yad-vachanabhyuditamkena-upanishadvedantabrahman

𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍

यद्वाचानभ्युदितम् in Grantha · 𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

🕉️ upanishad·📿 11× repetitions·🕐 Early morning (Brahma Muhurta) during meditation and Vedanta study·📜 Kena Upanishad, Verse 1.4

Read in your language / script

हिन्दी / देवनागरी తెలుగు தமிழ்ಕನ್ನಡ മലയാളം ગુજરાતી বাংলা ଓଡ଼ିଆ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ English සිංහල𑌗𑍍𑌰𑌨𑍍𑌥

Origin & Story

Kena Upanishad, Verse 1.4 · Traditional (Upanishadic) · Vedic / Upanishadic

The Kena Upanishad opens with the disciple's question: 'By whom willed and directed does the mind go toward its object? By whom commanded does speech speak, and the eye and ear function?' In reply the teacher declares that Brahman is the Ear of the ear, the Mind of the mind, the Speech of speech — the inner power behind every faculty. This fourth verse states that Brahman is that which speech cannot express but by which speech is itself expressed, and the verses that follow repeat the same truth for mind, sight, hearing and breath, redirecting the seeker from finite worship to the Witness within.

✦ As told in scripture

The Kena Upanishad tells how the gods, having defeated the demons, grew proud, thinking the victory was their own. Brahman appeared before them as a mysterious Yaksha (spirit); neither Agni could burn a blade of grass before It nor Vayu blow it away, for all their power came from Brahman alone. Thus the Upanishad shows that the very strength of the senses and gods is borrowed from the Self that 'speech cannot express'.

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The Mantra

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𑌯𑌦𑍍𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾𑌨𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌂 𑌯𑍇𑌨 𑌵𑌾𑌗𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇 । 𑌤𑌦𑍇𑌵 𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮 𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌂 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿 𑌨𑍇𑌦𑌂 𑌯𑌦𑌿𑌦𑌮𑍁𑌪𑌾𑌸𑌤𑍇 ॥

yad vācānabhyuditaṁ yena vāg abhyudyate tad eva brahma tvaṁ viddhi nedaṁ yad idam upāsate

Meaning:जो वाणी के द्वारा प्रकट नहीं होता, किन्तु जिसके द्वारा वाणी प्रकट होती है — उसी को तू ब्रह्म जान, इसे नहीं जिसकी लोग यहाँ (एक सीमित वस्तु के रूप में) उपासना करते हैं।

Word-by-Word Meaning

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𑌯𑌤𑍍🔊yatThat which

𑌵𑌾𑌚𑌾🔊vācāBy speech, by the word

𑌅𑌨𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑌿𑌤𑌮𑍍🔊anabhyuditamIs not expressed, cannot be uttered or revealed

𑌯𑍇𑌨🔊yenaBy which, by whom

𑌵𑌾𑌕𑍍🔊vākSpeech, the power of speech

𑌅𑌭𑍍𑌯𑍁𑌦𑍍𑌯𑌤𑍇🔊abhyudyateIs expressed, is made to speak, is illumined

𑌤𑌤𑍍 𑌏𑌵🔊tat evaThat alone, That very thing

𑌬𑍍𑌰𑌹𑍍𑌮🔊brahmaBrahman, the supreme Reality

𑌤𑍍𑌵𑌮𑍍 𑌵𑌿𑌦𑍍𑌧𑌿🔊tvam viddhiKnow thou, you should know

𑌨 𑌇𑌦𑌮𑍍🔊na idamNot this (not what is perceived as an object)

𑌯𑌤𑍍 𑌇𑌦𑌮𑍍 𑌉𑌪𑌾𑌸𑌤𑍇🔊yat idam upāsateWhich people here worship (as a finite object or deity)

Benefits of Chanting यद्वाचानभ्युदितम्

✦

Reveals Brahman as the inner light and power behind speech, mind and every sense.

✦

Teaches the 'neti, neti' (not this, not this) method of turning from objects toward the Witness.

✦

Frees the seeker from limiting the Divine to any finite name, form or object of worship.

✦

Cultivates the discernment (viveka) that distinguishes the eternal Self from the perceived world.

✦

Used in meditation to trace every experience back to the awareness that makes it possible.

✦

Brings inner stillness and humility by showing that the Knower can never be made an object of knowledge.

How to Chant यद्वाचानभ्युदितम्

Repetitions11times

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

FaceEast or North

Recite the verse slowly and then enquire, as it directs: 'What is it that expresses my speech and thought?' Turn attention away from objects and toward the silent awareness that lights up every perception. Recognize that this Witness cannot itself be seen or spoken, yet it is your very Self. Dwell quietly in that recognition; the Kena Upanishad teaches that the one who knows Brahman thus attains immortality.

Frequently Asked Questions

This page shows the complete यद्वाचानभ्युदितम् written in the Grantha 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 'that which is not expressed by speech, but by which speech is expressed'. It teaches that Brahman is not an object that words can describe; rather, Brahman is the inner power that enables speech itself to function.

It is from the Kena Upanishad (Chapter 1, Verse 4), which belongs to the Sama Veda (Talavakara Brahmana). The Upanishad takes its name from its opening word 'Kena' — 'by whom?' — asking what power moves the mind, speech and senses.

The verse warns against mistaking any finite object, deity-form or perceivable thing for the Absolute. Brahman is the very Self and Witness within the worshipper, never an object 'out there', so the Upanishad redirects devotion from the finite to the infinite ground of awareness.

It is used for contemplative enquiry. After reciting it, the seeker investigates the source of speech, thought and perception, tracing each back to the witnessing consciousness that cannot be objectified. This 'neti, neti' meditation gradually reveals Brahman as one's own innermost being.