This Upanishad belongs to Vajasaneyi Samhita
of Sukla Yajurveda. It derives its name from the opening word of
the Text which embodies the central teaching of this Upanishad
viz. God is all pervading, all ruling, independent, and Supreme.
A few verses of this Upanishad occur in Brihadaranya Upanishad
also. A gist of the teachings of this Upanishad and the
background of the revelation of these Mantras to svayambhuva Manu
is given in Bhagavata (VII-1) and Brahmanda Purana.
For this Upanishad Svayabhuva Manu is the
sage. Lord Hari in his form as Yajna is the deity. Anushtup etc.
are the chandas i.e, metres.
This whole world is pervaded by the supreme ruler. This world is located in Prakriti – the primordial matter. Hence, be content with what is given by the Supreme God. Do not seek anything from anyone else.
One should wish to live a hundred years, performing his prescribed duties. Actions are not binding to a man who performs his prescribed duties with dedication to God. Non-performance of the prescribed certainly leads to sin.
Those who get erroneous knowledge of God will go, after death, to such worlds that are full of deep darkness, full of misery, and meant for demons.
God is unmoved, he is one, faster than the mind. The deities do not reach him. However, he knows them right from the beginning. He overtakes all others who run fast. Mukhya prana offers the deeds of all to Him.
Everything fears from him. He does not fear from any. He is near, and he is far. He is inside and he is outside all.
He who knows that all sentient and non-sentient beings are in God and God is in all of them does not desire to protect himself.
The God in whom all beings reside is present in all. He who especially knows this, and also sees the oneness of God present in all these beings will have no wrong knowledge nor any sorrow.
He has reached the God who is free from sorrow, has no subtle body, has no limitations, has no gross body, who is the ground of all purity, and who is not affected by any sin. Further, God who is omniscient, who is the lord of the minds of all, who controls all, who is independent, has created the things truly through the ages.
Those who meditate upon God wrongly will enter into the world of deep darkness. But those who are engaged in right knowledge only, will, indeed, enter into deeper darkness.
They say that the result of right knowledge is distinct and the result of the censure of wrong knowledge is distinct. Thus we have heard from the wise who taught us that.
He who has the right knowledge and censures the wrong knowledge will cross over ignorance, sorrow etc., by censuring wrong knowledge, and attain the blissful state by the right knowledge.
Those who meditate upon God considering that he is not the creator, will enter into deep darkness. But those who consider that he is creator only will enter into deeper darkness.
They say that the result of the knowledge of the creatorship is distinct and the result of the knowledge of the destroyership etc. is distinct. Thus we have heard from the wise who taught us that.
He who knows both the creatorship and destroyership of God will cross over the bondage by the knowledge of destroyership and attain the bliss by the knowledge of creatorship.
The face of God who possesses all auspicious qualities is covered with Suryamandala. O Pushan the infinite! Unveil it, so as to enable me, who hold him at heart, to see him.
O Pushan, the infinite Ekarse the prime knower of all things, Yama the regulator of all! Surya – one who is to be realised by the learned, Prajapati – one who is to be obtained by Hiranyagarbha, give me the knowledge of my true nature, extend my knowledge of the things outside. I wish to see your auspicious form.
The Purusha who is present in Mukhyaprana, is called ‘aham’ as he has no inauspicious qualities and ‘asmi’ as he is to be known as ever-present. The Purusha who is present in Pushan, Ekarsi, Yama etc. is within me also as regulator.
Though the body survives until it is turned into ashes, the Mukhyaprana who is supported by God is immortal.
Om! Creator ! one who is Jnanasvarupa bless me; take into account my deeds and bless me.
O Agni! One who regulates the body and regulates the world lead us by the right path towards the prosperity i.e. liberation. O God! You know all the knowledge that we have acquired. Remove the sins that have put us in bondage. We offer you profuse solutions.
