Verse 1.68

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

यश्चन्दसामितिज्ञानं मेधाकामस्य भण्यते ।
आवहन्तीति तद्वत्स्याच्छ्रीकामस्येह लिङ्गतः ॥ ६८ ॥

yaścandasāmitijñānaṃ medhākāmasya bhaṇyate |
āvahantīti tadvatsyācchrīkāmasyeha liṅgataḥ || 68 ||

English translation of verse 1.68:

The recitation of the hymn beginning with “He who is the most excellent in the hymns of the Veda” is intended for one who is desirous of intelligence. In the same way the hymn (to be used for offering oblation beginning with) “fetching” is intended for one who is desirous of wealth.

Notes:

The entire fourth anuvāka of the Upaniṣad may be divided into two parts. The first part beginning with yaśchandasām till śrutaṃ me gopāya contains the mantra to be recited by one who desires intellectual vigour (medha). The second part beginning from āvahantī vitanvānā till pra mā padyasva contains the mantra to be used for offering oblations by one who wants fortune (śrī). The Upaniṣad here purports to teach japa and homa as means for obtaining intelligence and wealth. Both japa and homa are conducive to the attainment of Brahman-knowledge. A person who lacks Intellectual vigour—intelligence and tenacious memory—cannot comprehend Brahman. Hence the need for the recitation of mautra (japa) which is the means to the acquisition of intellectual vigour. Oue who has no wealth cannot perform yāga, etc., for the purpose of attaining purification of the mind. So the offering of oblations (homa) is indirectly useful to the attainment of Brahman-knowledge.