Purpose and Meaning

श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात्।स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः

Literal TranslationBetter is one's own duty, even if done poorly, than the duty of another done well. It is better to die while performing one's own duty; the duty of another is full of fear.

अहं सर्वस्य प्रभवो मत्तः सर्वं प्रवर्तते।इति मत्वा भजन्ते मां बुधा भावसमन्विताः

Literal TranslationI am the origin of all; from me everything proceeds. Thinking thus, the wise worship me with all devotion (Bhava).

सर्वस्य चाहं हृदि सन्निविष्टो मत्तः स्मृतिर्ज्ञानमपोहनं च।वेदैश्च सर्वैरहमेव वेद्यो वेदान्तकृद्वेदविदेव चाहम्

Literal TranslationAnd I am seated in the hearts of all. From Me come memory, knowledge, and their removal too. Indeed, I alone am to be known from all the Vedas. I bring about the fruition of the Vedic rituals; I alone am the knower of the Vedas.

अथातः पवमानानामेवाभ्यारोहः ।स वै खलु प्रस्तोता साम प्रस्तौति ।स यत्र प्रस्तुयात् तदेतानि जपेदसतो मा सद् गमय तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमयेति ।स यदाहासतो मा सद्गमयेति मृत्युर्वा असत् सदमृतं मृत्योर्माऽमृतं गमयामृतं मा कुर्वित्येवैतदाह ।तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमयेति मृत्युर्वै तमो ज्योतिरमृतं मृत्योर्मामृतं गमयामृतं मा कुर्वित्येवैतदाह ।मृत्योर्मामृतं गमयेति नात्र तिरोहितमिवास्त्यथ यानीतराणि स्तोत्राणि तेष्वात्मनेऽन्नाद्यमागायेत् तस्मादु तेषु वरं वृणीत यं कामं कामयेत तँ ।स एष एवंविदुद्गाताऽऽत्मने वा यजमानाय वा यं कामं कामयते तमागायति ।तद्धैतल्लोकजिदेव न हैवालोक्यताया आशास्ति य एवमेतत्साम वेद

Literal TranslationNext follows the Abhyâroha (the ascension) of the Pavamâna verses. Verily the Prastotri begins to sing the Sâman, and when he begins, then let him (the sacrificer) recite these (three Yagus-verses): 'Lead me from the unreal to the real! Lead me from darkness to light! Lead me from death to immortality!' Now when he says, 'Lead me from the unreal to the real,' the unreal is verily death, the real immortality. He therefore says, 'Lead me from death to immortality, make me immortal.' When he says, 'Lead me from darkness to light,' darkness is verily death, light immortality. He therefore says, 'Lead me from death to immortality, make me immortal.' When he says, 'Lead me from death to immortality,' there is nothing there, as it were, hidden (obscure, requiring explanation) . Next come the other Stotras with which the priest may obtain food for himself by singing them. Therefore let the sacrificer, while these Stotras are being sung, ask for a boon, whatever desire he may desire. An Udgâtri priest who knows this obtains by his singing whatever desire he may desire either for himself or for the sacrificer. This (knowledge) indeed is called the conqueror of the worlds. He who thus knows this Sâman , for him there is no fear of his not being admitted to the worlds .