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Śrī Īśopaniṣad: Sanskrit and English

Read the original Sanskrit transliteration alongside the published English translation retained from the 2001 source edition. Each pair belongs to the same stable source page; no machine translation or inferred passage matching is used.

The Sanskrit verse and English translation are shown in full. For synonyms, purport, original script where available, and complete citations, open the individual reader page. Browse the book

18 of 18 mantra pairs · Edition 2001. The introduction and invocation are available in the book reader.

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ISO 1

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12193 · Revision 793121 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

īśāvāsyam idam sarvaṁ
yat kiñca jagatyāṁ jagat
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā
mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam

English translation

Everything animate or inanimate that is within the universe is controlled and owned by the Lord. One should therefore accept only those things necessary for himself, which are set aside as his quota, and one should not accept other things, knowing well to whom they belong.

ISO 2

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12194 · Revision 793131 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

kurvann eveha karmāṇi
jijīviṣec chataṁ samāḥ
evaṁ tvayi nānyatheto 'sti
na karma lipyate nare

English translation

One may aspire to live for hundreds of years if he continuously goes on working in that way, for that sort of work will not bind him to the law of karma. There is no alternative to this way for man.

ISO 3

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12195 · Revision 793132 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

asuryā nāma te lokā
andhena tamasāvṛtāḥ
tāṁs te pretyābhigacchanti
ye ke cātma-hano janāḥ

English translation

The killer of the soul, whoever he may be, must enter into the planets known as the worlds of the faithless, full of darkness and ignorance.

ISO 4

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12196 · Revision 793133 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

anejad ekaṁ manaso javīyo
nainad devā āpnuvan pūrvam arṣat
tad dhāvato 'nyān atyeti tiṣṭhat
tasminn apo mātariśvā dadhāti

English translation

Although fixed in His abode, the Personality of Godhead is swifter than the mind and can overcome all others running. The powerful demigods cannot approach Him. Although in one place, He controls those who supply the air and rain. He surpasses all in excellence.

ISO 5

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12197 · Revision 793134 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

tad ejati tan naijati
tad dūre tad v antike
tad antar asya sarvasya
tad u sarvasyāsya bāhyataḥ

English translation

The Supreme Lord walks and does not walk. He is far away, but He is very near as well. He is within everything, and yet He is outside of everything.

ISO 6

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12198 · Revision 793135 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

yas tu sarvāṇi bhūtāny
ātmany evānupaśyati
sarva-bhūteṣu cātmānaṁ
tato na vijugupsate

English translation

He who sees systematically everything in relation to the Supreme Lord, who sees all living entities as His parts and parcels, and who sees the Supreme Lord within everything never hates anything or any being.

ISO 7

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12199 · Revision 793136 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

yasmin sarvāṇi bhūtāny
ātmaivābhūd vijānataḥ
tatra ko mohaḥ kaḥ śoka
ekatvam anupaśyataḥ

English translation

One who always sees all living entities as spiritual sparks, in quality one with the Lord, becomes a true knower of things. What, then, can be illusion or anxiety for him?

ISO 8

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12200 · Revision 793137 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

sa paryagāc chukram akāyam avraṇam
asnāviram śuddham apāpa-viddham
kavir manīṣī paribhūḥ svayambhūr
yāthātathyato 'rthān vyadadhāc chāśvatībhyaḥ samābhyaḥ

English translation

Such a person must factually know the greatest of all, the Personality of Godhead, who is unembodied, omniscient, beyond reproach, without veins, pure and uncontaminated, the self-sufficient philosopher who has been fulfilling everyone's desire since time immemorial.

ISO 9

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12201 · Revision 793138 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti
ye 'vidyām upāsate
tato bhūya iva te tamo
ya u vidyāyām ratāḥ

English translation

Those who engage in the culture of nescient activities shall enter into the darkest region of ignorance. Worse still are those engaged in the culture of so-called knowledge.

ISO 10

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12202 · Revision 793122 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

anyad evāhur vidyayā-
nyad āhur avidyayā
iti śuśruma dhīrāṇāṁ
ye nas tad vicacakṣire

English translation

The wise have explained that one result is derived from the culture of knowledge and that a different result is obtained from the culture of nescience.

ISO 11

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12203 · Revision 793123 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

vidyāṁ cāvidyāṁ ca yas
tad vedobhayaṁ saha
avidyayā mṛtyuṁ tīrtvā
vidyayāmṛtam aśnute

English translation

Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality.

ISO 12

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12204 · Revision 793124 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

andhaṁ tamaḥ praviśanti
ye 'sambhūtim upāsate
tato bhūya iva te tamo
ya u sambhūtyām ratāḥ

English translation

Those who are engaged in the worship of demigods enter into the darkest region of ignorance, and still more so do the worshipers of the impersonal Absolute.

ISO 13

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12205 · Revision 793125 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

anyad evāhuḥ sambhavād
anyad āhur asambhavāt
iti śuśruma dhīrāṇāṁ
ye nas tad vicacakṣire

English translation

It is said that one result is obtained by worshiping the supreme cause of all causes and that another result is obtained by worshiping what is not supreme. All this is heard from the undisturbed authorities, who clearly explained it.

ISO 14

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12206 · Revision 793126 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

sambhūtiṁ ca vināśaṁ ca
yas tad vedobhayaṁ saha
vināśena mṛtyuṁ tīrtvā
sambhūtyāmṛtam aśnute

English translation

One should know perfectly the Personality of Godhead Śrī Kṛṣṇa and His transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes, as well as the temporary material creation with its temporary demigods, men and animals. When one knows these, he surpasses death and the ephemeral cosmic manifestation with it, and in the eternal kingdom of God he enjoys his eternal life of bliss and knowledge.

ISO 15

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12207 · Revision 793127 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

hiraṇmayena pātreṇa
satyasyāpihitaṁ mukham
tat tvaṁ pūṣann apāvṛṇu
satya-dharmāya dṛṣṭaye

English translation

O my Lord, sustainer of all that lives, Your real face is covered by Your dazzling effulgence. Kindly remove that covering and exhibit Yourself to Your pure devotee.

ISO 16

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12208 · Revision 793128 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

pūṣann ekarṣe yama sūrya prājāpatya
vyūha raśmīn samūha
tejo yat te rūpaṁ kalyāṇa-tamaṁ
tat te paśyāmi yo 'sāv asau puruṣaḥ so 'ham asmi

English translation

O my Lord, O primeval philosopher, maintainer of the universe, O regulating principle, destination of the pure devotees, well-wisher of the progenitors of mankind, please remove the effulgence of Your transcendental rays so that I can see Your form of bliss. You are the eternal Supreme Personality of Godhead, like unto the sun, as am I.

ISO 17

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12209 · Revision 793129 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

vāyur anilam amṛtam
athedaṁ bhasmāntaṁ śarīram
oṁ krato smara kṛtaṁ smara
krato smara kṛtaṁ smara

English translation

Let this temporary body be burnt to ashes, and let the air of life be merged with the totality of air. Now, O my Lord, please remember all my sacrifices, and because You are the ultimate beneficiary, please remember all that I have done for You.

ISO 18

Complete reader and citations · Source: Vanisource · Page 12210 · Revision 793130 · Edition 2001

Sanskrit transliteration

agne naya supathā rāye asmān
viśvāni deva vayunāni vidvān
yuyodhy asmaj juhurāṇam eno
bhūyiṣṭhāṁ te nama-uktiṁ vidhema

English translation

O my Lord, as powerful as fire, O omnipotent one, now I offer You all obeisances, falling on the ground at Your feet. O my Lord, please lead me on the right path to reach You, and since You know all that I have done in the past, please free me from the reactions to my past sins so that there will be no hindrance to my progress.