Na Tatra Suryo Bhati (There the Sun Does Not Shine) — Word-by-Word Meaning
न तत्र सूर्यो भाति
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
न तत्र
na tatra
Not there (in that supreme abode of Brahman)
सूर्यः भाति
sūryaḥ bhāti
Does the sun shine
न चन्द्रतारकम्
na candratārakam
Nor the moon and stars
न इमाः विद्युतः भान्ति
na imāḥ vidyutaḥ bhānti
Nor do these lightnings shine
कुतः अयम् अग्निः
kutaḥ ayam agniḥ
How then this fire? (much less this earthly fire)
तम् एव भान्तम्
tam eva bhāntam
That alone shining (Brahman, the one self-luminous Reality)
अनुभाति सर्वम्
anubhāti sarvam
Everything shines after It; all shine by reflecting Its light
तस्य भासा
tasya bhāsā
By Its light, by Its radiance
सर्वम् इदम् विभाति
sarvam idaṁ vibhāti
All this is illumined, the whole universe shines
Complete Translation
There the sun does not shine, nor the moon and stars, nor do these lightnings shine — how then this fire? It is when That alone shines that everything shines after It; by Its light all this is illumined.
Origin & History
Source: Katha Upanishad, Verse 2.2.15 (also Mundaka Upanishad 2.2.10 and Shvetashvatara Upanishad 6.14)
Author: Traditional (Upanishadic)
Period: Vedic / Upanishadic
In the Katha Upanishad, after Yama unfolds to Nachiketa the nature of the immortal Self, he describes the supreme abode of Brahman with this radiant verse: there no sun, moon, star, lightning or fire shines, for that one Reality, shining of itself, lends its light to all. The same verse is echoed in the Mundaka and Shvetashvatara Upanishads, so cherished is its vision of Brahman as the self-luminous Light of lights, by whose radiance alone the entire universe is seen.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Na Tatra Suryo Bhati mean?▼
It means 'There the sun does not shine, nor the moon and stars, nor lightning, nor fire'. In the supreme Reality of Brahman, no external light is needed, for Brahman is self-luminous; everything else shines only by Its light.
Where does Na Tatra Suryo Bhati come from?▼
This verse appears in three major Upanishads: the Katha Upanishad (2.2.15), the Mundaka Upanishad (2.2.10), and the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (6.14). Its recurrence shows how central this image of Brahman as the Light of lights is to Vedanta.
What does the verse mean by 'light'?▼
It speaks of the light of consciousness, not physical light. The sun and fire reveal objects, but they themselves are revealed by awareness. Brahman is that awareness — the Light that illumines even the sun, the changeless consciousness behind all knowing.
How is this verse used in worship?▼
It is often chanted during the waving of the lamp (arati) and at lamp-lighting, recognizing that the outer flame is but a symbol of the inner self-luminous Brahman. It is also a favourite verse for meditation on the Self as pure light.
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