ಕೇನ ಉಪನಿಷದ್ - ಪ್ರಥಮಃ ಖಣ್ಡಃ

Om. May Brahman protect us both, the teacher and the student. May He nourish us both. May we work together with great energy. May our study be vigorous and effective. May there be no hatred between us. Om. Peace, peace, peace. May my limbs, speech, vital force, eyes, ears, strength, and all my senses grow in vigor. All existence is the Brahman of the Upanishads. May I never deny Brahman, and may Brahman never reject me. Let there be no rejection; may there be union. May the virtues proclaimed in the Upanishads dwell in me, who am devoted to the Atman. May they dwell in me. Om. Peace, peace, peace. By whose will does the mind reach its target and alight? By whose command does the first vital force proceed to its function? By whose will is this speech spoken? And what divinity directs the eye and the ear?

It is the Ear of the ear, the Mind of the mind, the Speech of speech, the Breath of breath, and the Eye of the eye. The wise, having realized the Self and detached themselves from the senses, transcend this world and become immortal.

The eye does not reach there, nor speech, nor the mind. We do not know, nor can we discern how one could teach It. It is other than the known and, moreover, above the unknown.

Thus have we heard from the ancient teachers who explained it to us.

That which speech cannot reveal, but by which speech is revealed—know that alone to be Brahman, and not what people worship as an object here.

That which the mind does not think, but by which the mind is thought—know that alone to be Brahman, and not what people worship as an object here.

That which the eye does not see, but by which the eyes are able to see—know that alone to be Brahman, and not what people worship as an object here.

That which the ear does not hear, but by which the hearing itself is heard—know that alone to be Brahman, and not what people worship as an object here.

That which the breath does not vitalize, but by which the breath itself is guided—know that alone to be Brahman, and not what people worship as an object here.