Upanishads · Bhasmajābāla 2.25
॥
Devanāgarī
भूतेभिर्देवेभिरभिष्टुतोऽहमेव । भीषास्माद्वातः पवते । भीषोदेति सूर्यः । भीषास्मादग्निश्चेन्द्रश्च
Transliteration (IAST)
bhūtebhirdevebhirabhiṣṭuto'hameva | bhīṣāsmādvātaḥ pavate | bhīṣodeti sūryaḥ | bhīṣāsmādagniścendraśca
Word-by-word
SanskritIASTMeaning
भूतेभिः देवेभिः अभिष्टुतः अहम् एवbhūtebhiḥ devebhiḥ abhiṣṭutaḥ aham evapraised by beings and gods — I am he
भीषा अस्मात् वातः पवतेbhīṣā asmāt vātaḥ pavatefrom fear of him the wind blows
भीषा उदेति सूर्यःbhīṣā udeti sūryaḥfrom fear the sun rises
भीषा अस्मात्bhīṣā asmātfrom fear of him
अग्निः च इन्द्रः चagniḥ ca indraḥ cafire and Indra
Translation
«Praised by beings and gods — I am he. From fear of him the wind blows, from fear the sun rises, from fear of him — fire and Indra».
Version
10ffe915e76d · published Aug 12, 2026, 5:00:00 AM UTC
Available inRUENPage between verses with
The passage of the Taittirīya (2.8.1) is cited: «from fear of Him the wind blows, from fear the sun rises». This passage is famous and is usually misread, so it deserves unpacking. The word bhīṣā, «from fear», does not mean terror. In the same passage of the Taittirīya it is explained: what is meant is that the luminaries and elements do not act on their own will — they go their way and do not depart from it, as a servant does not leave without permission.
That is, bhaya here is what we would call discipline: the wind does not blow when it pleases, the sun does not rise when it feels like it. Worth noting that a little further on in this same section of the Taittirīya stands the famous ladder of blessings, and immediately after it — that the one who attains fears nothing. That is, in one place it is said the world is held by fear, and a person attains fearlessness; and there is no contradiction here.
The explanation is simple. Fear belongs to one who can disobey; and one who no longer wishes to disobey does not fear. A servant who loves his master is dutiful not from fear.
The Vaishnava side rests on this and distinguishes three relations: fear, duty, and love. All three lead to the same conduct; but the first torments, the second wearies, and the third does not burden at all.