Muṇḍaka Upaniṣad 1.2

1.2.1

tad etat satyam.
mantreṣu karmāṇi kavayo yāny apaśyaṃs tāni tretāyāṃ bahudhā santatāni.
tāny ācaratha niyataṃ satyakāmā eṣa vaḥ panthāḥ sukṛtasya loke.

1. This is the truth:— The works which the sages (kavi) saw in the sacred sayings (mantra, i.e. Vedic hymns) Are manifoldly spread forth in the triad [of the Vedas]. Follow them (ācaratha) constantly, ye lovers of truth (satya-kāma)! This is your path to the world of good deeds.

1.2.2

yadā lelāyate hy arciḥ samiddhe havyavāhane.
tadājyabhāgāv antareṇāhutīḥ pratipādayed śraddhayā hutam.
śraddhayā hutam om.

2. When the flame flickers, After the oblation fire has been kindled, Then, between the two portions of melted butter, his oblations One should throw—an offering made with faith (śraddhā).

1.2.3

yasyāgnihotram adarśam apaurṇamāsam acāturmāsyam anāgrayaṇam atithivarjitaṃ ca.
ahutam avaiśvadevam avidhinā hutam ā saptamāṃs tasya lokān hinasti.

3. If one's Agnihotra sacrifice is not followed by the sacrifice of the new moon and of the full moon, by the four-months sacrifice, by the harvest sacrifice, if it is unattended by guests, or not offered at all, or without the ceremony to all the gods, or not according to rule, it destroys his seven worlds.

1.2.4

kālī karālī ca manojavā ca sulohitā yā ca sudhūmravarṇā.
sphuliṅginī viśvarucī ca devī lelāyamānā iti sapta jihvāḥ.

4. The Black (kālī), and the Terrible, and the Swift-as-Thought,
The Very-red, and the Very-smoky-colored,
The Scintillating, and the All-formed, divine one,
Are the seven so-called flickering tongues [of flame].

1.2.5

eteṣu yaś carate bhrājamāneṣu yathākālaṃ cāhutayo hy ādadāyan.
taṃ nayanty etāḥ sūryasya raśmayo yatra devānāṃ patir eko 'dhivāsaḥ.

5. If one performs sacrifices when these are shining,
Offering the oblations at the proper time, too,
These (flames) as rays of the sun lead him
To where is resident the one lord (pati) of the gods.

1.2.6

ehy ehīti tam āhutayaḥ suvarcasaḥ sūryasya raśmibhir yajamānaṃ vahanti.
priyāṃ vācam abhivadantyo 'rcayantya eṣa vaḥ puṇyaḥ sukṛto brahmalokaḥ.

6. Saying to him "Come! Come!" the splendid offerings
Carry the sacrificer with the rays of the sun,
Addressing pleasant speech, praising, and saying:
"This is your meritorious (puṇya) Brahma-world, gained by good works."

1.2.7

plavā hy ete adṛḍhā yajñarūpā aṣṭādaśoktam avaraṃ yeṣu karma.
etac chreyo ye 'bhinandanti mūḍhā jarāmṛtyuṃ te punar evāpiyanti.

7. Unsafe boats, however, are these sacrificial forms,
The eighteen, in which is expressed the lower work.
The fools who approve that as the better,
Go again to old age and death.

1.2.8

avidyāyām antare vartamānāḥ svayandhīrāḥ paṇḍitaṃ manyamānāḥ.
jaṅghanyamānāḥ pariyanti mūḍhā andhenaiva nīyamānā yathāndhāḥ.

8. Those abiding in the midst of ignorance,
Self-wise, thinking themselves learned,
Hard smitten, go around deluded,
Like blind men led by one who is himself blind.

1.2.9

avidyāyāṃ bahudhā vartamānā vayaṃ kṛtārthā ity abhimanyanti bālāḥ.
yat karmiṇo na pravedayanti rāgāt tenāturāḥ kṣīṇalokāś cyavante.

9. Manifoldly living in ignorance, They think to themselves, childishly: "We have accomplished our aim!" Since doers of deeds (_karmin_) do not understand, because of passion (_rāga_), Therefore, when their worlds are exhausted, they sink down wretched. 10. Thinking sacrifice and merit is the chiefest thing, Naught better do they know—deluded! Having had enjoyment on the top of the heaven won by good works, They re-enter this world, or a lower.

1.2.10

iṣṭāpūrtaṃ manyamānā variṣṭhaṃ nānyac chreyo vedayante pramūḍhāḥ.
nākasya pṛṣṭhe te sukṛte 'nubhūtvemaṃ lokaṃ hīnataraṃ vā viśanti.

1.2.11

tapaḥśraddhe ye hy upavasanty araṇye śāntā vidvāṃso bhaikṣacaryāṃ carantaḥ.
sūryadvāreṇa te virajāḥ prayānti yatrāmṛtaḥ sa puruṣo hy avyayātmā.

11. They who practise austerity (_tapas_) and faith (_śraddhā_) in the forest,
The peaceful (_śānta_) knowers who live on alms,
Depart passionless (_vi-rāga_) through the door of the sun,
To where is that immortal Person (Purusha), e'en the imperishable Spirit (Ātman).

1.2.12

parīkṣya lokān karmacitān brāhmaṇo nirvedam āyān nāsty akṛtaḥ kṛtena.
tad vijñānārthaṃ sa gurum evābhigacchet samitpāṇiḥ śrotriyaṃ brahmaṇiṣṭham.

12. Having scrutinized the worlds that are built up by work, a Brahman
Should arrive at indifference. The [world] that was not made is not [won] by what is done.
For the sake of this knowledge let him go, fuel in hand,
To a spiritual teacher (_guru_) who is learned in the scriptures and established on Brahma.
13. Such a knowing [teacher], unto one who has approached properly,
Whose thought is tranquilized, who has reached peace,
Teaches in its very truth that knowledge of Brahma
Whereby one knows the Imperishable, the Person, the True.

1.2.13

tasmai sa vidvān upasannāya samyak praśāntacittāya śamānvitāya.
yenākṣaraṃ puruṣaṃ veda satyaṃ provāca tāṃ tattvato brahmavidyām.