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Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma (Brahman is Truth, Knowledge, Infinity)

सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म in English · English

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Taittiriya Upanishad, Verse 2.1.1

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हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀEnglishසිංහල 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

✦ Meaning

Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma is the famous definition of Brahman that opens the Brahmananda Valli of the Taittiriya Upanishad. In three words it describes the supreme Reality as Truth (the ever-existent), Knowledge (pure consciousness) and Infinity (the limitless). It then promises that one who knows this Brahman, seated in the cave of the heart and the supreme space, attains the fulfilment of all desires in union with the all-wise Brahman.

Origin & Story

Taittiriya Upanishad, Verse 2.1.1 · Traditional (Upanishadic) · Vedic / Upanishadic

The second chapter of the Taittiriya Upanishad, the Brahmananda Valli or 'chapter of the bliss of Brahman', opens by defining the supreme Reality: 'Brahman is Truth, Knowledge, Infinity.' It declares that whoever knows this Brahman, hidden in the cave of the heart and in the highest space, fulfils all desires together with the all-knowing Brahman. The Upanishad then unfolds the famous teaching of the five sheaths (koshas) and the ascending degrees of bliss, all founded upon this opening definition of Brahman as Sat-Chit-Ananta.

✦ As told in scripture

The Upanishad promises that the knower of Brahman attains the Highest, and that established in this knowledge one is never again afflicted by the fear of anything — for having realized the infinite Self as one's own being, all wants are fulfilled and nothing remains to be feared.

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The Mantra

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satyaṁ jñānam anantaṁ brahma yo veda nihitaṁ guhāyāṁ parame vyoman so'śnute sarvān kāmān saha brahmaṇā vipaściteti

Meaning:Brahman is Truth, Knowledge, Infinity. He who knows It as hidden in the cave of the heart, in the supreme space, attains all desires, together with the all-wise Brahman.

Word-by-Word Meaning

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satyam🔊Truth, the ever-existent Reality (that which never ceases to be)

jñānam🔊Knowledge, pure consciousness (self-luminous awareness)

anantam🔊Infinite, endless, limitless (unbounded by space, time or object)

brahma🔊Brahman, the supreme Reality

yaḥ veda🔊He who knows, the one who realizes

nihitam🔊Hidden, set, seated

guhāyām🔊In the cave (of the heart, the innermost intellect)

parame vyoman🔊In the supreme space/ether (the transcendent, the highest)

saḥ aśnute🔊He enjoys, attains, obtains

sarvān kāmān🔊All desires, all desirable things (fulfilment of every longing)

saha brahmaṇā vipaścitā🔊Together with the all-wise (omniscient) Brahman

Benefits of Chanting सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म

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Gives the classic Vedantic definition of Brahman as Truth (sat), Knowledge (chit) and Infinity (ananta).

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Used as a meditation to recognize the supreme Reality seated in the cave of one's own heart.

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Reveals that the Self is not finite but infinite, dissolving the sense of limitation and lack.

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Promises the fulfilment of all desires through union with the all-wise Brahman.

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A precise pointer for contemplation, especially valued in Advaita Vedanta enquiry.

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Cultivates abiding peace by establishing the mind in the changeless, infinite, conscious Reality.

How to Chant सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म

Repetitions11times

Best TimeEarly morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study

FaceEast or North

Recite 'Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma' and dwell on each word as a doorway: Brahman is the Truth that always is, the Knowledge that is awareness itself, and the Infinite without bound. Then turn within to the 'cave of the heart' and recognize this very Reality seated there as your own innermost being. Rest in that recognition. It is a powerful definition to hold in contemplation after study under a teacher.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete सत्यं ज्ञानमनन्तं ब्रह्म written in the English script — the same Sanskrit/Hindi verses, transliterated character-by-character so you can read and chant comfortably. Tap any line (or the ▶ button) to hear it recited aloud.

Yes — only the script changes; the words and their meaning are the original. The verse-by-verse meaning, benefits and how-to-chant guidance on this page apply exactly the same.

It means 'Brahman is Truth, Knowledge, Infinity'. This is the classic definition of Brahman: It is Satyam (the ever-existent Reality), Jnanam (pure consciousness), and Anantam (the limitless infinite).

It is from the Taittiriya Upanishad (2.1.1), the opening of the Brahmananda Valli, which belongs to the Yajur Veda. It is one of the most quoted definitions of Brahman in all of Vedanta.

These are not three separate attributes but three indicators of one Reality: as Truth, Brahman is that which never ceases to exist; as Knowledge, It is self-luminous awareness, not inert; as Infinity, It is beyond all limits of space, time and objects. Together they point beyond every finite thing to the Absolute.

The 'cave of the heart' (guha) signifies the innermost recess of one's being, the subtle intellect where the Self is realized. Brahman is said to be seated there and in the 'supreme space' — meaning It is to be found within, as one's own deepest awareness, as well as transcendent.