Verse 2.487

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

उत्तरोत्तरवृद्ध्यैवं मनुष्यादधि तं वयम् ।
प्रतिपद्यामहे साक्षादानन्दं स्वात्मनि स्थितम् ॥ ४८७ ॥

uttarottaravṛddhyaivaṃ manuṣyādadhi taṃ vayam |
pratipadyāmahe sākṣādānandaṃ svātmani sthitam || 487 ||

English translation of verse 2.487:

Thus rising higher and higher (in the scale) from man upwards, we can directly experience that Brahman-bliss which is inherent in the Self.

Notes:

This verse purports to show that the limited happiness which is surpassable is the means (upāya) for understanding the infinite happiness which is unsurpassable. Starting from the happiness of man, the Upaniṣad in the sequel will speak about the happiness of manuṣya-gan-

dharva, deva-gandharva, and so on, and finally of the happiness of the Hiraṇyagarhha. It will be stated that the happiness of manuṣya-gandharva is a hundred times better than that of man, the happiness of deva-gandharva a hundred times better than that of manuṣya-gandharva, and so on. That is Brahman-bliss which is at the end of the scale, which is infinite, and unsurpassable