˜nyasm˜kaÐ sucarit˜ni
yaNySmak< sucirtain ,
t˜ni tvayop˜sy˜ni
tain TvyaepaSyain ,
no itar˜õi
nae #trai[ .
ye ke c˜smacchrey˜Ðso brahm˜n˜×
ye ke caSmCDe+ya<sae äaü[a> ,
teÿ˜Ð tvay˜ ''sane na praþcasitavyam
te;a< Tvya==sne n àñistVym! .
þraddhay˜ deyam
ïÏya deym! ,
aþraddhay˜ 'deyam
AïÏya=deym! ,
þriy˜ deyam
iïya deym! ,
hriy˜ deyam
ih+ya deym! ,
bhiy˜ deyam
i-ya deym! ,
saÐvid˜ deyam
s<ivda deym! .
atha yadi te karmavicikits˜ v˜ v®ttavicikts˜ v˜ sy˜t
Aw yid te kmRivicikTsa va v&ÄivicikTsa va Syat! ,
ye tatra brahm˜n˜× sammarþina×
ye tÇ äaü[a> sMmiRRzRn> ,
yukt˜ ˜yukt˜×
yuKta AayuKta> ,
al¨kÿ˜ dharmak˜m˜× syu×
AlU]a xmRkama> Syu>,
yath˜ te tatra varteran
ywa te te;u vteRrn!,
tath˜ tatra varteth˜×
twa te;u vteRwa> .
ath˜bhy˜khy˜teÿu
Awa_yaOyate;u ,
ye tatra brahm˜n˜× sammarþina×
ye tÇ äaü[a> sMmiRRzRn> ,
yukt˜ ˜yukt˜×
yuKta AayuKta> ,
al¨kÿ˜ dharmak˜m˜× syu×
AlU]a xmRkama> Syu>,
yath˜ te teÿu varteran
ywa te te;u vteRrn!,
tath˜ teÿu varteth˜×
twa te;u vteRwa> .
eÿa ˜deþa×
@; Aadez>,
eÿa upadeþa×
@; %pdez>,
eÿ˜ vedopaniÿat
@;a vedaepin;t! ,
etadanuþ˜sanam
@tdnuzasnm! ,
evamup˜sitavyam
@vmupaistVym! ,
evamucaitadup˜syam
@vmucEtÊpaSym!.
Aum þ˜nti× þ˜nti× þ˜nti×
` zaiNt> zaiNt> zaiNt>.
Aum.
Having taught the Vedas, the preceptor then proceeds with the ‘post-instruction’.
Tell the truth.
Be ever righteous.
Never neglect your studies.
Having offered the desired fee to the teacher, do not cut off the thread of offspring.
Never be careless with Truth.
Never be negligent regarding what is Correct.
Never be negligent about your welfare.
Do not neglect your own prosperity.
Never forget to study and to disseminate.
Never forget your duties to the deities and the ancestors.
Become one who treats the mother as divine.
Become one who treats the father as a god.
Become one who treats the teacher as a god.
Become one who gives a guest the hospitality due to a divine being.
Those acts that are irreproachable.
They are to be undertaken.
Not any other kinds of acts.
Those acts of ours that are creditable.
They are to be performed by you.
Not any other kinds of acts.
And whoever may be more distinguished amongst the learned.
You are to render to them full hospitality—and then remain still.
Give with faith.
Do not give without faith.
Give with enthusiasm.
Give with humility.
Give with trepidation.
Give with sympathy.
Then if you ever have any doubts about your due actions or due conduct.
Behave—regarding those—as would behave the wise and the learned, of balanced judgement, of experience, objective, calm, given to good deeds, if they were present.
Then regarding those who have been wrongly accused.
If you ever have any doubts about your due actions or due conduct:
Then behave—regarding those—as would behave the wise and the learned, of balanced judgement, of experience, objective, calm, given to good deeds, if they were present.
This is the command.
This is the advice.
This is the secret instruction of the Vedas.
In this way should one conduct oneself through life.
These things being so, then let it ever be thus.
Aum shanti shanti shanti.