Maitreya Upanishad

Sama Veda 1
 Index
S.No Title Page No
1 Chapter 1 - Summary 1
2 Chapter 2 - Summary 3
3 Chapter 3 - Summary 5

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S.No Slokas No. of Verses Page No
1 Chapter 1 18 7
2 Chapter 2 30 16
3 Chapter 3 25 25
Total 73

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 Maitreya Upanishad
Sama Veda
3 Chapters
Chapter I :
• King Brahdratha, thinking body to be impermanent, having aquired indifference to
objects, retired to the forest, leaving his eldest son to rule the kingdom.
• One who clings to gratifications of desires is found to return again to Samsara.
• I am in a foul body and need to be liberated.
Guru :
• Sakayana Muni.
Teaching :
• Sound, touch and others are Anartha (Evil).
• The Bhutatma, lower self, clinging to these never remembers the supreme seat.
• Through Tapas, Sattva quality is aquired, a pure mind is aquired, Parama Atma is
reached.
• Attaining Atma, one reaches liberation.
• Fire without fuel is absorbed in its own womb.
• To a mind that has attained quiescence and truth, is not affected by sense objects and
the events that occur through bondage of Karma are unreal.
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• Whatever Citta thinks, of that nature he becomes.

• With purifying of Chitta, Karmas perish.

• One whose mind is cleansed attains the indestructible bliss through his own self.

• Meditate on Parameshwara who is witness to the play of Buddhi, object of supreme

• I am he the Paramatma superior to Pratyagatma the lower self.

• Having given up all identification with family, body, one should dwell in that endless,
most supreme bliss.

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Adhyaya II :
• Body is a temple.
• The Jiva in it is Shiva alone.
• Having given up Ajnana, one should worship him with So-ham, I am he.
• Dhyana :
Abstracting the mind from sense objects.
• Snana :
Purifying the mind of its impurities.
• Saucha :
Subjugation of sensual organs – Indriyas.
• Body is impure being seat of happiness and misery.

Purification done by

Jnanam Vairagyam
(Wisdom) (Indifference to objects)

• Liberated person gives up Ahamkara – I-amness, delusion of the house, wealth,

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 Delusion (Mother is dead)

Wisdom (Son is born)

• Chit, consciousness of the sun is ever shining in the resplendent Akasha of the heart.
• He neither sets nor rises.
Sanyasa :
• Union of Jiva (Atma) the lower self and Parama (Atma) the higher self at the 2 Sandhis
morning and evening is termed Sannyasa.
• When indifference towards all objects arises in the mind, a learned person may take
up Sannyasa.
• Do become of the form of that which remains after having given up all thoughts.
• Relinquishing the Vasanas, the seer, the seen and the visual, worship Atma alone, the
supreme presence.
• The supreme state is where in all Sankalpas are at rest, which resembles the state of a
stone, and which is neither waking or sleeping.

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Adhyaya – III :

• I am the self and I am the non-self, I am Brahman.

• I am the source of all things.

• I am eternal, stainless, Vijnana, without honour and dishonor, without Gunas

• I am neither existence nor non-existence I am without language, shining.

• I am happiness without grief.

• I am inside and outside, without all and within all.

• I am without number two.

• I am without the difference of Sat and Asat.

• I am without Sankalpa.

• I am without difference of Manyness.

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• I am the form of immeasurable bliss.

• I am without body, without support, without bondage and liberation.

• I am the nature of A-kara, U-kara, Ma-kara.

• I am seer of all, without the eyes.

• I am always of the form of Chinmatra (Absolute consciousness).

• I am the light (Jyoti) in Chinmatra, absolute consciousness.

• I am free from past, present and future.

• I am without desires, without body, Gunaless, all alone, always of the same form,
Purushottama – the Lord of all souls.

• Whoever hears this once, becomes himself Brahman.

• Thus is the Upanishad.

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Slokas
Chapter 1 - Verse 1

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A king named Brhadratha, after having established his son in the kingdom, thinking that this
body is non-eternal, reached the state of indifference towards the world (Vairagya), and went
forth into the forest. There he stood, performing extreme austerity, keeping his arms erect,
looking up at the sun. At the end of a thousand [Days] there came into the presence of the
ascetic, the honorable knower of the Soul (Atman), Sakayanya, like a smokeless fire, burning as
it were with glow. ‘Arise! Arise! Choose a Boon!’ Said he to the king. He did obeisance to him
and said: “Sir, I am no knower of the soul (Atman). You are one who knows its true nature, we
have heard. So, do you tell us.’ ‘Such things used to occur! Very difficult [to answer] is this
question! Aiksvaka, choose other desires!’ Said Sakayanya. With his head touching that one’s
feet, the king uttered this speech. [Chapter 1 - Verse 1]

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 Chapter 1 - Verse 2

“What is the use of these to me or any other? Oceans dry up, Mountains sink down. The
positions of Dhruva (The polar Star) and of trees change. Earth is drowned. The Suras (Angels)
run away, leaving their (respective) Places. (While such is the case), I am He in reality.
Therefore of what avail to me is the gratification of desires since one who clings to the
gratification of desires is found to return again and again to this Samsara (Mundane existence).
You are able to extricate me (Out of this Samsara). I am drowned like a frog in a dry well. You
are my refuge. [Chapter 1 - Verse 2]

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 Chapter 1 - Verse 3

“O Lord! This body was the result of sexual intercourse. It is without wisdom; it is hell (itself). It
came out through the urinary orifice. It is linked together by bones. It is coated over with flesh.
It is bound by skin. It is replete with faeces, urine, Vayu (Air), bile, Phlegm, marrow, fat, serum
and many other impurities. O lord! To me in such a foul body (As this), You are my refuge”.
[Chapter 1 - Verse 3]

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Chapter 1 - Verse 4 to 18

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Thereupon lord Sakayanya was pleased and addressed the King thus: “O Maharaja,
Brhadratha, the flag of the Iksvaku race, you are an Atmajnani. You are one that has done his
duty. You are famous by the name of Marut”. At which the King asked: “O Lord! In what way,
can you describe Atma?” To which he replied thus: “Sound, touch, and others which seem to
be Artha (wealth) are in fact Anartha (Evil). The Bhutatma (The lower Self) clinging to these
never remembers the Supreme Seat. Through Tapas, Sattva (Quality) is acquired; through
Sattva, a (Pure) mind is acquired; and through mind, (Parama) Atma, (The higher Self) is
reached, Through attaining Atma, one gets liberation. Just as fire without fuel is absorbed into
its own womb, So Citta (thought) Through the destruction of its modifications is absorbed into
its own womb (Source). To a mind that has attained quiescence and truth, and which is not
affected by sense-Objects, the events that occur to it through the bondage of karma are
merely unreal. It is Citta alone that is Samsara. It should be cleansed with effort. Whatever his
Citta (Thinks), of that nature he becomes. This is an archaic mystery. With the purifying of
Citta, one makes both good and bad Karmas to Perish. One whose mind is thus cleansed
attains the indestructible bliss (through his own Self). Just as Citta becomes united with an
Object that comes across it, so why should not one (be released) from bondage, when one is
united with Brahman. One should meditate in the middle of the lotus of the heart,
Paramesvara 9The highest Lord) who is the witness to the Play of Buddhi, who is the Objects of
Supreme love, who is beyond the reach of mind and speech, who has no beginning or end,
who is Sat alone being of the nature of light only, Who is beyond meditation, who can neither
be given up nor grasped (By the mind), who is without equal or superior, who is the
permanent, who is of unshaken depth, who is without light or darkness, who is all-pervading,
changeless and vehicleless, and who is wisdom of the nature of Moksha (Salvation).
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I am He-that Paramatma who is the eternal, the pure, the liberated, of the nature of wisdom,
the true, the subtle, the all-pervading, the secondless, the ocean of bliss, and one that is
superior to Pratyagatma (The lower Self). There is no doubt about it. How will Calamity (or
bondage) Approach me who am depending upon my own bliss in my heart, who have put to
shame the ghost of desires, who look upon this universe as (But) a Jugglery and who am not
associated with anything. The ignorant with their observance of the castes and orders of life
obtain their fruits according to their Karmas. Men who have given up all duties of castes, etc.,
rest content in the bliss on their own Self. The distinctions of caste and orders of life have
divisions among them, have beginning and end, and are very painful. Therefore having given
up all identification with sons and as well as body, one should dwell in that endless and most
supreme Bliss”. [Chapter 1 - Verse 4 to 18]

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 Chapter 2 - Verse 1 to 3

Then lord Maitreya went to Kailasa and having reached it asked Him thus: “O Lord! Please
initiate me into the mysteries of the highest Tattva.” To which Mahadeva replied: “The body is
said to be a temple. The Jiva in it is Siva alone. Having given up all the cost off offerings of
Ajnana, one should worship Him with so’ham (I am He). The cognition of everything as non-
different from oneself of Jnana (wisdom). Abstracting the mind from sensual Objects is Dhyana
(Meditation). Purifying the mind of its impurities is Snana (Bathing). The subjugation of the
Indriyas (Sensual organs) is Sauca (Purification). One should drink the nectar of Brahman and
beg food for maintaining the body. Having one (Though) alone, he should live at a solitary
place without a second. The wise man should observe thus: Then he obtains Absolution.
[Chapter 2 - Verse 1 to 3] 16
Chapter 2 - Verse 4 to 9

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“This body is subject to birth and death. It is of the nature of the secretion of the father and
mother. It is impure, being the seat of happiness and misery. (Therefore) bathing is prescribed
for touching it. It is bound by the Dhatus (Skin, blood, etc.), is liable to severe diseases, is a
house of sins, is impermanent and is of changing appearance and side. (Therefore) bathing is
prescribed for touching it. Foul matter is naturally Oozing out always from the nine holes. It
(body) contains bad odour and foul excrement. (Therefore) bathing is prescribed for touching
it. It is connected (or tainted) with the child-birth impurity of the mother and is born with it. It
is also tainted with death impurity. (Therefore) bathing is prescribed for touching it. (The
conception of) “I and mine” is the odour arising from the besmeared dung and urine. The
release from it is spoken of as the perfect purification. The (External) purification by means of
water and earth is on account of the worldly concerns. The destruction of the threefold
affinities (Of sastras, world and body) generates the purity for cleansing Citta. That is called the
(Real) purification which is done by means of the earth and water of Jnana (Wisdom) and
Vairagya (Indifference to Objects). [Chapter 2 - Verse 4 to 9]

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Chapter 2 - Verse 10 to 20

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“The conception of Advaita (Non-dualism) should be taken in as the Bhiksa (Alms-food); (but)
the conception of Dvaita (dualism) should not be taken in. To a Sannyasi (Ascetic), Bhiksa is
ordained as dictated by the Sastra and the Guru. After becoming a Sannyasa, a learned man
should himself abandon his native place and live at a distance, like a thief released from
prison. When a person gives up Ahamkara (i-am-ness) the son. Wealth, the brother, delusion,
the house, and desire, the wife, there is no doubt that he is an emancipated person, delusion,
the mother is dead. Wisdom, the son is born. In this manner while two kinds of pollution have
occurred, how shall we (the ascetics) observe the Sandhyas (conjunction periods)? The Cit
(consciousness) of the sun is ever shining in the resplendent Akasa of the heart. He neither
sets nor rises; while so, how shall we perform the Sandhyas? Ekanta (Solitude) is that state of
one without second as determined by the words of a Guru. Monasteries or forests are not
solitudes. Emancipation is only for those who do not doubt. To those who doubt, there is no
salvation even after many births. Therefore one should attain faith. (Mere) abandoning of the
Karmas or of the Mantras uttered at the initiation of a Sannyasi (ascetic) will not constitute
Sannyasa. The union of Jiva (-Atma) (the lower self) and Parama (-Atma) (The higher self) at
the tow Sandhis (Morning and evening) is termed Sannyasa. Whoever has a nausea for all
Isana (desires) and the rest as for vomited food, and is devoid of all affection for the body, is
qualified for Sannyasa. At the moment when indifference towards all Objects arises in the
mind, a learned person may take up Sannyasa. Otherwise, he is fallen person. Whoever
becomes a Sannyasi on account of wealth, food, clothes and fame, becomes fallen in both (as
a Sannyasi and as a householder); (then) he is not worthy of Salvation. [Chapter 2 - Verse 10 to
20]

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Chapter 2 - Verse 21 to 30

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“The thought of (contemplation upon) Tattvas is the transcendental one; that of the Sastras,
the middling, and that of mantras, the lowest. The delusion of Pilgrimages is the lowest of the
lowest. Like one, who, having seen in water the reflection of fruits in the branches of trees,
tastes and enjoys them, the ignorant without self-congnition are in vain overjoyed with (As if
they reached) Brahman. That ascetic is an emancipated person who does not abandon the
internal alms-taking (Viz., the meditation upon the non-dual), generating Vairagya as well as
faith the wife, and wisdom the son. Those men (termed) great through wealth, age, and
knowledge, are only servants to those that are great through their wisdom as also the their
disciples. Those whose minds are deluded by Maya, however learned they may be, do not
attain me, the all-full Atma, and roam about like crows, simply for the purpose of filling up
their belly, well burnt up (by hunger, etc.) For one that longs after salvation, the worship of
images made of stone, metals, gem, or earth, is productive of rebirth and enjoyment.
Therefore the ascetic should perform his own heart-worship alone, and relinquish external
worship in order that he may not be born again. Then like a vessel full to its brim in an ocean,
he is full within and full without. Like a vessel void in the ether, he is void within and void
without. Do not become (or differentiate between) the Atman that knows or the Atman that is
known. Do become of the form of that which remains, after having given up all thoughts.
Relinquishing with their Vasanas the seer, the seen and the Visual, worship Atman alone, the
resplendent supreme presence. That is the real supreme State wherein all Sankalpas
(thoughts) are at rest, which resembles the state of a stone, and which is neither waking nor
sleeping. [Chapter 2 - Verse 21 to 30]

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Chapter 3 - Verse 1 to 9

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“I am “I” (the self) I am also another (the not-self). I am Brahman. I am the Source (of all
things). I am also the Guru of all worlds. I am of all the worlds. I am He. I am myself alone. I am
Siddha. I am the pure. I am the supreme. I am. I am always He. I am the eternal. I am stainless,
I am Vijnana. I am the excellent. I am Soma. I am the all. I am without honor of dishonor. I am
without Gunas (Qualities). I am Siva (the auspicious). I am neither dual or non-dual. I am
without the dualities (of heat or cold, etc.) I am He. I am neither existence nor non-existence. I
am without language. I am the shining. I am the glory of void and non-void. I am the good and
the bad. I am Happiness. I am without grief. I am Caitanya. I am equal (in all). I am the like and
the non-like. I am the eternal, the pure, and the ever felicitous. I am without all and without
not all. I am Sattvika. I am always existing. I am without the number one. I am without the
number two. I am without the difference of Sat and Asat. I am without Sankalpa. I am without
the difference of Manyness. I am the form of immeasurable bliss. I am one that exist not. I am
the one that is not another. I am without body, etc. I am with asylum. I am without asylum. I
am without support. I am without bondage or emancipation. I am pure Brahman. I am He. I am
without Citta, etc. I am the supreme and the supreme of the Supreme. I am ever of the form of
deliberation and yet am I without deliberation. I am He. I am of the nature of the Akara and
Ukara as also of Makara. I am the earliest. The contemplator and contemplator I am without. I
am One that cannot be contemplated Upon. [Chapter 3 - Verse 1 to 11]

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Am He. I have full form in all. I have the characteristics of Saccidananda. I am of the form of
places of pilgrimages. I am the higher self and Siva. I am neither the thing defined nor non-
defined. I am the non-absorbed Essence. I am not the measurer, the measure or the
measured. I am Siva. I am not the universe. I am the seer of all. I am without the eyes, etc. I am
the full grown. I am the wise. I am the quiescent. I am the destroyer. I am without any sensual
organs. I am the doer of all actions. I am one that is content with all Vedantas (either books or
Atmik Wisdom). I am the easily attainable. I have the name of one that is Pleased as well as the
that is not. I am the fruits of all silence. I am always of the form of Cinmatra (Absolute
consciousness). I am always Sat (Be-ness) and Cit (Consciousness). I am one that has not
anything in the least. I am not one that has not anything in the least. I am without the heart-
knot (Granthi). I am the being in the Middle of the lotus. I am without the six changes. I am
without the six sheaths and without the six enemies. I am within the within. I am without
place and time. I am of the form of happiness having the quarters as My garment. I am the
emancipated One. Without bondage. I am without the “no”. I am of the form of the Partless. I
am the Partless. I have Citta, though released from the universe. I am without the universe. I
am of the form of all light. I am the light (Jyotis) in Cinmatra (Absolute Consciousness). I am
free from the three periods (of time past, present, and future). I am without desires. I am
without body. I am One that has no body. I am Gunaless. I am alone. I am without
emancipation. I am the emancipated One. I am ever without emancipation. I am without truth
or untruth. I am always One that is not different from Sat (Be-ness). I have no place to travel. I
have no going, etc. I am always of the same form. I am the quiescent. I am Purusottama (The
lord of Souls). There is no doubt that he who has realized himself thus is Myself. Whoever
hears (This) once becomes himself Brahman, yea, he becomes himself Brahman. Thus is the
Upanishad. [Chapter 3 - Verse 12 to 25] 30