Here is the complete, simplified rewrite of the Ishapanishad by Raja Rammohan Roy. It is written in clear, modern English, and I have made sure to keep every single argument, detail, and idea from the original text.
Introduction
Physical Weakness vs. Moral Strength
The physical abilities of human beings are very limited and seem insignificant when compared to the vastness of the world. However, our moral abilities are incredibly great; they cover a wide range of actions and have an almost limitless capacity to improve. When we compare the shortness of human life to the ancient age of the universe, and our weak physical strength to all the tasks we need to do, it is natural to feel very humble about our own nature. But we can easily restore our self-confidence by thinking about our vast moral potential and the highly beneficial things we can achieve by using it properly.
On the other hand, if a person realizes they have ignored opportunities to help their fellow human beings, they will inevitably feel deep sorrow and guilt sooner or later.
The Failings of the Current System
Driven by these thoughts, I have decided to act. Even though I was born a Brahmin and was raised learning all the beliefs of that group, I am completely convinced that my countrymen are making tragic mistakes. Therefore, I am highly motivated to do everything in my power to improve their minds and guide them toward a purer system of morality.
Having lived constantly among Hindus of various sects and professions, I have had plenty of opportunities to see the childish superstitions they have been forced into by their selfish, greedy spiritual leaders. Defying both the law and basic common sense, these leaders have successfully dragged the people into idol worship. By hiding the true meaning of morality, these leaders have manipulated the simple hearts of the people into blindly attaching themselves to a fake, empty version of religion.
The Absurdity of Caste and Dietary Rules
I am sorry to say that the core theory and practice of Hinduism has been reduced to following very specific rules about food and diet. If a person makes the slightest mistake regarding these dietary rules—even if they are perfectly innocent and morally pure in every other way—they are not only harshly criticized but actually punished by being completely banished from their family and friends. In short, they are condemned to suffer what is commonly called the "loss of caste."
On the other hand, strictly following these dietary and caste rules is valued so highly that it makes up for any actual moral failure. The most horrific crimes are considered almost meaningless compared to the supposed "guilt" of breaking a food rule. Even if someone is legally proven guilty of murder, theft, or perjury (lying under oath) by a court of law, they do not lose their caste. In their society, they face no real disgrace or loss of reputation for committing these terrible crimes.
By simply giving a small gift to a Brahmin (a practice commonly called Prayaschit) and performing a few meaningless ceremonies, the criminal is completely forgiven for all of these crimes. The wrongdoer is instantly freed from any worldly consequences and loses all fear of being punished by God in the future.
A Call for True Morality and Monotheism
Reflecting on these serious truths has caused me deep pain for many years. I have never stopped feeling a strong sense of regret over my countrymen's stubborn loyalty to their fatal system of idol worship. To please their imaginary gods, they violate every basic human and social feeling. This is obvious in many situations, but it is especially clear in the horrifying acts of suicide and the ritual killing of close relatives (immolation), all done under the false belief that they are performing sacred religious duties.
I constantly grieve over these practices and the moral ruin of a race that, I truly believe, is capable of much better. Their natural sensitivity, patience, and gentle character mean they deserve a much better destiny.
Driven by these feelings, I have felt compelled to provide them with accurate translations of parts of their own scriptures. These scriptures not only teach the enlightened worship of one single God, but also the purest moral principles. I have included my own notes to argue against the excuses the Brahmins use to defend their beloved, corrupt system.
I pray with all my heart that, sooner or later, this work will successfully convince the general Hindu public that it is rational to believe in and worship only the Supreme Being. I also pray it will lead them to fully understand and practice the greatest, most complete moral principle: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Ishopanishad of the Yajur Veda
1st. Consider everything that physically exists in this world as being covered and filled by the existence of the Supreme, regulating Spirit. By pulling your mind away from worldly thoughts in this way, you can protect yourself from the trap of arrogance (self-sufficiency) and avoid greedily desiring the property that belongs to anyone else.
2nd. A person may wish to live for an entire century, spending all that time in this world performing religious rituals. However, for a selfish mind like yours, performing these rituals is the only possible path that will not lead you directly into committing evil acts.
3rd. Those who completely neglect meditating on the Supreme Spirit—whether they do this by focusing only on the outward ceremonies of religion or by living without any religious ideas at all—will assume the state of demons after death. They will be reborn as celestial gods or other created beings who are entirely surrounded by the darkness of ignorance.
4th. The Supreme Spirit is exactly one, and He never changes. He moves much faster than the mind's ability to comprehend. No external physical sense can grasp Him, because true knowledge of Him outpaces even our internal senses. Even though He never actually moves, He always seems to be advancing, constantly leaving behind the human intellect that tries so hard to catch up and understand Him. Because He is the eternal ruler, the atmosphere and the entire system of the world are regulated under His absolute authority.
5th. The Supreme Being seems to move everywhere, even though in reality He does not move at all. He seems incredibly far away to people who have no desire to know Him, and He seems intimately close to those who genuinely want to know Him. But the actual truth is that He entirely fills both the internal and external parts of this entire universe.
6th. A person who sees the entire universe inside the Supreme Being (meaning they realize all physical matter depends entirely on the existence of the Supreme Spirit) and who also sees the Supreme Being inside the entire universe (meaning they realize the Supreme Spirit extends through all physical matter) will never feel contempt or hatred toward any living creature whatsoever.
7th. When a person who possesses true knowledge realizes that God extends across the entire universe (meaning that God fills every single particle of the universe with the light of His existence), how could that person ever be affected by foolish obsession or grief? Because they clearly see the absolute unity of this all-pervading Supreme existence, they are free from those emotions.
8th. He spreads over and covers all creatures. He is purely spirit. He does not have a tiny physical body, nor does He have a massive physical body that can be marked, organized, or physically influenced. He is absolutely pure, perfect, all-knowing (omniscient), the supreme ruler of the intellect, everywhere at once (omnipresent), and self-existing. Since the beginning of eternity, He has been the one assigning every creature its specific, destined purpose.
9th. People who strictly perform religious rituals—worshipping only the sacred fire and offering sacrifices to sages, ancestors, men, and other creatures, while completely ignoring the worship of the celestial gods—will enter into dark regions after death. On the other hand, people who habitually worship only the celestial gods, while completely ignoring the sacred fire and sacrifices to sages, ancestors, men, and other creatures, will enter into a region that is even darker than the first one.
10th. It is said that worshipping the celestial gods produces one specific result, while worshipping the sacred fire and offering sacrifices to sages, ancestors, men, and other creatures produces an entirely different result. This is exactly what we have been taught by the learned wise men who clearly explained this subject to us.
11th. However, if a person realizes that they must practice both paths simultaneously—worshipping the celestial gods and worshipping the sacred fire while offering sacrifices to sages, ancestors, men, and creatures—they will succeed. By performing the sacrifices and sacred fire rituals, they will overcome the obstacles of natural earthly temptations. By adoring the celestial gods, they will attain the high status of the celestial gods.
12th. Those who perform religious rituals to worship only Prakriti (Nature)* will enter into a dark region after death. But those who devote themselves exclusively to worshipping the very first operating spark of life (allegorically known as Brahma) will enter into a region that is much darker than the first.
*(Footnote: *Prakriti, or Nature, is unthinking and insensible on its own, but it operates throughout the entire universe because it is influenced by the Supreme Spirit.)
13th. It is said that worshipping Brahma leads to one specific outcome, while worshipping Prakriti (Nature) leads to a completely different outcome. This is exactly what we have been taught by the learned wise men who clearly explained this subject to us.
14th. However, if a person knows that they must worship both Prakriti (Nature) and Brahma at the same time, and actually performs both forms of worship, they will succeed. By worshipping Brahma, they will overcome poverty and need. By worshipping Prakriti, they will attain the state of Nature itself.
15th. Imagine a person who spent their entire life performing physical religious rituals but completely neglected to acquire the true knowledge of God. As death approaches, this person becomes terrified and agitated, crying out to the sun: "O Sun, you have hidden the path to the true Being who rules inside of you behind your brilliantly illuminating body! Please, take off that veil of light and guide me, because I am your true devotee."
16th. The dying person continues: "O Sun, son of Kashyapa, you are the one who nourishes the world, moves alone across the sky, and regulates the entire mundane system of the earth! Please, scatter your rays to make a clear path for me. Withdraw your violent, blinding light so that, by your grace, I may look upon your most prosperous, beautiful form."
But then, as the person finally reflects on the true divine nature of reality, he retracts his own words and says: "Wait, why should I beg the sun for anything? I AM WHAT HE IS!" (Meaning, the exact same Supreme Being who rules inside the sun is the one who rules inside of me).
17th. The dying person then resumes speaking: "After I die, let my breath be absorbed into the vast, wide atmosphere, and let this physical body of mine be burned entirely to ashes. O my intellect, focus right now only on what is truly beneficial to me! O Fire, please remember all the religious rituals I have faithfully performed up to this point!"
18th. He continues: "O illuminating Fire, you have watched us perform all our religious practices. Please carry us down the right path so we may enjoy the rewards we earned from our good deeds, and please put an end to our sins. Because I am dying and can no longer perform your various rituals, I offer you my final, ultimate salutation."*
*(Footnote: *This specific example from the Vedas, which shows the unhappy, terrified agitation and wavering faith of an idol-worshipper right as they approach death, should make everyone reflect very seriously. It demonstrates the miserable, tragic consequences of fixing your mind on any object of worship other than the one true Supreme Being.)
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