द्वा सुपर्णा — Word-by-Word Meaning

द्वा सुपर्णा

Every Sanskrit word explained in English

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Word-by-Word Breakdown

द्वा सुपर्णा

dvā suparṇā

Two birds (of beautiful plumage)

सयुजा

sayujā

Closely united, always together, inseparable companions

सखाया

sakhāyā

Friends, comrades

समानं वृक्षम्

samānaṁ vṛkṣam

The same tree (the one body, or the tree of worldly life)

परिषस्वजाते

pariṣasvajāte

They cling to, perch upon, embrace

तयोः अन्यः

tayoḥ anyaḥ

Of the two, one (the individual soul, jiva)

पिप्पलम्

pippalam

The sweet fruit (the fruits of action, pleasure and pain)

स्वादु अत्ति

svādu atti

Eats with relish, tastes the sweet (and bitter) fruit

अनश्नन्

anaśnan

Without eating, not partaking (the other bird does not eat)

अन्यः

anyaḥ

The other (the supreme Self, Ishvara, the witness)

अभिचाकशीति

abhicākaśīti

Looks on, simply witnesses, shines in serene observation

Complete Translation

दो सुन्दर पंखों वाले पक्षी, सदा साथ रहने वाले मित्र, एक ही वृक्ष पर बैठे हैं। उनमें से एक उस वृक्ष के मीठे फल को स्वादपूर्वक खाता है, और दूसरा बिना खाए केवल देखता रहता है। (एक पक्षी जीवात्मा है जो कर्मफलों का भोग करता है; दूसरा परमात्मा है जो साक्षीमात्र होकर शान्त भाव से देखता है।)

Origin & History

Source: Mundaka Upanishad, Verse 3.1.1 (also Shvetashvatara Upanishad 4.6)

Author: Traditional (Upanishadic)

Period: Vedic / Upanishadic

Opening the third Mundaka, the seer paints an unforgettable picture: two birds of golden plumage, close friends, perch on the same tree. One tastes the sweet and bitter fruit of the tree; the other, eating nothing, watches in calm splendour. The tree is the body and the world of experience; the bird that eats is the individual soul caught in joy and sorrow, and the bird that only looks on is the supreme Self. The Upanishad goes on to say that when the grieving soul beholds the other, the worshipful Lord, and knows His greatness, its sorrow passes away — making this image a doorway to liberation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Dva Suparna mean?▼

Dva Suparna means 'two birds'. The verse describes two inseparable birds on the same tree: one eats the fruit while the other only watches. It symbolizes the individual soul (jiva) experiencing life's pleasures and pains, and the supreme Self (Paramatman) witnessing in serene detachment.

Where does Dva Suparna come from?▼

This verse appears in the Mundaka Upanishad (3.1.1) of the Atharva Veda and is also found in the Shvetashvatara Upanishad (4.6). It is one of the most celebrated metaphors in all of Vedanta.

What do the two birds represent?▼

The bird that eats the sweet and bitter fruit is the jiva, the individual soul absorbed in worldly experience and its results. The bird that does not eat but only looks on is the Paramatman, the supreme Self, the changeless witness. They dwell together as one's lower and higher nature.

What is the teaching of the next verse?▼

The Mundaka continues that as long as the soul identifies as the 'eater' it grieves at its helplessness, but when it beholds the other bird — the adorable Lord and its own true Self — and recognizes His glory, it becomes free from sorrow. Thus the verse points to liberation through Self-knowledge.

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