Prajnanam Brahma (Consciousness is Brahman) — Word-by-Word Meaning
प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म
Every Sanskrit word explained in English
Word-by-Word Breakdown
प्रज्ञानम्
prajñānam
Pure consciousness, the highest knowing, the awareness that lights up all experience
प्र
pra
Prefix meaning 'fully, supremely' — pointing to the highest, complete knowing
ज्ञानम्
jñānam
Knowledge, knowing, cognition
ब्रह्म
brahma
Brahman, the infinite supreme Reality
प्रज्ञानं ब्रह्म
prajñānaṁ brahma
'Consciousness is Brahman' — the great saying (mahavakya) identifying pure awareness with the Absolute
एष ब्रह्मा
eṣa brahmā
This (consciousness) is Brahma the creator (in the fuller passage)
एष इन्द्रः
eṣa indraḥ
This is Indra and all the gods (consciousness underlies them all)
एतेन प्रज्ञेनात्मना
etena prajñenātmanā
By this conscious Self, one ascends from this world (attains immortality)
प्रज्ञां प्रतिष्ठा
prajñā pratiṣṭhā
Consciousness is the foundation (of all that exists)
प्रज्ञानेत्रः
prajñānetraḥ
Having consciousness as its eye/guide — the universe is led by awareness
Complete Translation
Consciousness is Brahman. (Pure awareness — that by which one sees, hears, knows and lives — is itself the infinite Reality; this very consciousness is Brahma, all the gods, the five elements and all beings; all this is guided by consciousness and founded on consciousness. Consciousness is Brahman.)
Origin & History
Source: Aitareya Upanishad, Verse 3.1.3
Author: Traditional (Upanishadic)
Period: Vedic / Upanishadic
The third chapter of the Aitareya Upanishad asks: 'Who is this Self that we worship? By what does one see, hear, smell, speak and discern?' The seer answers that it is consciousness (prajnana) which presides over all the faculties and over the whole of creation — gods, sages, men, animals and the elements alike are guided by it and rest upon it. Summing up this enquiry, the Upanishad declares 'Prajnanam Brahma — Consciousness is Brahman,' establishing pure awareness as the supreme Reality.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Prajnanam Brahma mean?▼
Prajnanam Brahma means 'Consciousness is Brahman'. It teaches that pure awareness — the knowing presence by which we perceive and live — is itself the supreme Reality, Brahman.
Where does Prajnanam Brahma come from?▼
It is from the Aitareya Upanishad (3.1.3), which belongs to the Rig Veda. It is the Mahavakya, or 'great saying', associated with the Rig Veda.
What is the difference between Prajnanam Brahma and Aham Brahmasmi?▼
Both are Mahavakyas pointing to the same non-dual truth. Prajnanam Brahma defines the nature of Brahman as consciousness, while Aham Brahmasmi is the seeker's direct realization, 'I am Brahman'. Together with Tat Tvam Asi and Ayam Atma Brahma they form the four great sayings.
How do I meditate on Prajnanam Brahma?▼
Reflect that whatever you experience appears within awareness, and that this awareness is not an object but your own being. Recognize it as self-luminous and limitless, and identify with it rather than with the changing body and mind. This is the contemplation that leads to liberation.
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