Principal Upanishad · Shukla Yajurveda
Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28
From the unreal to the real, darkness to light
असतो मा सद्गमय। तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय। मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय।
From the unreal lead me to the Real. From darkness lead me to Light. From death lead me to Immortality.
What this verse points to
The pavamana mantra, still chanted daily across the tradition. Three movements — unreal to real, darkness to light, death to immortality — that are three descriptions of one transition rather than three separate requests.
It is phrased as a petition, "lead me," and the honesty of that is worth noticing. It does not claim the crossing can be managed by the one asking.
Sit with it
Chant or read the three lines slowly at the start of a sit, and let each one settle before the next.
About the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad
The "great forest" Upanishad — the longest of the principal Upanishads and among the oldest. It contains the dialogues of the sage Yajnavalkya, including his instruction to his wife Maitreyi, and the neti neti ("not this, not this") method of negation.
References to this text are given as chapter.section.verse — here, 1.3.28.