Cardinal Statements from the Upanishads
The Essence of Advaita Vedanta
In this article, I have compiled some of the cardinal statements from the Upanishads, that form the foundation for all spiritual literature. The objective is to give the reader a flavour of these aphorisms from the Upanishads that form the very bedrock of all spiritual concepts and practices. These statements are also frequently quoted by the various commentators, included Adi Shankaracharya, and also extensively written about.
The article presents the statement in Sanskrit, its meaning and the source from which the statement has been taken. (The abbreviations used for the source text has been listed at the end of the article.)
The Four Great Sayings
These four Mahāvākyas (literally, ‘great sayings’) are the four cardinal statements of Advaita Vedanta.
अहं ब्रह्मास्मि ।
I am Brahman (the Supreme Reality). [BU 1.4.10]
तत्त्वमसि ।
You are That. [CHU 6.8.7]
अयमात्मा ब्रह्म ।
This Self is Brahman. [MDU 2]
प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म ।
Realized knowledge is Brahman. [ATU 3.3]
Brahman, Self, and the World
आत्मैवेदं सर्वम् ।
The Self indeed is all this. [CHU 7.25.2]
सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म ।
Brahman is Truth, Infinitude and is of the nature of knowledge. [TU 2.1]
एकमेवाद्वितीयम् ।
One alone without a second. [CHU 6.2.1]
सर्वं खल्विदं ब्रह्म ।
All this is indeed Brahman. [CHU 3.14.1]
एको देवः सर्वभूतेषु गूढः ।
It is the One Supreme that is residing (hidden) in all beings. [SU 6.11]
इदं सर्वं यदयमात्मा ।
All these are nothing but the Self. [BU 2.4.6]
ब्रह्मैवेदं विश्वमिदं वरिष्ठम् ।
This Universe is indeed the Supreme Brahman. [MUU 2.2.11]
ओमिति ब्रह्म । ओमितीदं सर्वम् ।
Om is Brahman. All this, the universe, is Om. [TU 1.8]
द्वितीयाद्वै भयं भवति ।
Fear comes only from a second entity (from duality). [BU 1.4.2]
यो वै भूमा तत्सुखं नाल्पे सुखमस्ति भूमैव सुखं ।
That which is infinite, is happiness. In the finite, there is no happiness. Infinite alone is happiness. [CHU 7.23.1]
शान्तं शिवमद्वैतं चतुर्थं मन्यन्ते स आत्मा स विज्ञेयः ।
That which is tranquil, Siva (auspicious), Non-dual, and the Fourth, know that to be the Self. [MDU 7]
ब्रह्म सत्यं जगन्मिथ्या ।
Brahman alone is truth; and the entire universe is unreal. [NU 35]
ऐतदात्म्यमिदं सर्वम् ।
All this is this Self. [CHU 6.8.7]
Knower of Truth
तरति शोकमात्मवित् ।
The knower of the Self, goes beyond sorrow. [CHU 7.1.3]
उदारचरितानां तु वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम् ।
For the wise ones (who have realized the Truth), the entire world is one family. [MAU 6.71]
देवो भूत्वा देवानप्येति ।
Being divine, he becomes divine. [BU 4.1.2]
ब्रह्मविदाप्नोति परम् ।
The one who realizes Brahman attains the Supreme. [TU 2.1]
यत्र विश्वं भवत्येकनीडम् ।
Where (in the one who has realized the Self), the whole world meets in a single nest. [MNU 1.14]
ब्रह्म वेद ब्रह्मैव भवति ।
One who knows (realizes) Brahman, becomes Brahman. [MUU 3.2.9]
Notes to the Seeker
सत्यं वद । धर्मं चर । स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः ।
Speak the truth. Follow the path of dharma. Do not be careless about study of the scriptures. [TU 1.4]
सत्यमेव जयते नानृतम् ।
Truth alone prevails; not untruth. [MUU 3.1.6]
तदेतत्त्रयं शिक्षेद् दमं दानं दयामिति ।
One should learn the three cardinal values of self-restraint, charity and compassion. [BU 5.2.3]
मातृदेवो भव । पितृदेवो भव । आचार्यदेवो भव । अतिथिदेवो भव ।
Be one for whom mother is God. Be one for whom father is God. Be one for whom the preceptor is God. Be one for whom the guest is God. [TU 1.4]
न वित्तेन तर्पणीयो मनुष्यः ।
The human being is never satisfied with wealth. [KU 1.1.27]
ममेति बध्यते जन्तुर्निर्ममेति विमुच्यते ।
The human is bound (in bondage) by the idea of ‘mine’, and is liberated when free from the idea of ‘mine’. [MAU 4.72]
आत्मा वा अरे द्रष्टव्यः श्रोतव्यो मन्तव्यो निदिध्यासितव्यः ।
The Self should be realized — should be studied, reflected upon, meditated upon. [BU 2.4.5]
आत्मानमेव प्रियमुपासीत ।
One should meditate upon the Self alone as dear. [BU 1.4.8]
नायमात्मा प्रवचनेन लभ्यः ।
The Self is not attained through discourses. [MUU 3.2.3]
ब्रह्मविद्यया सर्वं भविष्यन्तः ।
Through knowledge of Brahman, we become the infinite existence. [BU 1.4.8]
नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः ।
This Self is not attained by those with a weak heart. [MUU 3.2.4]
एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति ।
The Truth is one; the wise address it variously. [RV 1.164.46]
आ नो भद्राः क्रतवो यन्तु विश्वतः ।
May noble thoughts come to us from all directions. [RV 1.89.1]
Abbreviations Used
ATU=Aitareya Upanishad; BU=Brihadāranyaka Upanishad; CHU=Chāndogya Upanishad; KU=Kathopanishad; MAU=Mahopaniṣad; MNU=Mahānārāyana Upanishad; MUU=Mundaka Upanishad; NU=Nirālamba Upanishad; RV=Rig Veda; SU=Shvetāshvatara Upaniṣad; TU=Taittiriya Upanishad.
