English Translation:
There is none and nothing like Him, there is no likeness/image of Him. Great is His Name, mighty His glory. He is the Golden Seed of the universe”, “No one ever born is greater than He or beyond Him”,
— Yajurveda 32.3
न तस्य प्रतिमा ऽ अस्ति यस्य नाम महद् यशः ।
हिरण्यगर्भ ऽ इत्य् एषः मा मा हिꣳसीद् इत्य् एषा यस्मान् न जात ऽ इत्य् एष ॥
– Yajurveda mantra 32.3
Translation >
O people! Worship continuously Him who is never embodied, who is without any form or limitations, whose command is fulfilled through the mere remembrance of His name, who bestows grace upon His devotees, whose greatness is described in numerous passages of the Vedas, and who neither dies, nor changes, nor perishes. If you worship anything other than Him, you will be afflicted with this great sin and will be destroyed by sorrow and suffering.
— Swami Dayanand
Translation by Various Authors >
1. There is none and nothing like Him, no picture, no icon, no simile, no metaphor. Great is His Name, mighty His glory. “He is the Golden Seed of the universe”, “No one ever born is greater than He or beyond Him”,
– Dr. Tulsi Ram
About this Mantra >
Yajurveda 32.3 is a significant mantra, “Na tasya pratima asti,” meaning “There is no likeness/image of Him,” emphasizing the formless, singular nature of the Supreme Being (Brahman). While often interpreted as rejecting idol worship, scholars explain it means no one is equal or a copy of God, not that forms (like deities or statues) representing aspects of the Divine are forbidden; these forms are seen as manifestations or manifestations of that singular reality, not separate gods, addressing the common question idol worship.
Key Interpretations
“Pratima”: Means likeness, parallel, or copy, not just “idol” or “statue”.
“No Parallel”: The verse asserts God’s uniqueness; no one can equal the Supreme Truth (Brahman).
Context of Worship: It points to Brahman as formless, infinite, and pervading all, yet doesn’t negate worship of deities (devas/goddesses) as manifestations or expressions of that one Divine Reality, similar to how different aspects of God are worshipped in Hinduism.
In essence, Yajurveda 32.3 highlights God’s supreme, unparalleled nature, and has no physical form while other non vedic scriptures acknowledge deities as forms through which the One Divine can be approached.
Details of the mantra:
Subject of mantra: The subject of mantra is Hiranyagarbha (Supreme God);
Diety of the mantra: The God or diety or the devta of the mantra is Hiranyagarbha (Supreme God);
The verse of the mantra: Verse (meter) or Chhanda is Nichrit Pankti;
The tone of the mantra: Tone or Swara is Pancham;
The sage of the mantra: The Sage or Rishi of the mantra is Swayambhu Brahma Rishi.
