The interpretation of such great books should be left to the enlightened and liberated. Shankaracharya Maharaj wrote about it and a few others later. Gurudev wrote about all the upanishads and clarified them
So from the onset, I pray to the great souls who wrote them and explained them. I am in no way capable of explaining it.
So then why am I doing it? I am shocked and apalled at the terrible translation and interpretation that is floating out there. Nauseating. And worse
I will try to give the meaning from a Yogis perspective
After the introduction, the first verse is as follows
ॐ ईशा वास्यमिदँ सर्वं यत्किञ्च जगत्यां जगत् ।
तेन त्यक्तेन भुञ्जीथा मा गृधः कस्यस्विद्धनम् ।। १ ।।
By the Lord is enveloped all that moves in the moving world.
By renouncing this, find your enjoyment.
Do not covet the possessions of others.
Or
All that is here in this ever-changing world constitutes the abode of the Ruler (He is the in-dweller in everything); therefore, when you take anything here to utilize for your benefit, do it with a sense of renunciation (rather than arrogation); you should not covet others’ means of living (dhana is prey, the thing on which one feeds on)’.
Om ! In this material world full of things that appear and disappear (now and then), one should perceive and understand that even such worldly transitory things are filled in with the presence of Lord. (iisavaasyam itham sarvam – God pervades everything in this world). By so perceiving and feeling that, one can protect him from the (otherwise never-relieving) bond of karma. One should also convince him that he has been provided by the Lord with all the things necessary for his existence. With that sort of contentment, one should try to avoid being greedy or jealous about others or others’ riches.
Or
All this, whatsoever exists in the universe, should be covered by the Lord. Having renounced (the unreal), enjoy (the Real). Do not covet the wealth of any man.
These are a few examples of how people have translated. Some of them are very esteemed, mostly because they carry the name of swami, wear saffron clothes, and some of them are knowledgeable in Sanskrit
However, I find them amusing, and not proper. They do not give me joy and often time the resounding vibration of truth is missing !
Now my translation may have some grammar issues, and I hope the reader will take be kind enough to forgive me.
The first symbol is Aum.
Isha – the second word – Generally people refer to it and call it as God. However, to me it refers to Shakti , apara shakti. Why? There is an extra “kaano” making it feminine
Vasyam – covering
Idam – all this
Sarvam – all
Yatkinchit – everything, kinchit – smallest particle
Jagatyam Jagat- Generally people refer it to the world. In reality is refers to the body that goes to death (more later) Jam gatam – going to death
Ten – it
Tyakten – leaving it
Bhunjitha – enjoy – refers to the divine joy of samadhi or Jagadananda or chidananda
Ma – dont
Grudha – desire for
Kasya – whose / those
Svid – perspire
Dhanam – wealth. So Svid dhanam – refers to the body created from a drop of sweat / semen
Thus the meaning is
Shakti who is hidden in all this creation, including in the body that goes to death,
Leaving this body, enjoy the joy of samadhi, dont covet the (pleasures) of the body.
Now you have a choice. I am a yogi. For me under the cover of all translation, there are synonyms used in sanskrit. All are not familiar with them. Including the sanskrit scholars. So you may ask, who am i to say this? And that would be quite accurate. Instead of carrying bitterness, there are more blogs and web pages to your liking…why waste time here?
Bhavin