Upanishads · Chāndogya 8,2.7
॥
Devanāgarī
अथ यदि अन्नपानलोककामः भवति संकल्पात् एव अस्य अन्नपाने समुत्तिष्ठतः तेन अन्नपानलोकेन संपन्नः महीयते
Transliteration (IAST)
atha yadi annapānalokakāmaḥ bhavati saṃkalpāt eva asya annapāne samuttiṣṭhataḥ tena annapānalokena saṃpannaḥ mahīyate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अथathathereupon; then
यदिyadiif; but if
अन्नपानलोककामःannapānalokakāmaḥdesiring the world of food and drink (anna-pāna-loka-kāma); having wished for food and drink; longing for the world of viands
भवतिbhavatirevered lady; madam
संकल्पात्saṃkalpātthan intention; from intention
एवevaindeed; surely
अस्यasyaof this; it
अन्नपानेannapānefood and drink (anna-pāna, dual); meat and drink; food and beverages
समुत्तिष्ठतःsamuttiṣṭhataḥboth arise; the two rise up
तेनtenawith that; by means of this
अन्नपानलोकेनannapānalokenaby the world of food and drink; by the region of meat and drink
संपन्नःsaṃpannaḥharnessed; having attained
महीयतेmahīyateis glorified; is magnified
Translation
If he desires the world of food and drink, then by his mere resolve food and drink arise; united with that world, he is exalted.
Version
4d9ab5f2b623 · published Jul 26, 2026, 11:49:49 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The seventh picture is the table: food and drink. The very food that has been a rung, a sacrifice and a lesson throughout the Upaniṣad (chapters five and six) appears here in a glorified form — as a joy that arises at a resolve.
Hunger and thirst were left outside the ātman's threshold (vijighatso 'pipāsaḥ, 8.1.5) — but the meal remained! To eat not out of need but out of fullness is an image familiar to anyone who has seen a festive spread as a form of love. The Upaniṣad's eternity smells of a feast, not of a fast; the tradition will call it prasāda — mercy tasted without hunger.