The verse and its meaning · Upanishads · Taittiriya · Bhrigu Asks His Father

The Open Door Vow

Taittiriya Upanishad 3.10.1

न कञ्चन वसतौ प्रत्याचक्षीत । तद्व्रतम् । तस्माद्यया कया च विधया बह्वन्नं प्राप्नुयात् । अराध्यस्मा अन्नमित्याचक्षते । एतद्वै मुखतोऽन्नँराद्धम् । मुखतोऽस्मा अन्नँराध्यते । एतद्वै मध्यतोऽन्नँराद्धम् । मध्यतोऽस्मा अन्नँराध्यते । एदद्वा अन्ततोऽन्नँराद्धम् । अन्ततोऽस्मा अन्नँराध्यते

Meaning · English

Turn no one away from your home; that is the vow. So gather much food by any means. Food given early, midway, or late comes back the same way.

The vow is simple: anyone who arrives looking for a place to stay is not sent away. A bed implies a meal, so the household keeps plenty of food on hand, gathered however it can be. People who live this way tell a guest 'it's ready,' never 'there's none.' Then comes a pattern of return. Food given early, or with full respect, comes back early and in full. Given midway, or half-heartedly, it comes back that way. Given late or grudgingly, the same.

Toss a ball softly against a wall and it rolls back softly. Throw it hard and it returns hard. The wall gives back exactly what it receives, at the moment it receives it. A household's food behaves like that: whatever is handed to a guest, and how, and when, is what comes back to the one who gave it.

अर्थ · हिन्दी

In this book

• Before: Earth and Space Uphold Each Other · Taittiriya Upanishad 3.9.1
• Next: Becoming What You Revere · Taittiriya Upanishad 3.10.3
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