Let him approach with humility a guru who is learned in the scriptures
and established in Brahman. To such a seeker, whose mind is tranquil and
senses controlled, and who has approached him in the proper manner, let
the learned guru impart the science of Brahman, through which the true,
Imperishable Being is realized.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 1.2.12 Essays on Hinduism, Karan
Singh, 157
Let him approach him properly with mind and senses tranquil and
peaceful. Then will this master disclose the essence of the knowledge of
Brahman whereby may be known the imperishable Real, the Person.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 1.2.13. Vedic Experience, pg. 415
Come! these radiant offerings invite the worshiper, conveying
him thither on the rays of the sun, addressing him pleasantly with words
of praise, world of Brahman is yours in its purity, gained by your
own good works.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 1.2.6. Vedic Experience, pg. 414
Abiding in the midst of ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and
learned, fools aimlessly go hither and thither, like blind led by the
blind.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 1.2.8. The Upanishads, Juan Mascaro, 77
As a thousand sparks from a fire well blazing spring forth, each one
like the rest, so from the Imperishable all kinds of beings come forth,
my dear, and to Him return.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.1. Vedic Experience, pg. 735
The cosmic soul is truly the whole universe, the immortal source of all
creation, all action, all meditation. Whoever discovers Him, hidden deep
within, cuts through the bonds of ignorance even during his life on
earth.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.10. bo The Principal Upanishads,
682
Self-resplendent, formless, unoriginated and pure, that all-pervading
being is both within and without. He transcends even the transcendent,
unmanifest, causal state of the universe.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.2
Fire is His head, the sun and moon His eyes, space His ears, the Vedas
His speech, the wind His breath, the universe His heart. From His feet
the earth has originated. Verily, He is the inner Self of all beings.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.4. Essays on Hinduism, Karan Singh,
159-160
From Him come hymns, songs and sacrificial formulas, initiations,
sacrifices, rites and all offerings. From Him come the year, the
sacrificer and the worlds in which the moon shines forth, and the sun.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.6. bo Thirteen Principal
Upanishads, 371
From Him, also, are born the Gods, in manifold ways, the celestials,
men, cattle, birds, the in-breath and the out-breath, rice and barley,
austerity, faith, truth, chastity and the law.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.1.7. The Principal Upanishads, 681
Taking as a bow the great weapon of the Upanishad, one should put upon
it an arrow sharpened by meditation. Stretching it with a thought
directed to the essence of That, penetrate that Imperishable as the
mark, my friend.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.2.3. Thirteen Principal Upanishads,
372
When the Great Being is seen as both the higher and the lower, then the
knot of the heart is rent asunder, all doubts are dispelled and karma is
destroyed.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 2.2.8. Essays on Hinduism, Karan Singh,
170
When a seer sees the creator of golden hue, the Lord, the Person, the
source of Brahma, then being a knower, shaking off good and evil and
free from stain, he attains supreme equality with the Lord.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.1.3. The Principal Upanishads, 686
The Self within the body, pure and resplendent, is attained through the
cultivation of truth, austerity, right knowledge and chastity. When
their impurities dwindle, the ascetics behold Him.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.1.5. Essays on Hinduism, Karan Singh,
175
The subtle Self is known by thought in which the senses in five
different forms have centered. The whole of men's thought is pervaded by
the senses. When thought is purified, the Self shines forth.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.1.9. The Principal Upanishads, 688
The Self cannot be attained by the weak, nor by the careless, nor
through aimless disciplines. But if one who knows strives by right
means, his soul enters the abode of God.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.2.4. bo The Upanishads, Juan Mascaro,
81
Having realized the Self, the rishis, perfected souls, satisfied with
their knowledge, passion-free, tranquil, those wise beings, having
attained the omnipresent on all sides, enter into the All itself.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.2.5. bo Thirteen Principal
Upanishads, 376
Just as the flowing rivers disappear in the ocean, casting off name and
shape, even so the knower, freed from name and shape, attains to the
Primal Soul, higher than the high.
Atharva Veda, Mundaka Upanishads 3.2.8. The Principal Upanishads, 691
He should fulfill, according to the rules ordained, for twelve years the
observance of brahmacharya, such as the service of the guru.
Atharva Veda, Naradaparivrajaka Upanishads 1. Thirty Minor Upanishads,
Including the Yoga Upanishads, 135
A hundred uninitiated are equal to one brahmachari. A hundred
brahmacharis are equal to one grihastha. A hundred grihasthas are equal
to one vanaprastha. A hundred vanaprasthas are equal to one sannyasin.
Atharva Veda, Narasinhapurvatapaniya Upanishads 5.10. Sixty Upanishads
of the Veda, Bedekar and Palsule, 832
They indeed possess that Brahma world who possess austerity and
chastity, and in whom the truth is established.
Atharva Veda, Prasna Upanishads 1.15. Thirteen Principal Upanishads, 380
To them belongs yon stainless Brahma world in whom there is no
crookedness and falsehood, nor trickery.
Atharva Veda, Prasna Upanishads 1.16. Thirteen Principal Upanishads
Just as the spokes are affixed to the hub of a wheel, so are all things
established in life, the Rig and Yajur and Sama Veda, sacrifice, the
nobility and also the priesthood.
Atharva Veda, Prasna Upanishads 2.6. Thirteen Principal Upanishads, 381
By means of the hymns one attains this world, by the sacrificial
formulas the space in-between, by holy chant the world revealed by the
sages. With the syllable Aum as his sole support, the wise man attains
that which is peaceful, unaging, deathless, fearless, the Supreme.
Atharva Veda, Prasna Upanishads 5.7. Vedic Experience, pg. 775
Ahimsa is not causing pain to any living being at any time through the
actions of one's mind, speech or body.
Atharva Veda, Sandilya Upanishads 1.3. Thirty Minor Upanishads,
Including the Yoga Upanishads, 173
Who, weary of Brahman studentship, having fully learnt the Vedas, is
discharged by the teacher he had ever obeyed, such a one is called the
ashramin. Choosing a wife of equally high birth, he should deposit the
sacred fires, and bring to those Deities the Brahman sacrifice day and
night until, dividing among the children his property, abstaining from
conjugal pleasures, he gives himself to the forest life, wandering in a
pure region. Living on water and on air, and on such fruit as proper,
fire within body, he abides on earth without obligations, without tears.
Atharva Veda, Sannyasa Upanishads 2.1 Sixty Upanishads of the Veda,
Bedekar and Palsule, 735
There is no one greater in the three worlds than the guru. It is he who
grants divine knowledge and should be worshiped with supreme devotion.
Atharva Veda, Shikha Upanishads 5.53. Yoga, The Technology of Ecstasy, 26
In village or forest, in all the places where man meets man, in market
or forum, may we always say that which is pleasing to you!
Atharva Veda12.1.56, Vedic Experience p.128
Protect both our species, two-legged and four-legged. Both food and
water for their needs supply. May they with us increase in stature and
strength. Save us from hurt all our days, O Powers!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.37.11. Vedic Experience, pg. 319
Keen of mind and keen of sight, free from sickness, free from sin, rich
in children, may we see you rise as a friend, O Sun, till a long life
end!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.37.7. Vedic Experience, pg. 319
For you is my offering, to you I will pray, to you who are worthy of
homage and worship. You, O God, are a spring in the desert for the man
who is thirsty for you, O Everliving.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.4.1. Vedic Experience, pg. 302
Like the cry of watchful birds swimming in water, like the loud claps of
thundering rain clouds, like the joyful streams gushing from the
mountain, so have our hymns sounded forth to the Lord.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.68.1. Vedic Experience, pg. 812
Let us now invoke for our aid the Lord of Speech, the Designer of all
things that are, the inspirer of wisdom! May He, the ever-kindly, be
well disposed to our summons, and may He, whose work is goodness, grant
us His blessing!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.81.7. Vedic Experience, pg. 808
Earth is upheld by Truth. Heaven is upheld by the sun. The solar regions
are supported by eternal laws, rita. The elixir of divine love is
supreme in heaven.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.1. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
4347
Straight be the paths and thornless on which our friends will travel to
present our suit! May Aryaman and Bhaga lead us together! May heaven
grant us a stable marriage!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.23. Vedic Experience, pg. 254
May the Provident One lead you, holding your hand! May the two Ashvins
transport you on their chariot! Enter your house as that household
mistress. May authority in speech ever be yours!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.26. Vedic Experience, pg. 255
May happiness await you with your children! Watch over this house as
mistress of the home. Unite yourself wholly with your husband. Thus
authority in speech till old age will be yours.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.27. Vedic Experience, pg. 255
I take thy hand in mine for happy fortune that thou may reach old age
with me, thy husband. This woman, strewing grains, prays thus, may I
bring bliss to my relations. May my husband live long. Svaha!
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.36. Hymns of the Rg Veda, Griffith, vol. 2, p.
544; & Sankh. GS 1.14.1. SB, vol. 29, p. 37
Dwell in this home; never be parted! Enjoy the full duration of your
days, with sons and grandsons playing to the end, rejoicing in your home
to your heart's content.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.42. Vedic Experience, pg. 256
May Prajapati grant to us an issue, Aryaman keep us till death in holy
marriage! Free from ill omens, enter the home of your husband. Bring
blessing to both humans and cattle.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.43. Vedic Experience, pg. 257
Not evil-eyed nor harmful to your husband, kind to dumb beasts, radiant,
gentle-hearted, pleasing, beloved by the Gods, bring forth heroes. To
menfolk and beasts alike bring blessing.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.44. Vedic Experience, pg. 257
Act like a queen to your husband's father; to your husband's mother
likewise, and his sister. To all your husband's brothers be queen.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.46. Vedic Experience, pg. 257
May all the divine powers together with the waters join our two hearts
in one! May the Messenger, the Creator and holy Obedience unite us.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.85.47. Vedic Experience, pg. 257
In how many parts was He transformed when they cut the Purusha in
pieces? What did His mouth become? What His arms, what His thighs, what
His feet? His mouth then became the brahmana, from the arms the rajanya
was made, the vaishya from the thighs, from the feet the shudra came
forth.
Rig Veda Samhita 10.90.11 Sixty Upanishads of the Veda, Bedekar and
Palsule, 894
O Lord of Categories, thou art the Lord, the seer of seers, unrivaled in
wealth, king of elders, lord of the principle of principles. Hear us and
take thy place, bringing with thee all enjoyments.
Rig Veda Samhita 2.23.1. Hindu Polytheism, 291
Loose me from my sin as from a bond that binds me. May my life swell the
stream of your river of Right.
Rig Veda Samhita 2.28.5. Vedic Experience, pg. 514
Aum. O terrestrial sphere! O sphere of space! O celestial sphere! Let us
contemplate the splendor of the Solar Spirit, the Divine Creator. May He
guide our minds. Gayatri Mantra
Rig Veda Samhita 3.62.10. Hindu Polytheism, 345
Yes, may the man who within his home pleases you all his days with songs
and with offerings receive a rich reward, be loaded with your gifts! To
him be happiness! This is our prayer.
Rig Veda Samhita 4.4.7. Vedic Experience, pg. 845
To Rudra, Lord of sacrifice, of hymns and balmy medicines, we pray for
joy and health and strength. He shines in splendor like the sun,
refulgent as bright gold is He, the good, the best among the Gods.
Rig Veda Samhita 43.4 Hymns of the Rg Veda, Griffith, 64
May the Lord find pleasure in our song of praise! Priest among men, may
he offer due homage to the heavenly beings! Great, O Lord, is your
renown.
Rig Veda Samhita 5.13.3. Vedic Experience, pg. 854
I know not how to stretch the threads or weave or discern the pattern of
those who weave in the contest. Whose son will be the one to speak so
well as to surpass, advancing from below, his father?
Rig Veda Samhita 6.9.2. Vedic Experience, pg. 331
We celebrate with dedicated acts the greatness of the illustrious
supermen amidst enlightened persons, who are pure, most wise,
thought-inspirers, and who enjoy both kinds of our oblationsÑphysical
and spiritual.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.2.2. bo Hymns of the Atharva Veda, 3
The devout performers of solemn ceremonies, aspiring for chariots, as
if, are led to the doors of the chamber of the Lord. Ladles, placed to
the East, are plying the fire with melted butter at the fire sacrifice,
as the mother cow licks her calf.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.2.5. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
2353
I am inclined to adore you, the two sages, the ministrants at the places
of work and worship of men, from whom all the prosperity is derived. May
you raise our offspring to a higher stature and help us to acquire
precious treasures preserved amongst nature's bounties, when the worship
is being conducted.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.2.7. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
2355
May the Goddess of culture, associated with the models of other
cultures, may the Goddess of wisdom in company with men, ordinary and
intellectual, may the fire divine, and may the Goddess of divine speech
with masters of language come to bless us and enshrine our hearts.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.2.8. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
2355
Divine Architect of the universe, well pleased, may you give us
procreant vigor, whence a brave son, skilled in action, lover of divine
powers and resolute like grinding stones, be born.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.2.9. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
2355
May Mitra, Varuna and Aryaman grant us freedom and space enough for us
and for our children! May we find pleasant pathways, good to travel!
Preserve us evermore, O Gods, with blessings!
Rig Veda Samhita 7.63.6. Vedic Experience, pg. 822
I'll not sell you, not for a thousand or ten thousand pieces! O Indra,
you are more to me than a father. I count a brother naught compared to
you. You and a mother, O Bountiful, vie with each other in generous
giving and in bestowal of joy.
Rig Veda Samhita 8.1.5 Vedic Experience, pg. 202
O Divines, may the husband and wife who with one accord offer the elixer
of dedication with pure heart and propitiate you with the milk of sweet
devotional prayers, constantly associated, may they acquire appropriate
food, may they be able to offer sacrifice, and may they never fail in
strength and vigor.
Rig Veda Samhita 8.31.5 Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and
Vidyalankar, 3015
Blessed with sons and daughters, may they enjoy their full extent of
life, decked with ornaments of gold.
Rig Veda Samhita 8.31.8. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
3015
Like the household fire, devotees seek the glory of the Lord even from
afar and enshrine it in their inner chamber for enlightenment. The glory
of our Lord is full of splendor, all-illuminative and worthy to be
honored in every heart.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.1.2. Rg Samhita, Prakash Sarasvati and Vidyalankar,
2341
He shines forth at dawn like the sunlight, deploying the sacrifice in
the manner of priests unfolding their prayerful thoughts. Agni, the God
who knows well all the generations, visits the Gods as a messenger, most
efficacious.
Rig Veda Samhita 7.10.3. Vedic Experience, pg. 818
You who are worthy of men prayers, our leader, our God, rich in
heroesÑmay we install you glowing and glistening! Shine forth at night
and at morn! Your favor has kindled our hearths! By your favor we shall
be great!
Rig Veda Samhita 7.15.7 Vedic Experience, pg. 846