Upanishads · Chāndogya 8,2.8
॥
Devanāgarī
अथ यदि गीतवादितलोककामः भवति संकल्पात् एव अस्य गीतवादिते समुत्तिष्ठतः तेन गीतवादितलोकेन संपन्नः महीयते
Transliteration (IAST)
atha yadi gītavāditalokakāmaḥ bhavati saṃkalpāt eva asya gītavādite samuttiṣṭhataḥ tena gītavāditalokena saṃpannaḥ mahīyate
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अथathathereupon; then
यदिyadiif; but if
गीतवादितलोककामःgītavāditalokakāmaḥdesiring the world of song and music (gīta-vādita-loka-kāma); having wished for singing and playing; longing for the world of music
भवतिbhavatirevered lady; madam
संकल्पात्saṃkalpātthan intention; from intention
एवevaindeed; surely
अस्यasyaof this; it
गीतवादितेgītavāditesong and music (gīta-vādita, dual); singing and instrumental playing; song and instrument
समुत्तिष्ठतःsamuttiṣṭhataḥboth arise; the two rise up
तेनtenawith that; by means of this
गीतवादितलोकेनgītavāditalokenaby the world of song and music; by the region of singing and playing
संपन्नःsaṃpannaḥharnessed; having attained
महीयतेmahīyateis glorified; is magnified
Translation
If he desires the world of song and music, then by his mere resolve song and music arise; united with that world, he is exalted.
Version
b1e225d1e3d4 · published Jul 26, 2026, 11:49:49 PM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The eighth picture is song and music (gīta-vādita): voice and instrument. For the "Upaniṣad of the singers", grown out of the sāmans and the udgītha, this desire is native: the whole book began with the art of chanting, and eternity in it is unthinkable as soundless.
Music among the true desires is a promise bhakti has taken literally: kīrtana, singing to the Lord, is not a means only but an image of the goal itself; the liberated "sing his glory" for ever. The Chāndogya's heaven sounds — and those who sang here have something to do there.