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Isha Upanishad, mantra 1 · Vajasaneyi tradition
The traditional text
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम्॥
Roman reading aid
īśāvāsyam idaṃ sarvaṃ yat kiñca jagatyāṃ jagat |
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya svid dhanam ||
Meaning in everyday language
All this—whatever moves in this changing world—is to be covered by the Lord. Through relinquishment, live and partake; do not covet anyone’s wealth.
Understand the teaching
The Upanishad opens with a compressed relation between the Lord, the world and relinquishment. Its second half brings the vision into the language of living and coveting. The key verb bhunjithah receives different interpretations, including enjoy or partake and protect or sustain oneself. The meaning offered here is a learning paraphrase, while the vocabulary preserves the interpretive question.
A practical reflection concerns how we use what is available to us. Gratitude and a sense of stewardship can change the use of a shared book, water or another person’s labour. These are contemporary examples of non-possessiveness. The mantra’s own setting is a far deeper inquiry into the divine and the world, which later verses continue through action, knowledge and the Self.
Words and phrases
- ईशा वास्यम् (īśā vāsyam)
- to be covered or inhabited by the Lord
- यत्किञ्च (yat kiñca)
- whatever
- तेन त्यक्तेन (tena tyaktena)
- through that relinquishment
- भुञ्जीथाः (bhuñjīthāḥ)
- partake/enjoy; also interpreted as protect or sustain oneself
- मा गृधः (mā gṛdhaḥ)
- do not covet
Pause and think
How could non-possessiveness change your use of a shared resource?
See an explained answer
I can use what I need, care for it and leave it available for the next person. I can notice both my dependence on it and others’ equal need for it.