Upanishads · Mahā 2.1
॥
Devanāgarī
शुको नाम महातेजाः स्वरूपानन्दतत्परः जातमात्रेण मुनिराड् यत्सत्यं तदवाप्तवान्
Transliteration (IAST)
śuko nāma mahātejāḥ svarūpānandatatparaḥ jātamātreṇa munirāḍ yatsatyaṃ tadavāptavān
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
शुकः नाम महातेजाःśukaḥ nāma mahātejāḥŚuka by name, of great splendour; the one named Śuka, mighty in radiance
स्वरूप-आनन्द-तत्परःsvarūpa-ānanda-tatparaḥabsorbed in the bliss of his own nature; intent on the delight of his own essence
जातमात्रेण मुनिराट्jātamātreṇa munirāṭat his very birth the king of sages; from birth itself the lord of the silent ones
यत् सत्यम् तत् अवाप्तवान्yat satyam tat avāptavānwhat is true, that he attained; he gained that which is real
Translation
There was Śuka, of great splendour, absorbed in the bliss of his own nature; scarcely born, this king of sages attained that which is truth.
Version
4536a4bcc666 · published Jul 29, 2026, 6:29:20 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The second adhyāya begins its tale, and begins it with an unusual man.
Śuka was born already knowing. This is said outright: jātamātreṇa — “by birth alone”, that is, without study, without searching, without a teacher. He did not travel to the truth — he was born with it.
Why does the book need such a hero? Because it will presently appear: this is not enough.
The whole tale of the second chapter hangs on this knot. A man who knows everything of himself walks a thousand miles to king Janaka — and Janaka tells him exactly what his father had told him. And only then does Śuka grow calm.
Why — will become clear by verse 2.31. For now let us hold the opening: the knowledge he already has.