Kena Upanishad Verse 2.3

This verse famously describes the ‘unknowability’ of Brahman. It is truly known only by those who realize It is beyond objective knowledge. Those who believe they ‘know’ It as an object have missed the point, as the subject can never be an object to itself.

Sanskrit Verse

यस्यामतं तस्य मतं मतं यस्य न वेद सः ।
अविज्ञातं विजानतां विज्ञातमविजानताम् ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

yasyāmataṃ tasya mataṃ mataṃ yasya na veda saḥ |
avijñātaṃ vijānatāṃ vijñātamavijānatām || 11 ||

Translation

It is Known to him to whom it is Unknown; he knows it not to whom it is known. (It is) Unknown to those who know, and Known to those who do not know.