तत्त्वमसि

Sanskrit

FWOTD – 18 March 2020

Etymology

तत् + त्वम् + असि

Literally meaning "that are you". Originally occurs in the Chandogya Upanishad 6.8.7.

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /tɐt.tʋɐ.mɐ.si/, [tɐt̚.tʋɐ.mɐ.si]
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈt̪ɐt̪.t̪ʋɐ.mɐ.s̪i/, [ˈt̪ɐt̪̚.t̪ʋɐ.mɐ.s̪i]

Phrase

तत्त्वमसि • (tattvamasi)

1. tat tvam asi
   • ~9th c., chapter 1, in Avadhuta Gita, verse 25:

     तत्त्वमस्यादिवाक्येन स्वात्मा हि प्रतिपादितः ।
     नेति नेति श्रुतिर्ब्रूयादनृतं पाञ्चभौतिकम् ।। २५।।

     tattvamasyādivākyena svātmā hi pratipāditaḥ .
     neti neti śrutirbrūyādanṛtaṃ pāñcabhautikam .. 25..

     By such sentences as "That thou art," our own Self is affirmed. Of that which is untrue and composed of the five elements - the Shruti (scripture) says, "Not this, not this."