Verse 3.4

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

अधीहि भगवो ब्रह्मेत्येतन्मन्त्राभिशब्दितम् ।
अन्तर्णीतणिजर्थस्य ह्यधीहीति भवेद्यतः ॥ ४ ॥

adhīhi bhagavo brahmetyetanmantrābhiśabditam |
antarṇītaṇijarthasya hyadhīhīti bhavedyataḥ || 4 ||

English translation of verse 3.4:

Adhīhi bhagavo brahma is a mantra (to be uttered by a disciple at the time of approaching a teacher for instruction). The word adhīhi is used to convey the causal meaning which is implied in it.

Notes:

Adhīhi bhagavo brahma means “Revered Sir, teach me Brahman.” A disciple must utter this mantra when he approaches a teacher for instruction. With a view to know Brahman, Bhṛgu approached his father Varuṇa uttering this mantra. In the Chāndogya Upaniṣad (VII, i, 1) there is a reference to Narada approaching Sanatkumāra uttering the mantra adhīhi bhagavaḥ, as he wanted to acquire the knowledge of the Self.

The word adhīhi is formed by combining the verb ik with adhi. Here it is used in the sense of adhyāpaya.