Upanishads · Chāndogya 6,3.4
॥
Devanāgarī
तासाम् त्रिवृतम् त्रिवृतम् एकैकाम् अकरोत् यथा तु खलु सोम्य इमाः तिस्रः देवताः त्रिवृत् त्रिवृत् एकैका भवति तत् मे विजानीहि इति
Transliteration (IAST)
tāsām trivṛtam trivṛtam ekaikām akarot yathā tu khalu somya imāḥ tisraḥ devatāḥ trivṛt trivṛt ekaikā bhavati tat me vijānīhi iti
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
तासाम्tāsāmof them; for them
त्रिवृतम्trivṛtamtriple in kind; consisting of three
त्रिवृतम्trivṛtamtriple in kind; consisting of three
एकैकाम्ekaikāmeach single one; each one separately
अकरोत्akarotit made (from √kṛ, imperfect); it created; it performed
यथाyathāhow; like
तुtubut; surely
खलुkhalutruly; indeed
सोम्यsomyadear one; noble one
इमाःimāḥthese; these here
तिस्रःtisraḥthree (feminine); the three; the triad
देवताःdevatāḥdeities; the powers
त्रिवृत्trivṛtthreefold (trivṛt); threefold in composition; thrice twined
त्रिवृत्trivṛtthreefold (trivṛt); threefold in composition; thrice twined
एकैकाekaikāeach single one; each one separately
भवतिbhavatirevered lady; madam
तत्tatthat; this
मेmemyself; for me
विजानीहिvijānīhiknow it (imperative of vi + √jñā); understand; understand it
इतिitithus; how
Translation
Each of them it made threefold, threefold. But how, my dear, these three deities each become threefold — learn that from me.
Version
67ea3dd70482 · published Jul 26, 2026, 11:36:21 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The transition to the lesson on the "threefold threefold": each of the three elements — heat, waters, food — is woven into the other two, and nothing in the world consists of a single thread. The father calls: tat me vijānīhi — "learn this from me": after the general law will come the analysis of examples, from fire to lightning.
This tripling is the ancient root of the thought of the three guṇas: the world as a fabric of three principles, distinguishable by knowledge but inseparable in things. And as the Gītā teaches us to see behind the guṇas their Lord (BG 7.13: "deluded by the three states, the world does not know Me, higher than they"), so here the threefoldness is not the final truth but a pattern upon Being: make out the threads — and ask about the Weaver.