Hiranmayena Patrena (The Face of Truth is Veiled by Gold) — Word-by-Word Meaning
हिरण्मयेन पात्रेण
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
हिरण्मयेन
hiraṇmayena
By a golden, dazzling (lid); made of gold
पात्रेण
pātreṇa
By a vessel, disk, or cover (the bright orb of the sun)
सत्यस्य
satyasya
Of Truth (of the supreme Reality)
अपिहितम्
apihitam
Covered, hidden, concealed
मुखम्
mukham
The face, the entrance, the true form
तत् त्वम्
tat tvam
That, you (O Lord)
पूषन्
pūṣan
O Pushan (the sun, the nourisher and sustainer of all)
अपावृणु
apāvṛṇu
Remove, uncover, draw aside (the veil)
सत्यधर्माय
satyadharmāya
For one devoted to truth, whose dharma is truth
दृष्टये
dṛṣṭaye
For the vision, so that I may behold (the Truth)
Complete Translation
The face of Truth is concealed by a golden disk. O Pushan (Sun), uncover it, that I, devoted to truth, may behold It.
Origin & History
Source: Isha Upanishad, Verse 15
Author: Traditional (Upanishadic)
Period: Vedic / Upanishadic
Toward its close, the Isha Upanishad turns from teaching to fervent prayer. The seeker, standing as it were before the radiant sun, cries out that the face of Truth lies hidden behind its golden, dazzling disk, and beseeches Pushan, the Sun and nourisher of all, to draw that veil aside so that he, a votary of truth, may at last behold the Reality. The following verses continue the prayer, asking the Sun to gather his rays, and asking Agni to lead the soul by the good path — making these among the most moving petitions in the Upanishads, often recited at life's end.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Hiranmayena Patrena mean?▼
It means 'The face of Truth is covered by a golden disk'. The seeker prays to Pushan, the Sun, to remove this dazzling cover so that he, devoted to truth, may behold the supreme Truth (Brahman) directly.
Where does Hiranmayena Patrena come from?▼
It is verse 15 of the Isha Upanishad, which belongs to the Shukla Yajur Veda. It begins the concluding prayers of the Upanishad, addressed to Pushan (the Sun) and to Agni, asking for the vision of the Supreme and for guidance on the good path.
What is the 'golden disk' that hides Truth?▼
The 'golden disk' (hiranmaya patra) is the dazzling orb of the sun and, symbolically, the brilliant veil of the manifest world. Its very splendour conceals the formless Reality behind it. The prayer asks for this veil of brilliance to be removed so the Truth itself can be seen.
Who is Pushan in this verse?▼
Pushan is a Vedic name of the Sun, meaning 'the nourisher' or 'sustainer', who fosters and protects all beings. Here the Sun is addressed as a symbol of the Supreme Being, the source of light and life, and is implored to reveal the Truth that lies beyond his own radiant form.
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