20 Quotes From Upanishads For Wisdom & Self-Discovery
Upanishads are an important part of the Vedanta philosophy and ancient Hindu society. Literally meaning, “sitting close to” or “sitting down near”, Upanishads teaches the wisdom of ancient Indian society like a teacher sitting near a pupil and guiding him/her. The verses and quotes from Upanishads are an important reflection of life, duties of a human being and dharma.
We bring you some of the best quotes from Upanishads that will take you on a path of wisom, self-discovery and self-realization.
Also read: Quotes from Vedas, Bhagavad Gita Quotes, Mahabharata Quotes & Ramayana Quotes
In this article, we list some of the best quotes from Upanishads that for wisdom and self-discovery
1. Satyameva Jayate – Mundaka Upanishad
Truth alone triumphs
2. Aham Brahmasmi – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
I am Bramha – the divine
3. Ekam Evadvitiyam Brahma – Chandogya Upanishad
Brahman – the divine is one, without a second
4. Sarvam Kalvidam Brahma – Chandogya Upanishad
The whole universe is Brahman – the divine
5. Matrudevo bhava, Pitrudevo bhava, Acharyadevo bhava, Atithidevo bhava – Taittiriya Upanishad
Let your mother be a goddess unto you. Let your father be a god unto you. Let your teacher be a god unto you. Let your guest be a god unto you.
6. Asato Ma Sadgamaya, Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya, Mrtyorma Amrtam Gamaya – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
From falsehood lead me to truth, From darkness lead me to the light, From death lead me to immortality.
7. You may drink the ocean dry; you may uproot from its base, the mountain Meru; you may swallow fire. But more diffucult than all these, oh Good One! is control over the mind. – Ramacharka, The spirit of the Upanishads (1907)
8. You are what your deep, driving desire is As your desire is, so is your will As your will is, so is your deed As your deed is, so is your destiny – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
9. This earth is the honey (madhu, the effect) of all beings, and all beings are the honey (madhu, the effect) of this earth. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
10. Like the butter hidden in milk, the pure consciousness resides in every being; that ought to be constantly churned out by the churning rod of the mind. – Amrita-bindu Upanishad
11. The wise man beholds all beings in the self and the self in all beings; for that reason, he does not hate anyone. – Isha Upanishad
12. Just as a spider spins forth its thread and draws it again, the whole creation is woven from Brahman and unto it returns – Mundaka Upanishad
13. As the same fire assumes different shapes when it consumes objects differing in shape, so does the one Self take the shape of every creature in whom he is present. – Katha Upanishad
14. As the sun, who is the eye of the world, cannot be tainted by the defects in our eyes nor by the objects it looks on, so the one Self, dwelling in all, cannot be tainted by the evils of the world. For this Self transcends all! – Katha Upanishad
15. There is no joy in the finite; there is joy only in the Infinite. – Chandogya Upanishad
16. Learn three cardinal virtues: temperance, charity and compassion for all life. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
17. According as one acts, so does he become. One becomes virtuous by virtuous action, bad by bad action. – Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
18. Those who see all creatures in themselves And themselves in all creatures know no fear. Those who see all creatures in themselves And themselves in all creatures know no grief. How can the multiplicity of life Delude the one who sees its unity? – Isha Upanishad
19. The body is said to be a temple, and the soul is truly Shiva. Discard the faded flower offerings of ignorance, Worship with the thought: “I am he”. – Maitreya Upanishad
20. One’s own thought is one’s world. What a person thinks is what he becomes. – Maitri Upanishad
Which of these quotes from Upanishads did you find the most impactful? Do let us know in the comments below!