Upanishads · Chāndogya 1,1.4
॥
Devanāgarī
कतमा कतमा ऋक् कतमत् कतमत् साम कतमः कतमः उद्गीथः इति विमृष्टम् भवति
Transliteration (IAST)
katamā katamā ṛk katamat katamat sāma katamaḥ katamaḥ udgīthaḥ iti vimṛṣṭam bhavati
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
कतमाkatamāwhich one precisely (katama — 'which of many'); which then; which
कतमाkatamāwhich one precisely (katama — 'which of many'); which then; which
ऋक्ṛkthe ṛc; a hymn of the Ṛg-veda
कतमत्katamatwhich; that which
कतमत्katamatwhich; that which
सामsāmathe sāman; the chant
कतमःkatamaḥwhich; which
कतमःkatamaḥwhich; which
उद्गीथःudgīthaḥudgītha; the exalted chant
इतिitithus; how
विमृष्टम्vimṛṣṭamthe consideration (vi-√mṛś — 'to feel out with the mind'); investigation; the examination
भवतिbhavatirevered lady; madam
Translation
"Which then is the ṛc? Which the sāman? Which the udgītha?" — thus the examination begins.
Version
aa1b3751ac1e · published Jul 26, 2026, 10:28:09 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
After the solemn ascent, a humble question: katamā katamarka… — "which then is the ṛc? which the sāman? which the udgītha?" The doubling of the interrogative (katamā katamā) conveys an insistent inquisitiveness: not "what is it in general" but "which one exactly of them all" — the question of a connoisseur who demands precision, not generalities.
vimṛṣṭaṁ bhavati — "an examination takes place" (vi-√mṛś — "to feel out with the mind"): the Upaniṣad legitimizes investigation inside reverence: a holy thing is not only sung — it is asked about; a faith that puts no questions stays on the surface. This short verse is a hinge of method: from hymn to analysis; the Chāndogya will everywhere alternate rapture and inquiry, for to it these are one movement of the heart.