Declared scope
01Prapāṭhaka 1, Khaṇḍa 1 only
The full Chandogya Upanishad runs to 8 prapāṭhakas and roughly 630 verses. This reader currently presents its first ten — the Om-as-udgītha teaching — not the whole text.
Source-aware · line & word study edition
छान्दोग्योपनिषद्
Authentic Chandogya Upanishad
Chāndogyopaniṣad
One of the oldest and longest Upanishads opens by asking what Om actually is — the essence distilled from earth, water, plants, the person, speech, and the Vedas themselves. Read the opening section in Sanskrit, with consistent IAST, a close English rendering, and a grammatical word-by-word split for every verse.
ॐ
On-site scope
10 verses (Khaṇḍa 1 of 13 in Prapāṭhaka 1)
Sanskrit · Devanagari + IAST
Sāmavedīya (Tāṇḍya/Talavakāra) Upaniṣad · 8 prapāṭhakas, roughly 630 verses in the full text
Before opening the reader
What is Om actually made of, according to this opening chapter?
The text traces Om back through earth, water, plants, the body and speech before it ever names the syllable — why start so far from the sound itself?
Verse three calls Om "the eighth" essence, without ever explaining what's being counted — translators still disagree. Does an unexplained number weaken the teaching, or is that exactly the kind of puzzle it expects a student to sit with?
01 / Authenticity ledger
What “authentic” means here.
Source disclosed. Language named. Attribution qualified. Editorial choices made visible. It does not mean that one modern web page has erased every living recension or interpretive tradition.
Attribution
02Śruti · no individual author
Like the rest of the Upaniṣadic corpus, this text is traditionally received as śruti (revealed/heard), transmitted through the Sāma Veda's Tāṇḍya (Talavakāra) school rather than composed by a named poet.
Textual basis
03Gita Press Gorakhpur edition
Devanagari verse text is checked against the Gita Press Gorakhpur Sanskrit-Hindi edition (with Śāṅkara-bhāṣya), cross-checked against Max Müller's public-domain English translation for this section.
Reader standard
04Word-by-word + IAST
Each verse carries the Devanagari, a consistent IAST transliteration, a close English rendering, and a phrase-level grammatical split.
02 / Word & compound reader
The text, opened carefully.
Prapāṭhaka 1, Khaṇḍa 1 · complete
This edition currently covers only the opening section — the ten verses that introduce Om as the udgītha, the thread the text's teaching on meditation and knowledge builds on across its remaining twelve sections of Chapter 1 and seven further chapters. Later khaṇḍas are not yet included; this is a starting section, not the complete Upanishad.
Reader controls
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Showing 10 of 10 entries
1.1.1: om ity etad akṣaram udgītham upāsīta. om iti hy udgāyati tasyopavyākhyānam.
1.1.1Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
ओमित्येतदक्षरमुद्गीथमुपासीत। ओमिति ह्युद्गायति तस्योपव्याख्यानम्॥
om ity etad akṣaram udgītham upāsīta. om iti hy udgāyati tasyopavyākhyānam.
Close meaning
One should meditate on the syllable Om as the udgītha — for one begins the udgītha-chant with Om. Here follows its explanation.
Word & compound study
ओम् इति एतत् अक्षरम्om iti etad akṣaram
the syllable that is this: Om
उद्गीथम् उपासीतudgītham upāsīta
one should meditate on it as the udgītha
ओम् इति हि उद्गायतिom iti hy udgāyati
for one chants the udgītha starting with Om
तस्य उपव्याख्यानम्tasyopavyākhyānam
of this, here follows the explanation
1.1.2: eṣāṃ bhūtānāṃ pṛthivī rasaḥ, pṛthivyā āpo rasaḥ, apām oṣadhayo rasaḥ, oṣadhīnāṃ puruṣo rasaḥ, puruṣasya vāg rasaḥ, vāca ṛg rasaḥ, ṛcaḥ sāma rasaḥ, sāmna udgītho rasaḥ.
1.1.2Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
एषां भूतानां पृथिवी रसः, पृथिव्या आपो रसः, अपामोषधयो रसः, ओषधीनां पुरुषो रसः, पुरुषस्य वाग्रसः, वाच ऋग्रसः, ऋचः साम रसः, साम्न उद्गीथो रसः॥
eṣāṃ bhūtānāṃ pṛthivī rasaḥ, pṛthivyā āpo rasaḥ, apām oṣadhayo rasaḥ, oṣadhīnāṃ puruṣo rasaḥ, puruṣasya vāg rasaḥ, vāca ṛg rasaḥ, ṛcaḥ sāma rasaḥ, sāmna udgītho rasaḥ.
Close meaning
The earth is the essence of these beings; water is the essence of the earth; plants are the essence of water; the person is the essence of plants; speech is the essence of the person; the Ṛk is the essence of speech; the Sāma is the essence of the Ṛk; the udgītha is the essence of the Sāma.
Word & compound study
एषां भूतानां पृथिवी रसःeṣāṃ bhūtānāṃ pṛthivī rasaḥ
of these beings, the earth is the essence
पृथिव्या आपो रसःpṛthivyā āpo rasaḥ
of the earth, water is the essence
अपामोषधयो रसःapām oṣadhayo rasaḥ
of water, plants are the essence
ओषधीनां पुरुषो रसःoṣadhīnāṃ puruṣo rasaḥ
of plants, the person is the essence
पुरुषस्य वाग्रसःpuruṣasya vāg rasaḥ
of the person, speech is the essence
वाच ऋग्रसःvāca ṛg rasaḥ
of speech, the Ṛk is the essence
ऋचः साम रसःṛcaḥ sāma rasaḥ
of the Ṛk, the Sāma is the essence
साम्न उद्गीथो रसःsāmna udgītho rasaḥ
of the Sāma, the udgītha is the essence
1.1.3: sa eṣa rasānāṃ rasatamaḥ paramaḥ parārdhyo 'ṣṭamo yad udgīthaḥ.
1.1.3Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
स एष रसानां रसतमः परमः परार्ध्योऽष्टमो यदुद्गीथः॥
sa eṣa rasānāṃ rasatamaḥ paramaḥ parārdhyo 'ṣṭamo yad udgīthaḥ.
Close meaning
This udgītha is the essence of essences, the highest, worthy of the highest place — the eighth.
Word & compound study
स एष रसानां रसतमःsa eṣa rasānāṃ rasatamaḥ
this, of essences, is the essence of essences
परमः परार्ध्यःparamaḥ parārdhyaḥ
the highest, worthy of the highest place
अष्टमो यदुद्गीथःaṣṭamo yad udgīthaḥ
the eighth — namely, the udgītha
1.1.4: katamā katamark, katamat sāma, katamaḥ katama udgītha iti vicikitsitaṃ bhavati.
1.1.4Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
कतमा कतमर्क्, कतमत्साम, कतमः कतम उद्गीथ इति विचिकित्सितं भवति॥
katamā katamark, katamat sāma, katamaḥ katama udgītha iti vicikitsitaṃ bhavati.
Close meaning
Which, then, is the Ṛk? Which is the Sāma? Which is the udgītha? This becomes a matter of inquiry.
Word & compound study
कतमा कतमर्क्katamā katamark
which, which, is the Ṛk
कतमत्सामkatamat sāma
which, which, is the Sāma
कतमः कतम उद्गीथःkatamaḥ katama udgīthaḥ
which, which, is the udgītha
इति विचिकित्सितं भवतिiti vicikitsitaṃ bhavati
thus this becomes a matter of inquiry
1.1.5: vāgevark, prāṇaḥ sāma, tad etad ṛksāmayor mithunaṃ yad vākca prāṇaśca.
1.1.5Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
वागेवर्क्, प्राणः साम, तदेतदृक्सामयोर्मिथुनं यद्वाक्च प्राणश्च॥
vāgevark, prāṇaḥ sāma, tad etad ṛksāmayor mithunaṃ yad vākca prāṇaśca.
Close meaning
Speech indeed is the Ṛk; breath is the Sāma. This, then, is the pairing of Ṛk and Sāma — namely, speech and breath.
Word & compound study
वागेवर्क्vāg eva ṛk
speech indeed is the Ṛk
प्राणः सामprāṇaḥ sāma
breath (the life-force) is the Sāma
तदेतदृक्सामयोर्मिथुनंtad etad ṛksāmayor mithunam
this, then, is the pairing of Ṛk and Sāma
यद्वाक्च प्राणश्चyad vākca prāṇaśca
namely, speech and breath together
1.1.6: tad etan mithunam om ity etasminn akṣare saṃsṛjyate. yadā vai mithunau samāgacchata āpayato vā u tāv anyonyasya kāmam.
1.1.6Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
तदेतन्मिथुनमोमित्येतस्मिन्नक्षरे संसृज्यते। यदा वै मिथुनौ समागच्छत आपयतो वा उ तावन्योन्यस्य कामम्॥
tad etan mithunam om ity etasminn akṣare saṃsṛjyate. yadā vai mithunau samāgacchata āpayato vā u tāv anyonyasya kāmam.
Close meaning
This pairing is joined together in the syllable Om. When a pair come together, the two of them fulfil each other's desire.
Word & compound study
तदेतन्मिथुनम्tad etan mithunam
this pairing
ओमित्येतस्मिन्नक्षरे संसृज्यतेom ity etasminn akṣare saṃsṛjyate
is joined together in this syllable, Om
यदा वै मिथुनौ समागच्छतःyadā vai mithunau samāgacchataḥ
when a pair come together
आपयतो वा उ तौāpayato vā u tau
the two of them indeed bring about
अन्योन्यस्य कामम्anyonyasya kāmam
each other's desire
1.1.7: āpayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etadevaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste.
1.1.7Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
आपयिता ह वे कामानां भवति य एतदेवं विद्वानक्षरमुद्गीथमुपास्ते॥
āpayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etadevaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste.
Close meaning
Whoever, knowing this, meditates on the syllable as the udgītha becomes a fulfiller of desires.
Word & compound study
आपयिता ह वे कामानां भवतिāpayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati
becomes indeed a fulfiller of desires
य एतदेवं विद्वान्ya etad evaṃ vidvān
whoever, knowing this thus
अक्षरमुद्गीथमुपास्तेakṣaram udgītham upāste
meditates on the syllable as the udgītha
1.1.8: tad vā etad anujñākṣaraṃ yaddhi kiṃ cānujānāty om ity eva tadāha, eṣā eva samṛddhir yad anujñā. samardhayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etadevaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste.
1.1.8Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
तद्वा एतदनुज्ञाक्षरं यद्धि किंचानुजानात्योमित्येव तदाह, एषा एव समृद्धिर्यदनुज्ञा। समर्धयिता ह वै कामानां भवति य एतदेवं विद्वानक्षरमुद्गीथमुपास्ते॥
tad vā etad anujñākṣaraṃ yaddhi kiṃ cānujānāty om ity eva tadāha, eṣā eva samṛddhir yad anujñā. samardhayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati ya etadevaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste.
Close meaning
This syllable is also the syllable of assent — for whatever a person assents to, one says exactly 'Om.' Assent itself is a kind of fulfilment. Whoever, knowing this, meditates on the syllable as the udgītha becomes a fulfiller of desires.
Word & compound study
तद्वा एतदनुज्ञाक्षरंtad vā etad anujñākṣaram
this, moreover, is the syllable of assent
यद्धि किंचानुजानातिyaddhi kiṃ cānujānāti
for whatever a person assents to
ओमित्येव तदाहom ity eva tad āha
one says exactly 'Om' to it
एषा एव समृद्धिर्यदनुज्ञाeṣā eva samṛddhir yad anujñā
this assent itself is a kind of fulfilment
समर्धयिता ह वै कामानां भवतिsamardhayitā ha vai kāmānāṃ bhavati
becomes indeed a fulfiller of desires
य एतदेवं विद्वानक्षरमुद्गीथमुपास्तेya etadevaṃ vidvān akṣaram udgītham upāste
whoever, knowing this, meditates on the syllable as the udgītha
1.1.9: teneyaṃ trayī vidyā vartate. om ity āśrāvayaty om iti śaṃsaty om ity udgāyaty etasyaivākṣarasyāpacityai mahimnā rasena.
1.1.9Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
तेनेयं त्रयी विद्या वर्तते। ओमित्याश्रावयत्योमिति शंसत्योमित्युद्गायत्येतस्यैवाक्षरस्यापचित्यै महिम्ना रसेन॥
teneyaṃ trayī vidyā vartate. om ity āśrāvayaty om iti śaṃsaty om ity udgāyaty etasyaivākṣarasyāpacityai mahimnā rasena.
Close meaning
By that syllable this threefold Vedic knowledge proceeds: one calls out with Om, recites with Om, chants with Om — in honour of that very syllable, by its greatness and by its essence.
Word & compound study
तेनेयं त्रयी विद्या वर्ततेteneyaṃ trayī vidyā vartate
by that syllable this threefold Vedic knowledge proceeds
ओमित्याश्रावयतिom ity āśrāvayati
one calls out [the invitation to the rite] with Om
ओमिति शंसतिom iti śaṃsati
one recites [the verse] with Om
ओमित्युद्गायतिom ity udgāyati
one chants with Om
एतस्यैवाक्षरस्यापचित्यै महिम्ना रसेनetasyaivākṣarasyāpacityai mahimnā rasena
in honour of this very syllable, by its greatness and its essence
1.1.10: tenobhau kuruto yaścaitad evaṃ veda yaśca na veda. nānā tu vidyā cāvidyā ca yad eva vidyayā karoti śraddhayopaniṣadā tad eva vīryavattaraṃ bhavatīti khalv etasyaivākṣarasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhavati.
1.1.10Prapāṭhaka 1 · Khaṇḍa 1 (Om as the udgītha)
तेनोभौ कुरुतो यश्चैतदेवं वेद यश्च न वेद। नाना तु विद्या चाविद्या च यदेव विद्यया करोति श्रद्धयोपनिषदा तदेव वीर्यवत्तरं भवतीति खल्वेतस्यैवाक्षरस्योपव्याख्यानं भवति॥
tenobhau kuruto yaścaitad evaṃ veda yaśca na veda. nānā tu vidyā cāvidyā ca yad eva vidyayā karoti śraddhayopaniṣadā tad eva vīryavattaraṃ bhavatīti khalv etasyaivākṣarasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhavati.
Close meaning
Both the one who knows this and the one who does not know it act by that syllable — but knowledge and ignorance yield different results. Whatever is done with knowledge, with faith, and with understanding becomes more potent. This, then, is the explanation of that syllable.
Word & compound study
तेनोभौ कुरुतोtenobhau kuruto
with that syllable, both act
यश्चैतदेवं वेद यश्च न वेदyaścaitad evaṃ veda yaśca na veda
the one who knows this thus, and the one who does not know it
नाना तु विद्या चाविद्या चnānā tu vidyā cāvidyā ca
but knowledge and ignorance are different
यदेव विद्यया करोति श्रद्धयोपनिषदाyad eva vidyayā karoti śraddhayopaniṣadā
whatever one does with knowledge, with faith, and with understanding
तदेव वीर्यवत्तरं भवतिtad eva vīryavattaraṃ bhavati
that indeed becomes more potent
इति खल्वेतस्यैवाक्षरस्योपव्याख्यानं भवतिiti khalv etasyaivākṣarasyopavyākhyānaṃ bhavati
thus, indeed, this is the explanation of that very syllable
chandogya upanishad · editorial study edition
03 / Attribution & biography
People, voices, and tradition.
A sacred text can have a poet, a speaker inside its story, a traditional compiler, and later commentators. These roles are named separately so reverence never requires blurred history.
Traditional attribution01
Textual tradition
Sāma Veda · Tāṇḍya (Talavakāra) Brāhmaṇa
The Chandogya Upanishad forms the final eight chapters of the Chāndogya Brāhmaṇa, associated with the Tāṇḍya (also called Talavakāra) school of the Sāma Veda. Like other Upaniṣads, it is not attributed to a single historical author; it took shape across generations of Vedic teachers and is traditionally received as śruti. Khaṇḍa 1 itself is philosophical exposition with no named speaker — later chapters of the full text do name specific sages and teachers (Uddālaka Āruṇi, Śāṇḍilya, Sanatkumāra and others), whose episodes are not yet part of this reader.
04 / Editorial method
Designed for honest study.
- 01
This reader currently covers Prapāṭhaka 1, Khaṇḍa 1 (10 of the full text's roughly 630 verses) — the opening teaching on Om as udgītha. It does not represent the complete Chandogya Upanishad, and says so plainly rather than padding a small section to look like a finished edition.
- 02
Devanagari is checked against the Gita Press Gorakhpur Sanskrit-Hindi edition (with Śāṅkara's commentary) and cross-checked against Max Müller's Sacred Books of the East translation of this section; the phrase-level word splits and close English glosses are prepared for this site.
- 03
The meaning given for each verse is a close study gloss, not a substitute for the Śāṅkara-bhāṣya or for a qualified teacher's explanation of the Upaniṣad.
05 / Source shelf
Read beyond this edition.
Primary texts, manuscript records, and scholarly studies are linked directly. External texts remain with their custodians and under their stated terms.
- 01Chandogya Upanishad (Sanskrit-Hindi, with Śāṅkara-bhāṣya)Gita Press, GorakhpurThe primary edition used for this reader's Devanagari verse text and commentary cross-checks. (opens in a new tab)
- 02The Upanishads, Part I — Chāndogya UpanishadSacred Books of the East, Vol. 1 · trans. F. Max Müller (1879)Public-domain scholarly translation used to cross-check this section's close English rendering. (opens in a new tab)