ते वा एते रसानांरसा वेदा हि रसास्तेषामेते रसास्तानि वा एतान्यमृतानाममृतानि वेदा ह्यमृतास्तेषामेतान्यमृतानि ॥ ३.५.४ ॥
In plain words
These are the savours of savours, for the Vedas are savours and these are their savours. These are the nectars of nectars, for the Vedas are nectar and these are their nectar.
The commentators
Chāndogyopaniṣadbhāṣyam· bhāṣya
ते वा एत यथाक्ता रोहितादिरूपविशेषा रसाना रसा । केषा रसानामिति, आह- वेदा हि यस्माल्लोकनिष्यन्दत्वा- त्सारा इति रसा , तेषा रसाना कर्मभावमापन्नानामप्येते रो- हितादिविशेषा रसा अत्यन्तसारभूता इत्यर्थ । तथा अमृताना ममृतानि वेदा ह्यमृता , नित्यत्वात् , तेषामेतानि रोहितादीनि रूपाण्यमृतानि । रसाना रसा इत्यादि कर्मस्तुतिरेषा-यस्यै- वविशिष्टान्यमृतानि फलमिति ॥
In plain words
Those specific forms like the reddish one, as stated, are the very essences of essences. Which essences? The text explains: Because the Vedas are emanations of the cosmic flow, they are essences. Even when these very essences take on the character of ritual action, these specific colored forms remain supremely essential—that is the meaning. Similarly, the Vedas are immortal because they are eternal; their reddish and other forms are likewise immortal. Expressions like 'essences of essences' constitute a praise of ritual action, indicating that its fruit consists precisely of these distinguished, immortal realities.
Close to the Sanskrit
Those indeed, as stated, are the reddish and other specific forms, the essences of essences. Of which essences? He says: The Vedas certainly, because they are emanations of the world, are essences, so they are essences. Of those essences having attained the state of action also, these reddish and other specific forms are extremely essential essences, is the meaning. Likewise, of immortals, the Vedas are immortal, because of eternity; of those, these reddish and other forms are immortal. 'Essences of essences' etc. is praise of ritual action—that indeed whose fruit is distinguished immortal things.