Upanishads · Bṛhadāraṇyaka 1,5.4
॥
Devanāgarī
त्रयः लोकाः एते एव वाक् एव अयं लोकः मनः अन्तरिक्षलोकः प्राणः असौ लोकः
Transliteration (IAST)
trayaḥ lokāḥ ete eva vāk eva ayaṃ lokaḥ manaḥ antarikṣalokaḥ prāṇaḥ asau lokaḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
त्रयःtrayaḥthe three (traya); a trio of; three
लोकाःlokāḥthe worlds (loka, pl.); worlds; world
एतेetethese; the following
एवevaindeed; only
वाक्vākspeech; the voice
एवevaindeed; only
अयंayaṃthis; this man
लोकःlokaḥthe world; dwelling
मनःmanaḥthe mind; thinking
अन्तरिक्षलोकःantarikṣalokaḥthe world of the mid-region (antarikṣa-loka); the middle world; the sky-space
प्राणःprāṇaḥthe prāṇa; the vital breath
असौasauthat one; he
लोकःlokaḥthe world; dwelling
Translation
They are also the three worlds: speech is this world, the mind the world of the mid-region, the breath that world.
Version
17fc634df809 · published Jul 27, 2026, 12:45:47 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
A series of correspondences begins: the trinity "speech–mind–breath" is applied as a measure to all the triads of the universe. The first is the three worlds: speech is the earth (what is uttered, dense, here at hand), the mind the middle space (unseen but active), the breath heaven (subtlest, life-giving).
The point of these series is not a game of wits: man is established as a microcosm, an exact universe in little. He who has understood his own composition holds a key to every storey of the world; the inward journey is not an escape from the universe but a passage through it, folded up within oneself.