Taittirīyaka-Upanishad.

First Vallī,

Or, the Chapter on Śīkshā (Pronunciation).

First Anuvāka.

HARIḤ, OM! May Mitra be propitious to us, and Varuṇa, Aryaman also, Indra, Bṛhaspati, and the wide-striding Vishṇu.

Adoration to Brahman! Adoration to thee, O Vāyu (air)! Thou indeed art the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim thee alone as the visible Brahman. I shall proclaim the right. I shall proclaim the true (scil. Brahman).

(1-5) May it protect me! May it protect the teacher! yes, may it protect me, and may it protect the teacher! Om! Peace! peace! peace!

Second Anuvāka.

Om! Let us explain Śīkshā, the doctrine of pronunciation, viz. letter, accent, quantity, effort (in the formation of letters), modulation, and union of letters (sandhi). This is the lecture on Śīkshā.

Third Anuvāka.

May glory come to both of us (teacher and pupil) together! May Vedic light belong to both of us!

Now let us explain the Upanishad (the secret meaning) of the union (saṃhitā) under five heads, with regard to the worlds, the heavenly lights, knowledge, offspring, and self (body). People call these the great Saṃhitās.

First, with regard to the worlds. The earth is the former element, heaven the latter, ether their union;

That union takes place through Vāyu (air). So much with regard to the worlds.

Next, with regard to the heavenly lights. Agni (fire) is the former element, Āditya (the sun) the latter, water their union. That union takes place through lightning. So much with regard to the heavenly lights.

Next, with regard to knowledge. The teacher is the former element,

The pupil the latter, knowledge their union. That union takes place through the recitation of the Veda. So much with regard to knowledge.

Next, with regard to offspring. The mother is the former element, the father the latter, offspring their union. That union takes place through procreation. So much with regard to offspring.