Upanishads · Rudrahṛdaya 48
॥
Devanāgarī
अधिष्ठानं समस्तस्य जगतः सत्यचिद्घनम् । अहमस्मीति निश्चित्य वीतशोको भवेन्मुनिः
Transliteration (IAST)
adhiṣṭhānaṃ samastasya jagataḥ satyacidghanam | ahamasmīti niścitya vītaśoko bhavenmuniḥ
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
अधिष्ठानं समस्तस्य जगतःadhiṣṭhānaṃ samastasya jagataḥthe foundation of the whole world
सत्य-चित्-घनम्satya-cit-ghanama mass of truth and consciousness
अहम् अस्मि इति निश्चित्यaham asmi iti niścitya"I am" — thus having decided
वीत-शोकः भवेत् मुनिःvīta-śokaḥ bhavet muniḥlet the sage become free of sorrow
Translation
"The foundation of the whole world, a mass of truth and consciousness — 'I am,' thus having decided, let the sage become free of sorrow."
Version
174826978262 · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The formula ahaṃ asmi, "I am," is set as a conclusion; it was already discussed when reading the Kāṭharudra (12). No need to repeat the analysis; let me add only what pertains to this version. Here the formula is shorter than usual: not "I am brahman," but simply ahaṃ asmi, "I am." And it must apparently be read together with the first half of the verse: "the foundation of the whole world — I am."
With such brevity, it becomes curious from another angle. "I am," in itself, is an assertion no one disputes: one's own existence is given to everyone directly, and that it is svataḥ-siddha, "self-evident," was discussed when reading the Bhāvanā (p32). The whole question is what is added to "I am." Add "brahman," and one thing follows; add "His," and another; and both additions equally do not follow from "I am" itself.
The Vaiṣṇava reading adds to it the word dāsa, "servant," and says: jīvera svarūpa haya kṛṣṇera nitya-dāsa, "the nature of the soul is the eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa" (Caitanya-caritāmṛta 2.20.108). This addition is not derived from "I am" — it is received; and here lies the whole difference of method: one teaching derives, the other accepts what has been said. It is worth noting what is promised: vīta-śokaḥ, "free of sorrow." Again, as everywhere in these books, what is promised is not power and not knowledge, but the cessation of grief; and this, to my mind, is more honest than any promise of power.