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FIFTH BRAHMANA
1. 'When the father (of creation) had produced by knowledge
and penance (work) the seven kinds of food, one of his (foods) was common to all
beings, two he assigned to the Devas, (1)
'Three he made for himself, one he gave to the animals. In it
all rests, whatsoever breathes and breathes not. (2)
'Why then do these not perish, though they are always eaten ?
He who knows this imperishable one, he eats food with his face. (3)
'He goes even to the Devas, he lives on strength.' (4)
2. When it is said, that 'the father produced by knowledge
and penance the seven kinds of food,' it is clear that (it was he who) did so.
When it is said, that 'one of his (foods) was common,' then that is that common
food of his which is eaten. He who worships (eats) that (common food), is not
removed from evil, for verily that food is mixed (property)'. When it is said,
that 'two he assigned to the Devas,' that is the huta, which is sacrificed in
fire, and the prahuta, which is given away at a sacrifice. But they also say,
the new-moon and full-moon sacrifices are here intended, and therefore one
should not offer them as an ishti or with a wish.
When it is said, that 'one he gave to animals,' that is milk.
For in the beginning (in their infancy) both men and animals live on milk. And
therefore they either make a new-born child lick ghrita (butter), or they make
it take the breast. And they call a new-born creature 'atrinada,' i. e. not
eating herbs. When it is said, that 'in it all rests, whatsoever breathes and
breathes not,' we see that all this, whatsoever breathes and breathes not, rests
and depends on milk.
And when it is said (in another Brahmana), that a man who
sacrifices with milk a whole year, overcomes death again, let him not think so.
No, on the very day on which he sacrifices, on that day he overcomes death
again; for he who knows this, offers to the gods the entire food (viz. milk).
When it is said, 'Why do these not perish, though they are
always eaten,' we answer, Verily, the Person is the imperishable, and he
produces that food again and again.
When it is said, 'He who knows this imperishable one,' then,
verily, the Person is the imperishable one, for he produces this food by
repeated thought, and whatever he does not work by his works, that perishes.
When it is said, that 'he eats food with his face,' then face
means the mouth, he eats it with his mouth.
When it is said, that 'he goes even to the Devas, he lives on
strength,'that is meant as praise.
3. When it is said, that 'he made three for himself,' that
means that he made mind , speech, and breath for himself. As people say, 'My
mind was elsewhere, I did not see; my mind was elsewhere, I did not hear,' it is
clear that a man sees with his mind and hears with his mind. Desire,
representation, doubt, faith, want of faith, memory, forgetfulness, shame,
reflexion, fear, all this is mind. Therefore even if a man is touched on the
back, he knows it through the mind.
Whatever sound there is, that is speech. Speech indeed is
intended for an end or object, it is nothing by itself.
The up-breathing, the down-breathing, the back-breathing, the
out-breathing, the on-breathing, all that is breathing is breath (prana) only.
Verily that Self consists of it; that Self consists of speech, mind, and breath.
4. These are the three worlds: earth is speech, sky mind,
heaven breath.
5. These are the three Vedas: the Rig-veda is speech, the
Yagur-veda mind, the Sama-veda breath.
6. These are the Devas, Fathers, and men: the Devas are
speech, the Fathers mind, men breath.
7. These are father, mother, and child: the father is mind,
the mother speech, the child breath.
8. These are what is known, what is to be known, and what is
unknown.
What is known, has the form of speech, for speech is known.
Speech, having become this, protects man.
9. What is to be known, has the form of mind, for mind is
what is to be known. Mind, having become this, protects man.
10. What is unknown, has the form of breath, for breath is
unknown. Breath, having become this, protects man.
11. Of that speech (which is the food of Pragapati) earth is
the body, light the form, viz. this fire. And so far as speech extends, so far
extends the earth, so far extends fire.
12. Next, of this mind heaven is the body, light the form,
viz. this sun. And so far as this mind extends, so far extends heaven, so far
extends the sun. If they (fire and sun) embrace each other, then wind is born,
and that is Indra, and he is without a rival. Verily a second is a rival, and he
who knows this, has no rival.
13. Next, of this breath water is the body, light the form,
viz. this moon. And so far as this breath extends, so far extends water, so far
extends the moon.
These are all alike, all endless. And he who worships them as
finite, obtains a finite world, but he who worships them as infinite, obtains an
infinite world.
14. That Pragapati is the year, and he consists of sixteen
digits. The nights indeed are his fifteen digits, the fixed point his sixteenth
digit. He is increased and decreased by the nights. Having on the new-moon night
entered with the sixteenth part into everything that has life, he is thence born
again in the morning. Therefore let no one cut off the life of any living thing
on that night, not even of a lizard, in honour (pugartham) of that deity.
15. Now verily that Pragapati, consisting of sixteen digits,
who is the year, is the same as a man who knows this. His wealth constitutes the
fifteen digits, his Self the sixteenth digit. He is increased and decreased by
that wealth. His Self is the nave, his wealth the felly. Therefore even if he
loses everything, if he lives but with his Self, people say, he lost the felly
(which can be restored again).
16. Next there are verily three worlds, the world of men, the
world of the Fathers, the world of the Devas. The world of men can be gained by
a son only, not by any other work. By sacrifice the world of the Fathers, by
knowledge the world of the Devas is gained. The world of the Devas is the best
of worlds, therefore they praise knowledge.
17. Next follows the handing over. When a man thinks he is
going to depart, he says to his son: 'Thou art Brahman (the Veda, so far as
acquired by the father); thou art the sacrifice (so far as performed by the
father); thou art the world.' The son answers: 'I am Brahman, I am the
sacrifice, I am the world.' Whatever has been learnt (by the father) that, taken
as one, is Brahman. Whatever sacrifices there are, they, taken as one, are the
sacrifice. Whatever worlds there are, they, taken as one, are the world. Verily
here ends this (what has to be done by a father, viz. study, sacrifice, &c.)
'He (the son), being all this, preserved me from this world,' thus he thinks.
Therefore they call a son who is instructed (to do all this), a world-son (lokya),
and therefore they instruct him.
When a father who knows this, departs this world, then he
enters into his son together with his own spirits (with speech, mind, and
breath). If there is anything done amiss by the father, of all that the son
delivers him, and therefore he is called Putra, son. By help of his son the
father stands firm in this world. Then these divine immortal spirits (speech,
mind, and breath) enter into him.
18. From the earth and from fire, divine speech enters into
him. And verily that is divine speech whereby, whatever he says, comes to be.
19. From heaven and the sun, divine mind enters into him. And
verily that is divine mind whereby he becomes joyful, and grieves no more.
20. From water and the moon, divine breath (spirit) enters
into him. And verily that is divine breath which, whether moving or not moving,
does not tire, and therefore does not perish. He who knows this, becomes the
Self of all beings. As that deity (Hiranyagarbha) is, so does he become. And as
all beings honour that deity (with sacrifice, &c.), so do all beings honour
him who knows this.
Whatever grief these creatures suffer, that is all one' (and
therefore disappears). Only what is good approaches him; verily, evil does not
approach the Devas.
21. Next follows the consideration of the observances (acts).
Pragapati created the actions (active senses). When they had been created, they
strove among themselves. Voice held, I shall speak; the eye held, I shall see;
the ear held, I shall hear; and thus the other actions too, each according to
its own act. Death, having become weariness, took them and seized them. Having
seized them, death held them back (from their work). Therefore speech grows
weary, the eye grows weary, the ear grows weary. But death did not seize the
central breath. Then the others tried to know him, and said: 'Verily, he is the
best of us, he who, whether moving or not, does not tire and does not perish.
Well, let all of us assume his form.' Thereupon they all assumed his form, and
therefore they are called after him 'breaths' (spirits).
In whatever family there is a man who knows this, they call
that family after his name. And he who strives with one who knows this, withers
away and finally dies. So far with regard to the body.
22. Now with regard to the deities.
Agni (fire) held, I shall burn; Aditya (the sun) held, I
shall warm; Kandramas (the moon) held, I shall shine; and thus also the other
deities, each according to the deity. And as it was with the central breath
among the breaths, so it was with Vayu, the wind among those deities. The other
deities fade, not Vayu. Vayu is the deity that never sets.
23. And here there is this Sloka:
' He from whom the sun rises, and into whom it sets' (he
verily rises from the breath, and sets in the breath)
'Him the Devas made the law, he only is to-day, and he
to-morrow also' (whatever these Devas determined then, that they perform to-day
also').
Therefore let a man perform one observance only, let him
breathe up and let him breathe down, that the evil death may not reach him. And
when he performs it, let him try to finish it. Then he obtains through it union
and oneness with that deity (with prana).
SIXTH BRAHMANA
I. Verily this is a triad, name, form, and work. Of these
names, that which is called Speech is the Uktha, (hymn, supposed to mean also
origin), for from it all names arise. It is their saman (song, supposed to mean
also sameness), for it is the same as all names. It is their Brahman (prayer,
supposed to mean also support), for it supports all names.
2. Next, of the forms, that which is called Eye is the Uktha
(hymn), for from it all forms arise. It is their Saman (song), for it is the
same as all forms. It is their Brahman (prayer), for it supports all forms.
3. Next, of the works, that which is called Body is the Uktha
(hymn), for from it all works arise. It is theirsaman (song), for it is the same
as all works. It is their Brahman (prayer), for it supports all works.
That being a triad is one, viz. this Self; and the Self,
being one, is that triad. This is the immortal, covered by the true. Verily
breath is the immortal, name and form are the true, and by them the immortal is
covered.
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SECOND ADHYAYA 
FIRST BRAHMANA
I. There I was formerly the proud Gargya Balaki, a man of
great reading. He said to Agatasatru of Kasi, 'Shall I tell you Brahman?'
Agatasatru said: 'We give a thousand (cows) for that speech (of yours), for
verily all people run away, saying, Ganaka (the king of Mithila) is our father
(patron).'
2. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the sun, that I adore
as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak to me on this. I
adore him verily as the supreme, the head of all beings, the king. Whoso adores
him thus, becomes supreme, the head of all beings, a king.'
3. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the moon (and in the
mind), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak
to me on this. I adore him verily as the great, clad in white raiment, as Soma,
the king.' Whoso adores him thus, Soma is poured out and poured forth for him
day by day, and his food does not fail.
4. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the lightning (and in
the heart), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not
speak to me on this. I adore him verily as the luminous.' Whoso adores him thus,
becomes luminous, and his offspring becomes luminous.
5. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the ether (and in the
ether of the heart), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no!
Do not speak to me on this. I adore him as what is full, and quiescent.' Whoso
adores him thus, becomes filled with offspring and cattle, and his offspring
does not cease from this world.
6. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the wind (and in the
breath), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak
to me on this. I adore him as Indra Vaikuntha, as the unconquerable army (of the
Maruts).' Whoso adores him thus, becomes victorious, unconquerable, conquering
his enemies.
7. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the fire (and in the
heart), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak
to me on this. I adore him as powerful.' Whoso adores him thus, becomes
powerful, and his offspring becomes powerful.
8. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the water (in seed,
and in the heart), that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do
not speak to me on this. I adore him as likeness.' Whoso adores him thus, to him
comes what is likely (or proper), not what is improper; what is born from him,
is like unto him 1.
9. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the mirror, that I
adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak to me on this.
I adore him verily as the brilliant.' Whoso adores him thus, he becomes
brilliant, his offspring becomes brilliant, and with whomsoever he comes
together, he outshines them.
10. Gargya said: 'The sound that follows a man while he
moves, that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak
to me on this. I adore him verily as life.' Whoso adores him thus, he reaches
his full age in this world, breath does not leave him before the time.
11. Gargya said: 'The person that is in space, that I adore
as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him : ' No, no! Do not speak to me on this. I
adore him verily as the second who never leaves us.' Whoso adores him thus,
becomes possessed of a second, his party is not cut off from him.
12. Gargya said: 'The person that consists of the shadow,
that I adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak to me on
this. I adore him verily as death.' Whoso adores him thus, he reaches his whole
age in this world, death does not approach him before the time.
13. Gargya said: 'The person that is in the body, that I
adore as Brahman.' Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! Do not speak to me on this.
I adore him verily as embodied.' Whoso adores him thus, becomes embodied, and
his offspring becomes embodied.
Then Gargya became silent.
14. Agatasatru said: 'Thus far only?' 'Thus far only,' he
replied. Agatasatru said: 'This does not suffice to know it (the true Brahman).'
Gargya replied : 'Then let me come to you, as a pupil.'
15. Agatasatru said: ' Verily, it is unnatural that a
Brahmana should come to a Kshatriya, hoping that he should tell him the Brahman.
However, I shall make you know him clearly,' thus saying he took him by the hand
and rose.
And the two together came to a person who was asleep. He
called him by these names, 'Thou, great one, clad in white raiment, Soma, King.'
He did not rise. Then rubbing him with his hand, he woke him, and he arose.
16. Agatasatru said: 'When this man was thus asleep, where
was then the person (purusha), the intelligent ? and from whence did he thus
come back?' Gargya did not know this ?
17. Agatasatru said: 'When this man was thus asleep, then the
intelligent person (purusha), having through the intelligence of the senses
(pranas) absorbed within himself all intelligence, lies in the ether, which is
in the heart. When he takes in these different kinds of intelligence, then it is
said that the man sleeps (svapiti). Then the breath is kept in, speech is kept
in, the ear is kept in, the eye is kept in, the mind is kept in.
18 But when he moves about in sleep (and dream), then these
are his worlds. He is, as it were, a great king; he is, as it were, a great
Brahmana; he rises, as it were, and he falls. And as a great king might keep in
his own subjects, and move about, according to his pleasure, within his own
domain, thus does that person (who is endowed with intelligence) keep in the
various senses (pranas) and move about, according to his pleasure, within his
own body (while dreaming).
19. Next, when he is in profound sleep, and knows nothing,
there are the seventy-two thousand arteries called Hita, which from the heart
spread through the body. Through them he moves forth and rests in the
surrounding body. And as a young man, or a great king, or a great Brahmana,
having reached the summit of happiness, might rest, so does he then rest.
2o. As the spider comes out with its thread, or as small
sparks come forth from fire, thus do all senses, all worlds, all Devas, all
beings come forth from that Self. The Upanishad (the true name and doctrine) of
that Self is 'the True of the True.' Verily the senses are the true, and he is
the true of the true.
SECOND BRAHMANA
1. Verily he who knows the babe with his place, his chamber,
his post, and his rope, he keeps off the seven relatives who hate him. Verily by
the young is meant the inner life, by his place this (body), by his chamber this
(head), by his post the vital breath, by his rope the food.
2. Then the seven imperishable ones approach him. There are
the red lines in the eye, and by them Rudra clings to him. There is the water in
the eye, and by it Parganya clings to him. There is the pupil, and by it Aditya
(sun) clings to him. There is the dark iris, and by it Agni clings to him. There
is the white eye-ball, and by it Indra, clings to him. With the lower eye-lash
the earth, with the upper eye-lash the heaven clings to him. He who knows this,
his food does never perish.
3. On this there is this Sloka:
'There is a cup having its mouth below and its bottom above.
Manifold glory has been placed into it. On its lip sit the seven Rishis, the
tongue as the eighth communicates with Brahman.' What is called the cup having
its mouth below and its bottom above is this head, for its mouth (the mouth) is
below, its bottom (the skull) is above. When it is said that manifold glory has
been placed into it, the senses verily are manifold glory, and he therefore
means the senses. When he says that the seven Rishis sit on its lip, the Rishis
are verily the (active) senses, and he means the senses. And when he says that
the tongue as the eighth communicates with Brahman, it is because the tongue, as
the eighth, does communicate with Brahman.
4. These two (the two ears) are the Rishis Gautama and
Bharadvaga; the right Gautama, the left Bharadvaga. These two (the eyes) are the
Rishis Vvisvamitra and Gamadagni; the right Visvamitra, the left Gamadagni.
These two (the nostrils) are the Rishis Vasishtha and Kasyapa; the right
Vasishtha, the left Kasyapa. The tongue is Atri, for with the tongue food is
eaten, and Atri is meant for Atti, eating. He who knows this, becomes an eater
of everything, and everything becomes his food.
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THIRD BRAHMANA
1. There are two forms of Brahman, the material and the
immaterial, the mortal and the immortal, the solid and the fluid, sat (being)
and tya (that), (i.e. sat-tya, true).
2. Everything except air and sky is material, is mortal, is
solid, is definite. The essence of that which is material, which is mortal,
which is solid, which is definite is the sun that shines, for he is the essence
of sat (the definite).
3. But air and sky are immaterial, are immortal, are fluid,
are indefinite. The essence of that which is immaterial, which is immortal,
which is fluid, which is indefinite is the person in the disk of the sun, for he
is the essence of tyad (the indefinite). So far with regard to the Devas.
4. Now with regard to the body. Everything except the breath
and the ether within the body is material, is mortal, is solid, is definite. The
essence of that which is material, which is mortal, which is solid, which is
definite is the Eye, for it is the essence of sat (the definite).
5. But breath and the ether within the body are immaterial,
are immortal, are fluid, are indefinite. The essence of that which is
immaterial, which is immortal, which is fluid, which is indefinite is the person
in the right eye, for he is the essence of tyad (the indefinite).
6. And what is the appearance of that person ? Like a
saffron-coloured raiment, like white wool, like cochineal, like the flame of
fire, like the white lotus, like sudden lightning. He who knows this, his glory
is like unto sudden lightning.
Next follows the teaching (of Brahman) by No, no! for there
is nothing else higher than this (if one says): 'It is not so.' Then comes the
name 'the True of the True,' the senses being the True, and he (the Brahman) the
True of them.
FOURTH BRAHMANA
1. Now when Yagnavalkya was going to enter upon another
state, he said: 'Maitreyi, verily I am going away from this my house (into the
forest). Forsooth, let me make a settlement between thee and that Katyayani (my
other wife).'
2. Maitreyi said: 'My Lord, if this whole earth, full of
wealth, belonged to me, tell me, should I be immortal by it?'
'No,' replied Yagnavalkya; 'like the life of rich people will
be thy life. But there is no hope of immortality by wealth.'
3. And Maitreyi said: 'What should I do with that by which I
do not become immortal? What my Lord knoweth (of immortality), tell that to me.'
4. Yagnavalkya replied: 'Thou who art truly dear to me, thou
speakest dear words. Come, sit down, I will explain it to thee, and mark well
what I say.'
5. And he said: 'Verily, a husband is not dear, that you may
love the husband; but that you may love the Self, therefore a husband is dear.
'Verily, a wife is not dear, that you may love the wife; but
that you may love the Self, therefore a wife is dear.
'Verily, sons are not dear, that you may love the sons; but
that you may love the Self, therefore sons are dear.
'Verily, wealth is not dear, that you may love wealth; but
that you may love the Self, therefore wealth is dear.
'Verily, the Brahman-class is not dear, that you may love the
Brahman-class; but that you may love the Self, therefore the Brahman-class is
dear.
'Verily, the Kshatra-class is not dear, that you may love the
Kshatra-class; but that you may love the Self, therefore the Kshatra-class is
dear.
'Verily, the worlds are not dear, that you may love the
worlds; but that you may love the Self, therefore the worlds are dear.
'Verily, the Devas are not dear, that you may love the Devas;
but that you may love the Self, therefore the Devas are dear'.
'Verily, creatures are not dear, that you may love the
creatures; but that you may kve the Self, therefore are creatures dear.
'Verily, everything is not dear that you may love everything;
but that you may love the Self, therefore everything is dear.
'Verily, the Self is to be seen, to be heard, to be
perceived, to be marked, O Maitreyi! When we see, hear, perceive, and know the
Self, then all this is known.
6. 'Whosoever looks for the Brahman-class elsewhere than in
the Self, was abandoned by the Brahman-class. Whosoever looks for the
Kshatra-class elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned by the Kshatra-class.
Whosoever looks for the worlds elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned by the
worlds. Whosoever looks for the Devas elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned
by the Devas. Whosoever looks for creatures elsewhere than in the Self, was
abandoned by the creatures. Whosoever looks for anything elsewhere than in the
Self, was abandoned by everything. This Brahman-class, this Kshatra-class, these
worlds, these Devas, these creatures, this everything, all is that Self.
7. 'Now as the sounds of a drum, when beaten, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the drum is
seized or the beater of the drum;
8. 'And as the sounds of a conch-shell, when blown, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the shell is
seized or the blower of the shell;
9. 'And as the sounds of a lute, when played, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the lute is
seized or the player of the lute;
10. 'As clouds of smoke proceed by themselves out of a
lighted fire kindled with damp fuel, thus, verily, O Maitreyi, has been breathed
forth from this great Being what we have as Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Sama-veda,
Atharvangirasas, Itihasa (legends), Purana (cosmogonies), Vidya (knowledge), the
Upanishads, Slokas (verses), Sutras (prose rules), Anuvyakhyanas (glosses),
Vyakhyanas (commentaries)'. From him alone all these were breathed forth.
11. 'As all waters find their centre in the sea, all touches
in the skin, all tastes in the tongue, all smells in the nose, all colours in
the eye, all sounds in the ear, all percepts in the mind, all knowledge in the
heart, all actions in the hands, all movements in the feet, and all the Vedas in
speech,-
12. 'As a lump of salt, when thrown into water, becomes
dissolved into water, and could not be taken out again, but wherever we taste
(the water) it is salt,-thus verily, O Maitreyi, does this great Being, endless,
unlimited, consisting of nothing but knowledge', rise from out these elements,
and vanish again in them. When he has departed, there is no more knowledge
(name), I say,O Maitreyi.' Thus spoke Yagnavalkya.
13. Then Maitreyi said: 'Here thou hast bewildered me, Sir,
when thou sayest that having departed, there is no more knowledge.'
ButYagnavalkya replied: 'O Maitreyi, I say nothing that is
bewildering. This is enough, O beloved, for wisdom.
'For when there is as it were duality, then one sees the
other, one smells the other, one hears the other, one salutes the other, one
perceives the other, one knows the other; but when the Self only is all this,
how should he smell another, how should he see another, how should he hear
another, how should he salute another, how should he perceive another, how
should he know another? How should he know Him by whom he knows all this?
How, O beloved, should he know (himself), the Knower?'
FIFTH BRAHMANA
I. This earth is the honey (madhu, the effect) of all beings,
and all beings are the honey (madhu, the effect) of this earth. Likewise this
bright, immortal person in this earth, and that bright immortal person
incorporated in the body (both are madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self,
that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
2. This water is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this water. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this water,
and that bright, immortal person, existing as seed in the body (both are madhu).
He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
3. This fire is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this fire. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this fire, and
that bright, immortal person, existing as speech in the body (both are madhu).
He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
4. This air is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this air. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this air, and
that bright, immortal person existing as breath in the body (both are madhu). He
indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
5. This sun is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this sun. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this sun, and
that bright, immortal person existing as the eye in the body (both are madhu).
He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
6. This space (disah, the quarters) is the honey of all
beings, and all beings are the honey of this space. Likewise this bright,
immortal person in this space, and that bright, immortal person existing as the
ear in the body (both are madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that
Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
7. This moon is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this moon. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this moon, and
that bright, immortal person existing as mind in the body (both are madhu). He
indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
8. This lightning is the honey of all beings, and all beings
are the honey of this lightning. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this
lightning, and that bright, immortal person existing as light in the body (both
are madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman,
that All.
9. This thunder is the honey of all beings, and all beings
are the honey of this thunder. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this
thunder, and that bright, immortal person existing as sound and voice in the
body (both are madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that
Brahman, that All.
10. This ether is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this ether. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this ether,
and that bright, immortal person existing as heart-ether in the body (both are
madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that
All.
11. This law (dharmah) is the honey of all beings, and all
beings are the honey of this law. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this
law, and that bright, immortal person existing as law in the body (both are
madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that
All.
12. This true (satyam) is the honey of all beings, and all
beings are the honey of this true. Likewise this bright, immortal person in what
is true, and that bright, immortal person existing as the true in the body (both
are madhu). He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman,
that All.
13. This mankind is the honey of all beings, and all beings
are the honey of this mankind. Likewise this bright, immortal person in mankind,
and that bright, immortal person existing as man in the body (both are madhu).
He indeed is the same as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
14. This Self is the honey of all beings, and all beings are
the honey of this Self. Likewise this bright, immortal person in this Self, and
that bright, immortal person, the Self (both are madhu). He indeed is the same
as that Self, that Immortal, that Brahman, that All.
15. And verily this Self is the lord of all beings, the king
of all beings. And as all spokes are contained in the axle and in the felly of a
wheel, all beings, and all those selfs (of the earth, water, &c.) are
contained in that Self.
16. Verily Dadhyak Atharvana proclaimed this honey (the
madhu-vidya) to the two Asvins, and a Rishi, seeing this, said (Rv. I, 116, 12):
'O ye two heroes (Asvins), I make manifest that fearful deed
of yours (which you performed) for the sake of gain', like as thunder makes
manifest the rain. The honey (madhu-vidya) which Dadhyak Atharvana proclaimed to
you through the head of a horse,' . . .
17. Verily Dadhyak Atharvana proclaimed this honey to the two
Asvins, and a Rishi, seeing this, said (Rv. I, 117, 22):
'O Asvins, you fixed a horse's head on Atharvana Dadhyak, and
he, wishing to be true (to his promise), proclaimed to you the honey, both that
of Tvashiri and that which is to be your secret, O ye strong ones.
18. Verily Dadhyak Atharvana proclaimed this honey to the two
Asvins, and a Rishi, seeing this, said:
'He (the Lord) made bodies with two feet, he made bodies with
four feet. Having first become a bird, he entered the bodies as purusha (as the
person).' This very purusha is in all bodies the purisaya, i.e. he who lies in
the body (and is therefore called purusha). There is nothing that is not covered
by him, nothing that is not filled by him.
19. Verily Dadhyak Atharvana proclaimed this honey to the two
Asvins, and a Rishi, seeing this, said (Rv. VI, 47, 18):
'He (the Lord) became like unto every form, and this is meant
to reveal the (true) form of him (the Atman). Indra (the Lord) appears multiform
through the mayas (appearances), for his horses (senses) are yoked, hundreds and
ten.'
This (Atman) is the horses, this (Atman) is the ten, and the
thousands, many and endless. This is the Brahman, without cause and without
effect, without anything inside or outside; this Self is Brahman, omnipresent
and omniscient. This is the teaching (of the Upanishads).
SIXTH BRAHMANA
1. Now follows the stem:
1 Pautimashya from Gaupavana,
2. Gaupavana from Pautimashya,
3 Pautimashya from Gaupavana,
4. Gaupavana from Kausika,
5. Kausika from Kaundinya,
6. Kaundinya from Sandilya,
7. Sandilya from Kausika and Gautama,
8. Gautama,
2. from Agnivesya,
9. Agnivesya from Sandilya and Anabhimlata,
10. Sandilya and Anabhimlata from Anabhimlata,
11. Anabhimlata from Anabhimlata,
12. Anabhimliata from Gautama,
13. Gautama from Saitava and Prakinayogya,
14. Saitava and Prakinayogya from Parasarya,
15. Parasarya from Bharadvaga,
16. Bharadvaga from Bharadvaga and Gautama,
17. Gautama from Bharadvaga,
18. Bharadvaga from Parasarya,
19. Parasarya from Vaigavapayana,
20. Vaigavapayana from Kausikayani,
21. Kausikayani
3. from Ghritakausika,
22. Ghritakausika from Parasaryayana,
23. Parasaryayana from Parasarya,
24. Parasarya from Gatukarnya,
25. Gatukarnya from Asurayana and Yaska
26. Asurayana and Yaska from Traivani,
27. Traivani from Aupagandhani,
28. Aupagandhani from Asuri,
29. Asuri from Bharadvaga,
30. Bharadvaga from Atreya,
31. Atreya from Manti,
32. Manti from Gautama,
33.. Gautama from Gautama,
34. Gautama from Vatsya,
35. Vatsya from Sandilya,
36. Sandilya from Kaisorya Kapya,
37. Kaisorya Kapya from Kumaraharita,
38. Kumaraharita from Galava,
39. Galava from Vidarbhi-kaundinya,
40. Vidarbi- kaundinya from Vatsanapat Babhrava,
41. Vatsanapat Babhrava from Pathi Saubhara,
42. Pathi Saubhara from Ayasya Angirasa,
43. Ayasya Angirasa from Abhuti Tvashtra,
44. Abhuti Tvashtra from Visvarupa Tvashtra,
45. Visvarupa Tvashtra from Asvinau,
46. Asvinau from Dadhyak Atharvana,
47. Dadhyak Atharvana from Atharvan Daiva,
48. Atharvan Daiva from Mrityu Pradhvamsana,
49. Mrityu Pradhvamsana from Pradhvamsana,
50. Pradhvamsana from Ekarshi,
51. Ekarshi from Viprakitti
52. Viprakitti from Vyashti,
53. Vyashti from Sanaru,
54. Sanaru from Sanatana,
55. Sanatana from Sanaga,
56. Sanaga from Parameshthin
57. Parameshthin from Brahman,
58. Brahman is Svayambhu, self-existent.
Adoration to Brahman.
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THIRD ADHYAYA 
FIRST BRAHMANA
Adoration to the Highest Self (Paramatman)!
1. Ganaka Vaideha (the king of the Videhas) sacrificed with a
sacrifice at which many presents were offered to the priests of (theAsvamedha).
Brahmanas of the Kurus and the Paikalas had come thither, and Ganaka Vaideha
wished to know, which of those Brahmanas was the best read. So he enclosed a
thousand cows, and ten padas (of gold) were fastened to each pair of horns.
2. And Ganaka spoke to them: 'Ye venerable Brahmanas, he who
among you is the wisest, let him drive away these cows.'
Then those Brahmanas durst not, but Yagnavalkya said to his
pupil: 'Drive them away, my dear.'
He replied: 'O glory of the Saman,' and drove them away.
The Brahmanas became angry and said: 'How could he call
himself the wisest among us?'
Now there was Asvala, the Hotri priest of Ganaka Vaideha. He
asked him: 'Are you indeed the wisest among us, O Yagnavalkya?' He replied: 'I
bow before the wisest (the best knower of Brahman), but I wish indeed to have
these cows.'
Then Asvala, the Hotri priest, undertook to question him.
3. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'everything here (connected with
the sacrifice) is reached by death, everything is overcome by death. By what
means then is the sacrificer freed beyond the reach of death?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'By the Hotri priest, who is Agni (fire),
who is speech. For speech is the Hotri of the sacrifice (or the sacrificer), and
speech is Agni, and he is the Hotri. This constitutes freedom, and perfect
freedom (from death).'
4. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'everything here is reached by day
and night, everything is overcome by day and night. By what means then is the
sacrificer freed beyond the reach of day and night?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'By the Adhvaryu priest, who is the eye,
who is Aditya (the sun)'. For the eye is the Adhvaryu of the sacrifice, and the
eye is the sun, and he is the Adhvaryu. This constitutes freedom, and perfect
freedom.'
5. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'everything here is reached by the
waxing and waning of the moon, everything is overcome by the waxing and waning
of the moon. By what means then is the sacrificer freed beyond the reach of the
waxing and waning of the moon?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'By the Udgatri priest, who is vayu (the
wind), who is the breath. For the breath is the Udgatri of the sacrifice, and
the breath is the wind, and he is the Udgatri. This constitutes freedom, and
perfect freedom.'
6. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'this sky is, as it were, without
an ascent (staircase.) By what approach does the sacrificer approach the Svarga
world?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'By the Brahman priest, who is the mind
(manas), who is the moon. For the mind is the Brahman of the sacrifice, and the
mind is the moon, and he is the Brahman. This constitutes freedom, and perfect
freedom. These are the complete deliverances (from death).'
Next follow the achievements.
7. 'Yagnavalkya,'he said,'how many Rik verses will the Hotri
priest employ to-day at this sacrifice?'
'Three,' replied Yagnavalkya.
'And what are these three?'
'Those which are called Puronuvakya, Yagya, and, thirdly,
Sasya.'
'What does he gain by them?'
'All whatsoever has breath.'
8. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'how many oblations (ahuti) will
the Adhvaryu priest employ to-day at this sacrifice?'
'Three,'replied Yagnavalkya.
'And what are these three?'
'Those which,when offered, flame up; those which, when
offered, make an excessive noise; and those which, when offered, sink down.'
'What does he gain by thern?'
'By those which, when offered, flame up, he gains the Deva
(god) world, for the Deva world flames up, as it were. By those which, when
offered, make an excessive noise, he gains the Pitri (father) world, for the
Pitri world is excessively (noisy). By those which, when offered, sink down, he
gains the Manushya (man) world, for the Manushya world is, as it were, down
below.'
9. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'with how many deities does the
Brahman priest on the right protect to-day this sacrifice?'
'By one,' replied Yagnavalkya.
'And which is it?'
'The mind alone; for the mind is endless, and the Visvedevas
are endless, and he thereby gains the endless world.'
10. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'how many Stotriya hymns will the
Udgatri priest employ to-day at this sacrifice?'
'Three,'replied Yagnavalkya.
'And what are these three?'
'Those which are called Puronuvakya, Yagya, and, thirdly,
Sasya.'
'And what are these with regard to the body (adhyatmam)?'
'The Puronuvakya is Prana (up-breathing), the Yagya the Apana
(down-breathing), the Sasya the Vyana (back-breathing).'
'What does he gain by them?'
'He gains the earth by the Puronuvakya, the sky by the Yagya,
heaven by the Sasya.'
After that Asvala held his peace.
SECOND BRAHMANA
1. Then Garatkarava Artabhaga asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said,
'how many Grahas are there, and how many Atigrahas?'
'Eight Grahas,' he replied, 'and eight Atigrahas.'
'And what are these eight Grahas and eight Atigrahas?'
2. 'Prana (breath) is one Graha, and that is seized by Apana
(down-breathing) as the Atigraha, for one smells with the Apana.'
3. 'Speech (vak) is one Graha, and that is seized by name (naman)
as the Atigraha, for with speech one pronounces names.
4. 'The tongue is one Graha, and that is seized by taste as
the Atigraha, for with the tongue one perceives tastes.'
5. 'The eye is one Graha, and that is seized by form as the
Atigraha, for with the eye one sees forms.'
6. 'The car is one Graha, and that is seized by sound as the
Atigraha, for with the ear one hears sounds.'
7. 'The mind is one Graha, and that is seized by desire as
the Atigraha, for with the mind one desires desires.'
8. 'The arms are one Graha, and these are seized by work as
the Atigraha, for with the arms one works work.'
9. 'The skin is one Graha, and that is seized by touch as the
Atigraha, for with the skin one perceives touch. These are the eight Grahas and
the eight Atigrahas.'
10. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'everything is the food of death.
What then is the deity to whom death is food?'
'Fire (agni) is death, and that is the food of water. Death
is conquered again.'
11. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'when such a person (a sage)
dies, do the vital breaths (pranas) move out of him or no?'
'No,'replied Yagnavalkya; 'they are gathered up in him, he
swells, he is inflated, and thus inflated the dead lies at rest.'
12. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'when such a man dies, what does
not leave him?'
'The name,' he replied; 'for the name is endless, the
Visvedevas are endless, and by it he gains the endless world.'
13. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said,'when the speech of this dead
person enters into the fire', breath into the air, the eye into the sun, the
mind into the moon, the hearing into space, into the earth the body, into the
ether the self, into the shrubs the hairs of the body, into the trees the hairs
of the head, when the blood and the seed are deposited in the water, where is
then that person?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Take my hand, my friend. We two alone
shall know of this; let this question of ours not be (discussed) in public.'
Then these two went out and argued, and what they said was karman (work), what
they praised was karman, viz. that a man becomes good by good work, and bad by
bad work. After that Garatkarava Artabhaga held his peace.
THIRD BRAHMANA
1. Then Bhugyu Lahyayani asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'we
wandered about as students, and came to the house of Patanikala Kapya. He had a
daughter who was possessed by a Gandharva. We asked him,'Who art thou?' and he
(the Gandharva) replied: 'I am Sudhanvan, the Angirasa.' And when we asked him
about the ends of the world, we said to him, 'Where were the Parikshitas? Where
then were the Parikshitas, I ask thee, Yagnavalkya, where were the Parikshitas?'
2. Yagnavalkya said: 'He said to thee, I suppose, that they
went where those go who have performed a horse-sacrifice.'
He said: 'And where do they go who have performed a
horse-sacrifice?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Thirty-two journeys of the car of the
sun is this world. The earth surrounds it on every side, twice as large, and the
ocean surrounds this earth on every side, twice as large. Now there is between'
them a space as large as the edge of a razor or the wing of a mosquito. Indra,
having become a bird, handed them (through the space) to Vayu (the air), and
vayu (the air), holding them within himself, conveyed them to where they dwell
who have performed a horse-sacrifice. Somewhat in this way did he praise vayu
indeed. Therefore vayu (air) is everything by itself, and Vayu is all things
together. He who knows this, conquers death.' After that Bhugyu Lahyayani held
his peace.
FOURTH BRAHMANA
1. Then Ushasta Kakrayana asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said,
'tell me the Brahman which is visible, not invisible, the Self (atman), who is
within all.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'This, thy Self, who is within all.'
'Which Self, O Yagnavalkya, is within all?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'He who breathes in the up-breathing, he
is thy Self, and within all. He who breathes in the down-breathing, he is thy
Self, and within all. He who breathes in the on-breathing, he is thy Self, and
within all. He who breathes in the out-breathing, he is thy Self, and within
all. This is thy Self, who is within all.'
2. Ushasta Kakrayana said: 'As one might say, this is a cow,
this is a horse, thus has this been explained by thee. Tell me the Brahman which
is visible, not invisible, the Self, who is within all.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'This, thy Self, who is within all.'
'Which Self, O Yagnavalkya, is within all?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Thou couldst not see the (true) seer of
sight, thou couldst not hear the (true) hearer of hearing, nor perceive the
perceiver of perception, nor know the knower of knowledge. This is thy Self, who
is within all. Everything also is of evil.' After that Ushasta Kakrayana held
his peace.
F1FTH BRAHMANA
1.Then Kahola Kaushitakeya asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said,
'tell me the Brahman which is visible, not invisible, the Self (atman), who is
within all.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'This, thy Self, who is within all.'
'Which Self, O Yagnavalkya, is within all?'
Yagnavalkya replied: ' He who overcomes hunger and thirst '
sorrow, passion, old age, and death. When Brahmanas know that Self, and have
risen above the desire for sons, wealth, and (new) worlds, they wander about as
mendicants. For a desire for sons is desire for wealth, a desire for wealth is
desire for worlds. Both these are indeed desires. Therefore let a Brahmana,
after he has done with learning, wish to stand by real strength; after he has
done with that strength and learning, he becomes a Muni (a Yogin); and after he
has done with what is not the knowledge of a Muni, and with what is the
knowledge of a Muni, he is a Brahmana. By whatever means he has become a
Brahmana, he is such indeed. Everything else is of evil.' After that Kahola
Kaushitakeya held his peace.
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SIXTH BRAHMANA
1. Then Gargi Vakaknavi asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' she said,
'everything here is woven, like warp and woof, in water. What then is that in
which water is woven, like warp and woof?
'In air, O Gargi, 'he replied.
'In what then is air woven, like warp and woof?'
'In the worlds of the sky, O Gargi,'he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of the sky woven, like warp and
woof?'
'In the worlds of the Gandharvas, O Gargi,' he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of the Gandharvas woven, like
warp and woof?'
'In the worlds of Aditya (sun), O Gargi,'he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of Aditya (sun) woven, like warp
and woof?'
'In the worlds of Kandra (moon), O Gargi,' he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of Kandra (moon) woven, like
warp and woof?'
'In the worlds of the Nakshatras (stars), O Gargi,' he
replied.
'In what then are the worlds of the Nakshatras (stars) woven,
like warp and woof?'
'In the worlds of the Devas (gods), O Gargi,' he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of the Devas (gods) woven, like
warp and woof?'
'In the worlds of Indra, O Gargi,'he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of Indra woven, like warp and
woof?'
'In the worlds of Pragapati, O Gargi,'he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of Pragapati woven, like warp
and woof?'
'In the worlds of Brahman, O Gargi: he replied.
'In what then are the worlds of Brahman woven, like warp and
woof?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'O Gargi, Do not ask too much, lest thy
head should fall off. Thou askest too much about a deity about which we are not
to ask too much. Do not ask too much, O Gargi.' After that Gargi Vakaknavi held
her peace.
SEVENTH BRAHMANA
1.Then Uddalaka Aruni asked. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'we
dwelt among the Madras in the houses of Patankala Kapya, studying the sacrifice.
His wife was possessed of a Gandharva, and we asked him: "Who art
thou?" He answered: "I am Kabandha Atharvana." And he said to
Patankala Kapya and to (us) students: " Dost thou know, Kapya, that thread
by which this world and the other world, and all beings are strung
together?" And Patankala Kapya replied: "I do not know it, Sir."
He said again to Patankala Kapya and to (us) students: "Dost thou know,
Kapya, that puller (ruler) within (antaryamin), who within pulls (rules) this
world and the other world and all beings?" And Patankala Kapya replied:
"I do not know it, Sir." He said again to Patankala Kapya and to (us)
students: "He, O Kapya, who knows that thread and him who pulls (it)
within, he knows Brahman, he knows the worlds, he knows the Devas, he knows the
Vedas, he knows the Bhutas (creatures), he knows the Self, he knows
everything." Thus did he (the Gandharva) say to them, and I know it. If
thou, O Yagnavalkya, without knowing that string and the puller within, drivest
away those Brahma-cows (the cows offered as a prize to him who best knows
Brahman), thy head will fall off.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'O Gautama, I believe I know that thread
and the puller within.'
The other said: 'Anybody may say, I know, I know. Tell what
thou knowest.'
2. Yagnavalkya said: vayu (air) is that thread, O Gautama. By
air, as by a thread, O Gautama, this world and the other world, and all
creatures are strung together. Therefore, O Gautama, people say of a dead person
that his limbs have become unstrung; for by air, as by a thread, O Gautama, they
were strung together.'
The other said: 'So it is, O Yagnavalkya. Tell now (who is)
the puller within.'
3. Yagnavalkya said: 'He who dwells in the earth, and within
the earth', whom the earth does not know, whose body the earth is, and who pulls
(rules) the earth within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
4. 'He who dwells in the water, and within the water, whom
the water does not know, whose body the water is, and who pulls (rules) the
water within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
5. 'He who dwells in the fire, and within the fire, whom the
fire does not know, whose body the fire is, and who pulls (rules) the fire
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
6. 'He who dwells in the sky, and within the sky, whom the
sky does not know, whose body the sky is, and who pulls (rules) the sky within,
he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
7. 'He who dwells in the air (vayu), and within the air, whom
the air does not know, whose body the air is, and who pulls (rules) the air
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
8. 'He who dwells in the heaven (dyu), and within the heaven,
whom the heaven does not know, whose body the heaven is, and who pulls (rules)
the heaven within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
9. 'He who dwells in the sun (aditya), and within the sun,
whom the sun does not know, whose body the sun is, and who pulls (rules) the sun
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
10. 'He who dwells in the space (disah), and within the
space, whom the space does not know, whose body the space is, and who pulls
(rules) the space within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
11. 'He who dwells in the moon and stars (kandra-tarakam),
and within the moon and stars, whom the moon and stars do not know, whose body
the moon and stars are, and who pulls (rules) the moon and stars within, he is
thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
12. 'He who dwells in the ether (akasa), and within the
ether, whom the ether does not know, whose body the ether is, and who pulls
(rules) the ether within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
13. 'He who dwells in the darkness (tamas), and within the
darkness, whom the darkness does not know, whose body the darkness is, and who
pulls (rules) the darkness within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within,
the immortal.'
14. 'He who dwells in the light (tegas), and within the
light, whom the light does not know, whose body the light is, and who pulls
(rules) the light within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
So far with respect to the gods (adhidaivatam); now with
respect to beings (adhibhutam).
15. Yagnavalkya said: 'He who dwells in all beings, and
within all beings, whom all beings do not know, whose body all beings are, and
who pulls (rules) all beings within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within,
the immortal.'
16. 'He who dwells in the breath (prina), and within the
breath, whom the breath does not know, whose body the breath is, and who pulls
(rules) the breath within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
17. 'He who dwells in the tongue (vak), and within the
tongue, whom the tongue does not know, whose body the tongue is, and who pulls
(rules) the tongue within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the
immortal.'
18. 'He who dwells in the eye, and within the eye, whom the
eye does not know, whose body the eye is, and who pulls (rules) the eye within,
he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
19. 'He who dwells in the ear, and within the ear, whom the
ear does not know, whose body the ear is, and who pulls (rules) the car within,
he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
20. 'He who dwells in the mind, and within the mind, whom the
mind does not know, whose body the mind is, and who pulls (rules) the mind
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
21. 'He who dwells in the skin, and within the skin, whom the
skin does not know, whose body the skin is, and who pulls (rules) the skin
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
22. 'He who dwells in knowledge', and within knowledge, whom
knowledge does not know, whose body knowledge is, and who pulls (rules)
knowledge within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal.'
23. 'He who dwells in the seed, and within the seed, whom the
seed does not know, whose body the seed is, and who pulls (rules) the seed
within, he is thy Self, the puller (ruler) within, the immortal; unseen, but
seeing; unheard, but hearing; unperceived, but perceiving; unknown, but knowing.
There is no other seer but he, there is no other hearer but he, there is no
other perceiver but he, there is no other knower but he. This is thy Self, the
ruler within, the immortal. Everything else is of evil.' After that Uddalaka
Aruni held his peace.
EIGHTH BRAHMANA
1. Then Vakaknavi said: 'Venerable Brahmanas, I shall ask him
two questions. If he will answer them, none of you, I think, will defeat him in
any argument concerning Brahman'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Ask, O Gargi.'
2. She said: 'O Yagnavalkya, as the son of a warrior from the
Kasis or Videhas might string his loosened bow, take two pointed foe-piercing
arrows in his hand and rise to do battle, I have risen to fight thee with two
questions. Answer me these questions.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Ask, O Gargi.'
3. She said: 'OYagnavalkya, that of which they say that it is
above the heavens, beneath the earth, embracing heaven and earth, past, present,
and future, tell me in what is it woven, like warp and woof?'
4. Yagnavalkya said: 'That of which they say that it is above
the heavens, beneath the earth, embracing heaven and earth, past, present, and
future, that is woven, like warp and woof, in the ether (akasa).'
5. She said: 'I bow to thee, O Yagnavalkya, who hast solved
me that question. Get thee ready for the second.'
Yagnavalkya said': 'Ask, O Gargi.'
6. She said: 'O Yagnavalkya, that of which they say that it
is above the heavens, beneath the earth, embracing heaven and earth, past,
present, and future, tell me in what is it woven, like warp and woof?'
7. Yagnavalkya said: 'That of which they say that it is above
the heavens, beneath the earth, embracing heaven and earth, past, present, and
future, that is woven, like warp and woof, in the ether.'
Gargi said: 'In what then is the ether woven, like warp and
woof?'
8. He said: 'O Gargi, the Brahmanas call this the Akshara
(the imperishable). It is neither coarse nor fine, neither short nor long,
neither red (like fire) nor fluid (like water); it is without shadow, without
darkness, without air, without ether, without attachment, without taste, without
smell, without eyes, without ears, without speech, without mind, without light (vigour),
without breath, without a mouth (or door), without measure, having no within and
no without, it devours nothing, and no one devours it.'
9. 'By the command of that Akshara (the imperishable), O
Gargi, sun and moon stand apart 2. By the command of that Akshara, O Gargi,
heaven and earth stand apart. By the command of that Akshara, O Gargi, what are
called moments (nimesha), hours (muhurta), days and nights, halfmonths, months,
seasons, years, all stand apart. By the command of that Akshara, O Gargi, some
rivers flow to the East from the white mountains, others to the West, or to any
other quarter. By the command of that Akshara, O Gargi, men praise those who
give, the gods follow the sacrificer, the fathers the Darvi-offering.'
10. 'Whosoever, O Gargi, without knowing that Akshara (the
imperishable), offers oblations in this world, sacrifices, and performs penance
for a thousand years, his work will have an end. Whosoever, O Gargi, without
knowing this Akshara, departs this world, he is miserable (like a slave). But
he, O Gargi, who departs this world, knowing this Akshara, he is a Brahmana.'
11. 'That Brahman,' O Gargi, 'is unseen, but seeing; unheard,
but hearing; unperceived, but perceiving; unknown, but knowing. There is nothing
that sees but it, nothing that hears but it, nothing that perceives but it,
nothing that knows but it. In that Akshara then, O Gargi, the ether is woven,
like warp and woof.'
12. Then said Gargi: 'Venerable Brahmans, you may consider it
a great thing, if you get off by bowing before him. No one, I believe, will
defeat him in any argument concerning Brahman.' After that Vakaknavi held her
peace.
NINTH BRAHMANA
1. Then Vidagdha Sakalya asked him: 'How many gods are there,
O Yagnavalkya?' He replied with this very Nivid: 'As many as are mentioned in
the Nivid of the hymn of praise addressed to the Visvedevas, viz. three and
three hundred, three and three thousand.'
'Yes,' he said, and asked again: 'How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'Thirty-three,' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked again How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'Six,' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked again:' How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'Three,' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked again: 'How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'Two,' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked again:'How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'One and a half (adhyardha),' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked again: 'How many gods are there
really, O Yagnavalkya?'
'One,' he said.
'Yes,' he said, and asked: 'Who are these three and three
hundred, three and three thousand?'
2. Yagnavalkya replied: 'They are only the various powers of
them, in reality there are only thirty-three gods.'
He asked: 'Who are those thirty-three?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The eight Vasus,the eleven Rudras, the
twelve Adityas. They make thirty-one, and Indra and Pragapati make the
thirty-three.'
3. He asked: 'Who are the Vasus.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Agni (fire), Prithivi (earth), Vayu
(air), Antariksha (sky), Aditya (sun), Dyu (heaven), Kandramas (moon), the
Nakshatras (stars), these are the Vasus, for in them all that dwells (this
world) rests; and therefore they are called Vasus.'
4. He asked: 'Who are the Rudras?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'These ten vital breaths (pranas, the
senses, i. e. the five gnanendriyas, and the five karmendriyas), and Atman, as
the eleventh. When they depart from this mortal body, they make us cry
(rodayanti), and because they make us cry, they are called Rudras.'
5. He asked: 'Who are the Adityas?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The twelve months of the year, and they
are Adityas, because they move along (yanti), taking up everything (adadanah).
Because they move along, taking up everything, therefore they are called
Adityas.'
6. He asked: 'And who is Indra, and who is Pragapati?'
Yagnavalkya replied:' Indra is thunder, Pragapati is the
sacrifice.'
He asked: 'And what is the thunder?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The thunderbolt.'
He asked: 'And what is the sacrifice?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The (sacrificial) animals.'
7. He asked: 'Who are the six?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Agni (fire), Prithivi (earth), Vayu
(air), Antariksha (sky), Aditya (sun), Dyu (heaven), they are the six, for they
are all this, the six.'
8. He asked: 'Who are the three gods?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'These three worlds, for in them all
these gods exist.'
He asked: 'Who are the two gods?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Food and breath.'
He asked: 'Who is the one god and a half?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'He that blows.'
9. Here they say: 'How is it that he who blows like one only,
should be called one and a half (adhyardha)?' And the answer is: 'Because, when
the wind was blowing, everything grew (adhyardhnot).'
He asked: 'Who is the one god?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Breath (prana), and he is Brahman (the
Sutratman), and they call him That (tyad).'
10. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person (or god) whose
dwelling (body) is the earth, whose sight (world) is fire', whose mind is
light,-the principle of every (living) self, he indeed is a teacher, O
Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'I know that person, the principle of every
self, of whom thou speakest. This corporeal (material, earthy) person, "he
is he." But tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata (deity)?'
Sakalya replied: 'The Immortal.'
11. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
is love (a body capable of sensual love), whose sight is the heart, whose mind
is light,the principle of every self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. This love-made (loving) person, he is
he." But tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'The women.'
12. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
are the colours, whose sight is the eye, whose mind is light,-the principle of
every self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. That person in the sun, he is he." But
tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'The True.'
13. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
is ether, whose sight is the ear, whose mind is light,-the principle of every
self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. The person who hears and answers, "he is
he." But tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'Space.'
14. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
is darkness, whose sight is the heart, whose mind is light,-the principle of
every self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. The shadowy person, he is he." But tell
me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'Death.'
15. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
are (bright) colours, whose sight is the eye, whose mind is light,-the principle
of every self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. The person in the looking-glass, " he is
he." But tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'Vital breath' (asu).
16. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
is water, whose sight is the heart, whose mind is light,-the principle of every
self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. The person in the water, " he is
he." But tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'Varuna.'
17. Sakalya said: 'Whosoever knows that person whose dwelling
is seed, whose sight is the heart, whose mind is light,-the principle of every
self, he indeed is a teacher, O Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'I know that person, the principle of
every self, of whom thou speakest. The filial person, " he is he." But
tell me, Sakalya, who is his devata?'
Sakalya replied: 'Pragapati.'
18. Yagnavalkya said: 'Sakalya, did those Brahmanas (who
themselves shrank from the contest) make thee the victim?'
Sakalya said: 'Yagnavalkya, because thou hast decried the
Brahmanas of the Kuru-Pankalas, what Brahman dost thou know?'
19. Yagnavalkya said: 'I know the quarters with their deities
and their abodes.'
Sakalya said: 'If thou knowest the quarters with their
deities and their abodes,
20. 'Which is thy deity in the Eastern quarter?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Aditya (the sun).'
Sakalya said: 'In what does that Aditya abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the eye.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the eye abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the colours, for with the eye he sees
the colours.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what then do the colours abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the heart, for we know colours by the
heart, for colours abide in the heart.'
Sakalya said: 'So it is indeed, O Yagnavalkya.'
21. Sakalya said: 'Which is thy deity in the Southern
quarter?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Yama.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does that Yama abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the sacrifice.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the sacrifice abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the Dakshina (the gifts to be given to
the priests).'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the Dakshina abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In Sraddha (faith), for if a man believes,
then he gives Dakshina, and Dakshina truly abides in faith.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what then does faith abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the heart, for by the heart faith
knows, and therefore faith abides in the heart.'
Sakalya said: 'So it is indeed, O Yagnavalkya.'
22. Sakalya said: 'Which is thy deity in the Western
quarter?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Varuna.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does that Varuna abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the water.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the water abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the seed.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what does the seed abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the heart. And therefore also they say
of a son who is like his father, that he seems as if slipt from his heart, or
made from his heart; for the seed abides in the heart.'
Sakalya said: 'So it is indeed, O Yagnavalkya.'
23. Sakalya said: 'Which is thy deity in the Northern
quarter?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Soma.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does that Soma abide?'
Yagnavalkya said:'In the Diksha.'
Sakalya said:'In what does the Diksha abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the True; and therefore they say to one
who has performed the Diksha, Speak what is true, for in the True indeed the
Diksha abides.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what does the True abide?' Yagnavalkya
said: 'In the heart, for with the heart do we know what is true, and in the
heart indeed the True abides.'
Sakalya said: 'So it is indeed, O Yagnavalkya.'
24. Sakalya said: 'Which is thy deity in the zenith?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Agni.'
Sakalya said: 'In what does that Agni abide.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In speech.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what does speech abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the heart.'
Sakalya said: 'And in what does the heart abide?'
25. Yagnavalkya said: 'O Ahallika, when you think the heart
could be anywhere else away from us, if it were away from us, the dogs might eat
it, or the birds tear it.'
26. Sakalya said: 'And in what dost thou (thy body) and the
Self (thy heart) abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the Prana (breath).'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the Prana abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the Apana (down-breathing).'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the Apana abide?'
Yagnavalkya said:'In theVyana (back-breathing).'
Sakalya said: 'In what does the Vyana-abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the Udana (the out-breathing).'
Sakalya said:'In what does the Udana abide?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'In the Samana. That Self (atman) is to be
described by No, no! He is incomprehensible, for he cannot be (is not)
comprehended; he is imperishable, for he cannot perish; he is unattached, for he
does not attach himself; unfettered, he does not suffer, he does not fail.'
'These are the eight abodes (the earth, &c.), the eight
worlds (fire, &c.), the eight gods (the immortal food, &c.), the eight
persons (the corporeal, &c.) He who after dividing and uniting these
persons, went beyond (the Samana), that person, taught in the Upanishads, I now
ask thee (to teach me). If thou shalt not explain him to me, thy head will
fall.'
Sakalya did not know him, and his head fell, nay, thieves
took away his bones, mistaking them for something else.
27. Then Yagnavalkya said: 'Reverend Brahmanas, whosoever
among you desires to do so, may now question me. Or question me, all of you. Or
whosoever among you desires it, I shall question him, or I shall question all of
you.
But those Brahmanas durst not (say anything).
28. Then Yagnavalkya questioned them with these Slokas:
1. 'As a mighty tree in the forest, so in truth is man, his
hairs are the leaves, his outer skin is the bark.
2. 'From his skin flows forth blood, sap from the skin (of
the tree); and thus from the wounded man comes forth blood, as from a tree that
is struck.
3. 'The lumps of his flesh are (in the tree) the layers of
wood, the fibre is strong like the tendons. The bones are the (hard) wood
within, the marrow is made like the marrow of the tree.
4. 'But, while the tree, when felled, grows up again more
young from the root, from what root, tell me, does a mortal grow up, after he
has been felled by death?
5. 'Do not say, "from seed," for seed is produced
from the living; but a tree, springing from a grain, clearly rises again after
death.
6. 'If a tree is pulled up with the root, it will not grow
again; from what root then, tell me, does a mortal grow up, after he has been
felled by death?
7. 'Once born, he is not born (again); for who should create
him again?'
'Brahman, who is knowledge and bliss, he is the principle,
both to him who gives gifts, and also to him who stands firm, and knows.'
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FOURTH ADHYAYA 
FIRST BRAHMANA
1.When Ganaka Vaideha was sitting (to give audience),
Yagnavalkya approached, and Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Yagnavalkya, for what object
did you come, wishing for cattle, or for subtle questions?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'For both, Your Majesty;
2. 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Gitvan Sailini told me that speech
(vak) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Sailini tell you, that speech is
Brahman; for what is the use of a dumb person? But did he tell you the body
(ayatana) and the resting-place (pratishtha) of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'The tongue is its body, ether its place,
and one should worship it as knowledge.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that knowledge?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, speech itself (is
knowledge). For through speech, Your Majesty, a friend is known (to be a
friend), and likewise the Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Sama-veda, the Atharvangirasas,
the Itihasa (tradition), Purana-vidya (knowledge of the past), the Upanishads,
Slokas (verses), Sutras (rules), Anuvyakhyanas and Vyakhyanas (commentaries,
&c.); what is sacrificed, what is poured out, what is (to be) eaten and
drunk, this world and the other world, and all creatures. By speech alone,Your
Majesty, Brahman is known, speech indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Speech
does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all
creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
3. Yagnavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told
you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Udanka Saulbayana told me that life
(prana) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Udanka Saulbayana tell you that
life is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without life? But did he tell
you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
Ganaka, Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Breath is its body, ether its place, and
one should worship it as what is dear.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is
dear?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, life itself (is that
which is dear);' because for the sake of life, Your Majesty, a man sacrifices
even for him who is unworthy of sacrifice, he accepts presents from him who is
not worthy to bestow presents, nay, he goes to a country, even when there is
fear of being hurt, for the sake of life. Life, O King, is the Highest Brahman.
Life does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all
creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
4. Yagnavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told
you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Barku Varshna told me that sight
(kakshus) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Barku Varshna tell you that sight
is Brahman; for what is the use of a person who cannot see? But did he tell you
the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'The eye is its body, ether its place, and
one should worship it as what is true.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is
true?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, sight itself (is that
which is true); for if they say to a man who sees with his eye, "Didst thou
see?" and he says, "I saw," then it is true. Sight, O King, is
the Highest Brahman. Sight does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with
such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to
the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
5. Yagnavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told
you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Gardabhivibhtta Bharadvaga told me
that hearing (srotra) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Gardabhivibhita Bharadvaga tell
you that hearing is Brahman; for what is the use of a person who cannot hear?
But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'The ear is its body, ether its place, and
we should worship it as what is endless.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is
endless?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, space (disah) itself (is
that which is endless), and therefore to whatever space (quarter) he goes, he
never comes to the end of it. For space is endless. Space indeed, O King, is
hearing, and hearing indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Hearing does not
desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures
approach him, and having become god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
6. Yagnavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told
you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Satyakama Gabala told me that mind
(manas) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Satyakama Gabala tell you that
mind is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without mind? But did he tell
you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Mind itself is its body, ether its place,
and we should worship it as bliss.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of bliss?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, mind itself; for with the
mind does a man desire a woman, and a like son is born of her, and he is bliss.
Mind indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Mind does not desert him who
worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and
having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
7. Yagnavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told
you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Vidagdha Sakalya told me that the
heart (hridaya) is Brahman.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good)
father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Vidagdha Sakalya tell you that
the heart is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without a heart? But did
he tell you the body and the resting place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one
leg only.'
GanakaVaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yagnavalkya.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'The heart itself is its body, ether its
place, and we should worship it as certainty (sthiti).'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of certainty?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, the heart itself; for the
heart indeed, O King, is the body of all things, the heart is the restingmplace
of all things, for in the heart, O King, all things rest. The heart indeed, O
King, is the Highest Brahman. The heart does not desert him who worships that
(Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a
god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand
cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should
not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'
SECOND BRAHMANA
1.Ganaka Vaideha, descending from his throne, said: 'I bow to
you, O Yagnavalkya, teach me.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, as a man who wishes to make
a long journey, would furnish himself with a chariot or a ship, thus is your
mind well furnished by these Upanishads'. You are honourable, and wealthy, you
have learnt the Vedas and been told the Upanishads. Whither then will you go
when departing hence?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Sir, I do not know whither I shall go.'
Yagnavalkya said: 'Then I shall tell you this, whither you
will go.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Tell it, Sir.'
2. Yagnavalkya said: 'That person who is in the right eye, he
is called Indha, and him who is Indha they call indeed Indra mysteriously, for
the gods love what is mysterious, and dislike what is evident.
3. 'Now that which in the shape of a person is in the right
eye, is his wife, Virag. Their meeting place is the ether within the heart, and
their food the red lump within the heart. Again, their covering is that which is
like net-work within the heart, and the road on which they move (from sleep to
waking) is the artery that rises upwards from the heart. Like a hair divided
into a thousand parts, so are the veins of it, which are called Hita, placed
firmly within the heart. Through these indeed that (food) flows on flowing, and
he (the Taigusa) receives as it were purer food than the corporeal Self (the
Vaisvanara).
4. 'His (the Taigasa's) Eastern quarter are the pranas
(breath) which go to the East;
'His Southern quarter are the pranas which go to the South;
'His Western quarter are the pranas which go to the West;
'His Northern quarter are the praiias which go to the North;
'His Upper (Zenith) quarter are the pranas which go upward;
'His Lower (Nadir) quarter are the pranas which go downward;
'All the quarters are all the pranas. And he (the Atman in
that state) can only be described by No, no! He is incomprehensible, for he
cannot be comprehended; he is undecaying, for he cannot decay; he is not
attached, for he does not attach himself; he is unbound, he does not suffer, he
does not perish. O Ganaka, you have indeed reached fearlessness,'thus said
Yagnavalkya.
Then Ganaka said: 'May that fearlessness come to you also who
teachest us fearlessness. I bow to you. Here are the Videhas, and here am I (thy
slave).'
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THIRD BRAHMANA
1.Yagnavalkya came to Ganaka Vaideha, and he did not mean to
speak with him. But when formerly Ganaka Vaideha and Yagnavalkya had a
disputation on the Agnihotra, Yagnavalkya had granted him a boon, and he chose
(for a boon) that he might be free to ask him any question he liked. Yagnavalkya
granted it, and thus the King was the first to ask him a question.
2. 'Yagnavalkya,' he said, 'what is the light of man?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The sun, O King; for, having the sun
alone for his light, man sits, moves about, does his work, and returns.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'So indeed it is, O Yagnavalkya.'
3. Ganaka Vaideha said: 'When the sun has set, O Yagnavalkya,
what is then the light of man?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'The moon indeed is his light; for,
having the moon alone for his light, man sits, moves about, does his work, and
returns.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'So indeed it is, O Yagnavalkya.'
4. Ganaka Vaideha said: 'When the sun has set, O Yagnavalkya,
and the moon has set, what is the light of man?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'Fire indeed is his light; for, having
fire alone for his light, man sits, moves about, does his work, and returns.'
5. Ganaka Vaideha said: 'When the sun has set, O Yagnavalkya,
and the moon has set, and the fire is gone out, what is then the light of man?'
Yagnavalkya. replied: 'Sound indeed is his light; for, having
sound alone for his light, man sits, moves about, does his work, and returns.
Therefore, O King, when one cannot see even one's own hand, yet when a sound is
raised, one goes towards it.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'So indeed it is, O Yagnavalkya.'
6. Ganaka Vaideha said: 'When the sun has set, O Yagnavalkya,
and the moon has set, and the fire is gone out, and the sound hushed, what is
then the light of man?'
Yagnavalkya said: 'The Self indeed is his light; for, having
the Self alone as his light, man sits, moves about, does his work, and returns.'
7. Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Who is that Self?'
Yagnavalkya replied: 'He who is within the heart, surrounded
by the Pranas (senses), the person of light, consisting of knowledge. He,
remaining the same, wanders along the two worlds, as if thinking, as if moving.
During sleep (in dream) he transcends this world and all the forms of death (all
that falls under the sway of death, all that is perishable).
8. 'On being born that person, assuming his body, becomes
united with all evils; when he departs and dies, he leaves all evils behind.
9. 'And there are two states for that person, the one here in
this world, the other in the other world, and as a third an intermediate state,
the state of sleep. When in that intermediate state, he sees both those states
together, the one here in this world, and the other in the other world. Now
whatever his admission to the other world may be, having gained that admission,
he sees both the evils and the blessings.
'And when he falls asleep, then after having taken away with
him the material from the whole world, destroying and building it up again, he
sleeps (dreams) by his own light. In that state the person is self-illuminated.
10. 'There are no (real) chariots in that state, no horses,
no roads, but he himself sends forth (creates) chariots, horses, and roads.
There are no blessings there, no happiness, no joys, but he himself sends forth
(creates) blessings, happiness, and joys. There are no tanks there, no lakes, no
rivers, but he himself sends forth (creates) tanks, lakes, and rivers. He indeed
is the maker.
11. 'On this there are these verses:
'After having subdued by sleep all that belongs to the body,
he, not asleep himself, looks down upon the sleeping (senses). Having assumed
light, he goes again to his place, the golden person', the lonely bird. (1)
12. 'Guarding with the breath (prana, life) the lower nest,
the immortal moves away from the nest; that immortal one goes wherever he likes,
the golden person, the lonely bird. (2)
13. 'Going up and down in his dream, the god makes manifold
shapes for himself, either rejoicing together with women, or laughing (with his
friends), or seeing terrible sights. (3)
14. 'People may see his playground but himself no one ever
sees. Therefore they say, Let no one wake a man suddenly, for it is not easy to
remedy, if he does not get back (rightly to his body)."
'Here some people (object and) say: "No, this (sleep) is
the same as the place of waking, for what he sees while awake, that only he sees
when asleep."
No, here (in sleep) the person is self-illuminated (as we
explained before).'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I give you, Sir, a thousand. Speak on
for the sake of (my) emancipation.'
15. Yagnavalkya said: 'That (person) having enjoyed himself
in that state of bliss (samprasada, deep sleep), having moved about and seen
both good and evil, hastens back again as he came, to the place from which he
started (the place of sleep), to dream. And whatever he may have seen there, he
is not followed (affected) by it, for that person is not attached to anything.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'So it is indeed, Yagnavalkya. I give
you, Sir, a thousand. Speak on for the sake of emancipation.'
16. Yagnavalkya said: 'That (person) having enjoyed himself
in that sleep (dream), having moved about and seen both good and evil, hastens
back again as he came, to the place from which he started, to be awake. And
whatever he may have seen there, he is not followed (affected) by it, for that
person is not attached to anything.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'So it is indeed, Yagnavalkya. I give
you, Sir, a thousand. Speak on for the sake of emancipation.'
17. Yagnavalkya said: 'That (person) having enjoyed himself
in that state of waking, having moved about and seen both good and evil, hastens
back again as he came, to the place from which he started, to the state of
sleeping (dream).
18. 'In fact, as a large fish moves along the two banks of a
river, the right and the left, so does that person move along these two states,
the state of sleeping and the state of waking.
19. 'And as a falcon, or any other (swift) bird, after he has
roamed about here in the air, becomes tired, and folding his wings is carried to
his nest, so does that person hasten to that state where, when asleep, he
desires no more desires, and dreams no more dreams.
20. 'There are in his body the veins called Hita, which are
as small as a hair divided a thousandfold, full of white, blue, yellow, green,
and red'. Now when, as it were, they kill him, when, as it were, they overcome
him, when, as it were, an elephant chases him, when, as it were, he falls into a
well, he fancies, through ignorance, that danger which he (commonly) sees in
waking. But when he fancies that he is, as it were, a god, or that he is, as it
were, a king, or " I am this altogether," that is his highest world.
21. 'This indeed is his (true) form, free from desires, free
from evil, free from fear. Now as a man, when embraced by a beloved wife, knows
nothing that is without, nothing that is within, thus this person, when embraced
by the intelligent (prag-na) Self, knows nothing that is without, nothing that
is within. This indeed is his (true) form, in which his wishes are fulfilled, in
which the Self (only) is his wish, in which no wish is left,-free from any
sorrow.
22. 'Then a father is not a father, a mother not a mother,
the worlds not worlds, the gods not gods, the Vedas not Vedas. Then a thief is
not a thief, a murderer not a murderer, a Kandala not a Kandala, a Paulkasa not
a Paulkasa, a Sramana not a Sramana, a Tapasa not a Tapasa. He is not followed
by good, not followed by evil, for he has then overcome all the sorrows of the
heart.
23. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not see, yet he is seeing, though he does not see. For sight is inseparable
from the seer, because it cannot perish. But there is then no second, nothing
else different from him that he could see.
24. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not smell, yet he is smelling, though he does not smell. For smelling is
inseparable from the smeller, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could smell.
25. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not taste, yet he is tasting, though he does not taste. For tasting is
inseparable from the taster, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could taste.
26. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not speak, yet he is speaking, though he does not speak. For speaking is
inseparable from the speaker, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could speak.
27. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not hear, yet he is hearing, though he does not hear. For hearing is
insrparable from the hearer, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could hear.
28. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not think, yet he is thinking, though he does not think. For thinking is
inseparable from the thinker, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could think.
29. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not touch, yet he is touching, though he does not touch. For touching is
inseparable from the toucher, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could think.
30. 'And when (it is said that) there (in the Sushupti) he
does not know, yet he is knowing, though he does not know. For knowing is
inseparable from the knower, because it cannot perish. But there is then no
second, nothing else different from him that he could know.
31. 'When (in waking and dreaming) there is, as it were,
another, then can one see the other, then can one smell the other, then can one
speak to the other, then can one hear the other, then can one think the other,
then can one touch the other, then can one know the other.
32. 'An ocean, is that one seer, without any duality; this is
the Brahma-world, O King.' Thus did Yagiiavalkya teach him. This is his highest
goal, this is his highest success, this is his highest world, this is his
highest bliss. All other creatures live on a small portion of that bliss.
33. 'If a man is healthy, wealthy, and lord of others,
surrounded by all human enjoyments, that is the highest blessing of men. Now a
hundred of these human blessings make one blessing of the fathers who have
conquered the world (of the fathers). A hundred blessings of the fathers who
have conquered this world make one blessing in the Gandharva world. A hundred
blessings in the Gandharva world make one blessing of the Devas by merit (work,
sacrifice), who obtain their godhead by merit. A hundred blessings of the Devas
by merit make one blessing of the Devas by birth, also (of) a Srotriya who is
without sin, and not overcome by desire. A hundred blessings of the Devas by
birth make one blessing in the world of Pragapati, also (of) a Srotriya who is
without sin, and not overcome by desire. A hundred blessings in the world of
Pragapati make one blessing in the world of Brahman, also (of) a Srotriya who is
without sin, and not overcome by desire. And this is the highest blessing.
'This is the Brahma-world, O king,' thus spake Yagnavalkya.
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I give you, Sir, a thousand. Speak on
for the sake of (my) emancipation.'
Then Yagnavalkya was afraid lest the King, having become full
of understanding, should drive him from all his positions.
34. And Yagnavalkya said: 'That (person), having enjoyed
himself in that state of sleeping (dream), having moved about and seen both good
and bad, hastens back again as he came, to the place from which he started, to
the state of waking.
35. 'Now as a heavy-laden carriage moves along groaning, thus
does this corporeal Self, mounted by the intelligent Self, move along groaning,
when a man is thus going to expire.
36. 'And when (the body) grows weak through old age, or
becomes weak through illness, at that time that person, after separating himself
from his members, as an Amra (mango), or Udumbara (fig), or Pippala-fruit is
separated from the stalk, hastens back again as he came, to the place from which
he started, to (new) life.
37. 'And as policemen, magistrates, equerries, and governors
wait for a king who is coming back, with food and drink, saying, "He comes
back, he approaches," thus do all the elements wait on him who knows this,
saying, "That Brahman comes, that Brahman approaches."
38. 'And as policemen, magistrates, equerries, and governors
gather round a king who is departing, thus do all the senses (pranas) gather
round the Self at the time of death, when a man is thus going to expire.’
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FOURTH BRAHMANA
1. Yagnavalkya continued: 'Now when that Self, having sunk
into weakness, sinks, as it were, into unconsciousness, then gather those senses
(pranas) around him, and he, taking with him those elements of light, descends
into the heart. When that person in the eye turns away, then he ceases to know
any forms.
2. ‘"He has become one," they say, " he does
not see." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
smell." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
taste." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
speak." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
hear." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
think." "He has become one," they say," he does not
touch." "He has become one," they say, "he does not
know." The point of his heart becomes lighted up, and by that light the
Self departs, either through the eye, or through the skull, or through other
places of the body. And when he thus departs, life (the chief prana) departs
after him, and when life thus departs, all the other vital spirits (pranas)
depart after it. He is conscious, and being conscious he follows and departs.
'Then both his knowledge and his work take hold of him, and
his acquaintance with former things.'
3. ‘And as a caterpillar, after having reached the end of a
blade of grass, and after having made another approach (to another blade), draws
itself together towards it, thus does this Self, after having thrown off this
body and dispelled all ignorance, and after making another approach (to another
body), draw himself together towards it.
4. 'And as a goldsmith, taking a piece of gold, turns it into
another, newer and more beautiful shape, so does this Self, after having thrown
off this body and dispelled all ignorance, make unto himself another, newer and
more beautiful shape, whether it be like the Fathers, or like the Gandharvas, or
like the Devas, or like Pragapati, or like Brahman, or like other beings.
5. 'That Self is indeed Brahman, consisting of knowledge,
mind, life, sight, hearing, earth, water, wind, ether, light and no light,
desire and no desire, anger and no anger, right or wrong, and all things. Now as
a man is like this or like that, according as he acts and according as he
behaves, so will he be :a man of good acts will become good, a man of bad acts,
bad. He becomes pure by pure deeds, bad by bad deeds.
'And here they say that a person consists of desires. And as
is his desire, so is his will; and as is his will, so is his deed; and whatever
deed he does, that he will reap.
6. 'And here there is this verse: "To whatever object a
man's own mind is attacbed, to that he goes strenuously together with his deed;
and having obtained the end (the last results) of whatever deed he does here on
earth, he returns again from that world (which is the temporary reward of his
deed) to this world of action."
'So much for the man who desires. But as to the man who does
not desire, who, not desiring, freed from desires, is satisfied in his desires,
or desires the Self only, his vital spirits do not depart elsewhere,- being
Brahman, he goes to Brahman.
7. 'On this there is this verse: " When all desires
which once entered his heart are undone, then does the mortal become immortal,
then he obtains Brahman.
'And as the slough of a snake lies on an ant-hill, dead and
cast away, thus lies this body; but that disembodied immortal spirit (prana'
life) is Brahman only, is only light.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Sir, I give you a thousand.'
8. 'On this there are these verses:
'The small, old path stretching far away' has been found by
me. On it sages who know Brahman move on to the Svarga-loka (heaven), and thence
higher on, as entirely free.
9. 'On that path they say that there is white, or blue, or
yellow, or green, or red; that path was found by Brahman, and on it goes whoever
knows Brahman, and who has done good, and obtained splendour.
10. 'All who worship what is not knowledge (avidya) enter
into blind darkness: those who delight in knowledge, enter, as it were, into
greater darkness.
11. 'There are indeed those unblessed worlds, covered with
blind darkness. Men who are ignorant and not enlightened go after death to those
worlds.
12. 'If a man understands the Self, saying, "I am
He," what could he wish or desire that he should pine after the body'.
13. 'Whoever has found and understood the Self that has
entered into this patched-together hidingplace, he indeed is the creator, for he
is the maker of everything, his is the world, and he is the world itself.
14. 'While we are here, we may know this; if not, I am
ignorant, and there is great destruction. Those who know it, become immortal,
but others suffer pain indeed.
15. 'If a man clearly beholds this Self as God, and as the
lord of all that is and will be, then he is no more afraid.
16. 'He behind whom the year revolves with the days, him the
gods worship as the light of lights, as immortal time.
17. 'He in whom the five beings and the ether rest, him alone
I believe to be the Self,-I who know, believe him to be Brahman; I who am
immortal, believe him to be immortal.
18. 'They who know the life of life, the eye of the eye, the
car of the ear, the mind of the mind, they have comprehended the ancient,
primeval Brahman.
19. 'By the mind alone it is to be perceived, there is in it
no diversity. He who perceives therein any diversity, goes from death to death.
20. 'This eternal being that can never be proved, is to be
perceived in one way only; it is spotless, beyond the ether, the unborn Self,
great and eternal.
21. 'Let a wise Brahmana, after he has discovered him,
practise wisdom. Let him not seek after many words, for that is mere weariness
of the tongue.
22. 'And he is that great unborn Self, who consists of
knowledge, is surrounded by the Pranas, the ether within the heart. In it there
reposes the ruler of all, the lord of all, the king of all. He does not become
greater by good works, nor smaller by evil works. He is the lord of all, the
king of all things, the protector of all things. He is a bank and a boundary, so
that these worlds may not be confounded. Brahmanas seek to know him by the study
of the Veda, by sacrifice, by gifts, by penance, by fasting, and he who knows
him, becomes a Mun1.Wishing for that world (for Brahman) only, mendicants leave
their homes.
'Knowing this, the people of old did not wish for offspring.
What shall we do with offspring, they said, we who have this Self and this world
(of Brahman)? And they, having risen above the desire for sons, wealth, and new
worlds, wander about as mendicants. For desire for sons is desire for wealth,
and desire for wealth is desire for worlds. Both these are indeed desires only.
He, the Self, is to be described by No, no! He is incomprehensible, for he
cannot be comprehended; he is imperishable, for he cannot perish; he is
unattached, for he does not attach himself; unfettered, he does not suffer, he
does not fail. Him (who knows), these two do not overcome, whether he says that
for some reason he has done evil, or for some reason he has done good-he
overcomes both, and neither what he has done, nor what he has omitted to do,
burns (affects) him.
23. 'This has been told by a verse (Rik): "This eternal
greatness of the Brahmana does -not grow larger by work, nor does it grow
smaller. Let man try to find (know) its trace, for having found (known) it, he
is not sullied by any evil deed."
'He therefore that knows it, after having become quiet,
subdued, satisfied, patient, and collected, sees self in Self, sees all as Self.
Evil does not overcome him, he overcomes all evil. Evil does not burn him, he
burns all evil. Free from evil, free from spots, free from doubt, he becomes a
(true) Brahmana; this is the Brahma-world, O King,'-thus spoke Yagnavalkya.
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Sir, I give you the Videhas, and also
myself, to be together your slaves.'
24. This indeed is the great, the unborn Self, the strong,
the giver of wealth. He who knows this obtains wealth.
25. This great, unborn Self, undecaying, undying, immortal,
fearless, is indeed Brahman. Fearless is Brahman, and he who knows this becomes
verily the fearless Brahman.
FIFTH BRAHMANA
1. Yagnavalkya had two wives, Maitreyi and Katyayan1.Of these
Maitreyi was conversant with Brahman, but Katyayani possessed such knowledge
only as women possess. And Yagnavalkya, when he wished to get ready for another
state of life (when he wished to give up the state of a householder, and retire
into the forest),
2. Said, 'Maitreyi, verily I am going away from this my house
(into the forest). Forsooth, let me make a settlement between thee and that
Katyayani.'
3. Maitreyi said: 'My Lord, if this whole earth, full of
wealth, belonged to me, tell me, should I be immortal by it, or no?'
'No,' replied Yagnavalkya, 'like the life of rich people will
be thy life. But there is no hope of immortality by wealth.'
4. And Maitreyi said: 'What should I do with that by which I
do not become immortal? What my Lord knoweth (of immortality), tell that clearly
to me.'
5. Yagnavalkya replied: 'Thou who art truly dear to me, thou
hast increased what is dear (to me in thee). Therefore, if you like, Lady, I
will explain it to thee, and mark well what I say.'
6. And he said: 'Verily, a husband is not dear, that you may
love the husband; but that you may love the Self, therefore a husband is dear.
'Verily, a wife is not dear, that you may love the wife; but
that you may love the Self, therefore a wife is dear.
'Verily, sons are not dear, that you may love the sons; but
that you may love the Self, therefore sons are dear.
'Verily, wealth is not dear, that you may love wealth; but
that you may love the Self, therefore wealth is dear.
'Verily, cattle are not dear, that you may love cattle; but
that you may love the Self, therefore cattle are dear.
'Verily, the Brahman-class is not dear, that you may love the
Brahman-class; but that you may love the Self, therefore the Brahman-class is
dear.
'Verily, the Kshatra-class is not dear, that you may love the
Kshatra-class; but that you may love the Self, therefore the Kshatra-class is
dear.
'Verily, the worlds are not dear, that you may love the
worlds; but that you may love the Self, therefore the worlds are dear.
'Verily, the Devas are not dear, that you may love the Devas;
but that you may love the Self, therefore the Devas are dear.
'Verily, the Vedas are not dear, that you may love the Vedas;
but that you may love the Self, therefore the Vedas are dear.
'Verily, creatures are not dear, that you may love the
creatures; but that you may love the Self, therefore are creatures dear.
'Verily, everything is not dear, that you may love
everything; but that you may love the Self, therefore everything is dear.
' Verily, the Self is to be seen, to be heard, to be
perceived, to be marked, O Maitreyi! When the Self has been seen, heard,
perceived, and known, then all this is known.'
7. 'Whosoever looks for the Brahman-class elsewhere than in
the Self, was abandoned by the Brahman-class. Whosoever looks for the
Kshatraclass elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned by the Kshatra-class.
Whosoever looks for the worlds elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned by the
worlds. Whosoever looks for the Devas elsewhere than in the Self, was abandoned
by the Devas. Whosoever looks for the Vedas elsewhere than in the Self, was
abandoned by the Vedas. Whosoever looks for the creatures elsewhere than in the
Self, was abandoned by the creatures. Whosoever looks for anything elsewhere
than in the Self, was abandoned by anything.
'This Brahman-class, this Kshatra-class, these worlds, these
Devas, these Vedas, all these beings, this everything, all is that Self.
8. 'Now as the sounds of a drum, when beaten, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the drum is
seized, or the beater of the drum;
9. 'And as the sounds of a conch-shell, when blown, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the shell is
seized, or the blower of the shell;
10. 'And as the sounds of a lute, when played, cannot be
seized externally (by themselves), but the sound is seized, when the lute is
seized, or the player of the lute;
11. 'As clouds of smoke proceed by themselves out of lighted
fire kindled with damp fuel, thus verily, O Maitreyi, has been breathed forth
from this great Being what we have as Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Sama-veda,
Atharvangirasas, Itihasa, Purana, Vidya, the Upanishads, Slokas, Sutras,
Anuvyakhyanas, Vyakhyanas, what is sacrificed, what is poured out, food, drink,
this world and the other world, and all creatures. From him alone all these were
breathed forth.
12. 'As all waters find their centre in the sea, all touches
in the skin, all tastes in the tongue, all smells in the nose, all colours in
the eye, all sounds in the ear, all percepts in the mind, all knowledge in the
heart, all actions in the hands, all movements in the feet, and all the Vedas in
speech,-
13. 'As a mass of salt has neither inside nor outside, but is
altogether a mass of taste, thus indeed has that Self neither inside nor
outside, but is altogether a mass of knowledge; and having risen from out these
elements, vanishes again in them. When lie has departed, there is no more
knowledge (name), I say, O Maitreyi,’ -thus spoke Yagnavalkya.
14. Then Maitreyi said: 'Here, Sir, thou hast landed me in
utter bewilderment. Indeed, I do not understand him.'
But he replied: 'O Maitreyi, I say nothing that is
bewildering. Verily, beloved, that Self is imperishable, and of an
indestructible nature.
15. 'For when there is as it were duality, then one sees the
other, one smells the other, one tastes the other, one salutes the other, one
hears the other, one perceives the other, one touches the other, one knows the
other; but when the Self only is all this, how should he see another, how should
he smell another, how should he taste another, how should he salute another, how
should he hear another, how should he touch another, how should he know another?
How should he know Him by whom he knows all this? That Self is to be described
by No, no! He is incomprehensible, for he cannot be comprehended; he is
imperishable, for he cannot perish; he is unattached, for he does not attach
himself; unfettered, he does not suffer, he does not fail. How, O beloved,
should he know the Knower? Thus, O Maitreyi, thou hast been instructed. Thus far
goes immortality.' Having said so, Yagnavalkya went away (into the forest).
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SIXTH BRAHMANA
1. Now follows the stem:
1. (We) from Pautimashya,
2. Pautimashya from Gaupavana,
3. Gaupavana from Pautimashya,
4. Pautimashya from Gaupavana,
5. Gaupavana from Kausika,
6. Kausika from Kaundinya,
7. Kaundinya from Sandilya,
8. Sandilya from Kausika and Gautama,
9. Gautama
2. from Agnivesya,
10. Agnivesya from Gargya,
11. Gargya from Gargya,
12. Gargya from Gautama,
13. Gautama from Saitava,
14. Saitava from Parasaryayana,
15. Parasaryayana from Gargyayana,
16. Gargyayana from Uddalakayana,
17. Uddalakayana from Gabalayana,
18. Gabalayana from Madhyandinayana,
19. Madhyandinayana from Saukarayana,
20. Saukarayana from Kashayana,
21. Kashayana from Sayakayana,
22. Sayakayana from Kausikayani,
23. Kausikayani
3. from Ghritakausika,
24. Ghritakausika from Parasaryayana,
25. Parasaryayana from Parasarya,
26. Parasarya from Gatukarnya,
27. Gatukarnya from Asurayana and Yaska,
28. Asurayaita from Travani,
29. Travani from Aupagandhani,
30. Aupagandhani from Asuri,
31. Asuri from Bharadvaga,
32. Bharadvaga from Atreya,
33. Atreya from Manti,
34. Manti from Gautama,
35. Gautama from Gautama,
36. Gautama from Vatsya,
37. Vatsya from Sandilya,
38. Sandilya from Kaisorya Kapya,
39. Kaisorya Kapya from Kumaraharita
40. Kumaraharita from Galava,
41. Galava from Vidarbhi-kaundinya,
42. Vidarbhi - kaundinya from Vatsanapat Babhrava,
43. Vatsanapat Babhrava from Pathi Saubhara,
44. Pathi Saubhara from Ayasya Angirasa,
45. Ayasya Angirasa from Abhuti Tvashtra,
46. Abhuti Tvashtra from Visvarupa Tvashtra,
47. Visvarupa Tvashtra from Asvinau,
48. Asvinau from Dadhyak Atharvana,
49. Dadhyak Atharvana from Atharvan Daiva,
50. Atharvan Daiva from Mrityu Pradhvamsana,
51. Mrityu Pradhvamsana from Pradhvamsana,
52. Pradhvamsana from Ekarshi,
53. Ekarshi from Viprakitti,
54. Viprakitti from Vyashti,
55. Vyashti from Sanaru,
56. Sanaru from Sanatana,
57. Sanatana from Sanaga,
58. Sanaga from Parameshthin,
59. Parameshthin from Brahman,
60. Brahman is Svayambhu, self-existent.
Adoration to Brahman.
FIFTH ADHYAYA 
FIRST BRAHMANA
1. That (the invisible Brahman) is full, this (the visible
Brahman) is full. This full (visible Brahman) proceeds from that full (invisible
Brahman). On grasping the fulness of this full (visible Brahman) there is left
that full (invisible Brahman).
Om (is) ether, (is) Brahman. 'There is the old ether (the
invisible), and the (visible) ether of the atmosphere,' thus said
Kauravyayaniputra. This (the Om) is the Veda (the means of knowledge), thus the
Brahmanas know. One knows through it all that has to be known.
SECOND BRAHMANA
1. The threefold descendants of Pragapati, gods, men, and
Asuras (evil spirits), dwelt as Brahmakarins (students) with their father
Pragapat1.Having finished their studentship the gods said: 'Tell us (something),
Sir.' He told them the syllable Da. Then he said: 'Did you understand?' They
said: 'We did understand. You told us "Damyata," Be subdued.' 'Yes,'
he said, 'you have understood.'
2. Then the men said to him: 'Tell us something, Sir.' He
told them the same syllable Da. Then he said: 'Did you understand?' They said:
'We did understand. You told us, " Datta," Give.' 'Yes,' he said, 'you
have understood.'
3. Then the Asuras said to him: 'Tell us something, Sir.' He
told them the same syllable Da. Then he said: 'Did you understand?' They said:
'We did understand. You told us," Dayadharn," Be merciful.' 'Yes,' he
said, 'you have understood.'
The divine voice of thunder repeats the same, Da Da Da, that
is, Be subdued, Give, Be merciful. Therefore let that triad be taught, Subduing,
Giving, and Mercy.
THIRD BRAHMANA
1. Pragapatii is the heart, is this Brahman, is all this. The
heart, hridaya, consists of three syllables. One syllable is hri, and to him who
knows this, his own people and others bring offerings. One syllable is da, and
to him who knows this, his own people and others bring gifts. One syllable is
yam' and he who knows this, goes to heaven (svarga) as his world.
FOURTH BRAHMANA
1. This (heart) indeed is even that, it was indeed the true
(Brahman). And whosoever knows this great glorious first-born as the true
Brahman, he conquers these worlds, and conquered likewise may that (enemy) be'I
yes, whosoever knows this great glorious first-born as the true Brahman; for
Brahman is the true.
FIFTH BRAHMANA
1. In the beginning this (world) was water. Water produced
the true, and the true is Brahman. Brahman produced Praghpati, Pragapati the
Devas (gods). The Devas adore the true (satyam) alone. This satyam consists of
three syllables. One syllable is sa, another t(i), the third yam. The first and
last syllables are true, in the middle there is the untrue. This untrue is on
both sides enclosed by the true, and thus the true preponderates. The untrue
does not hurt him who knows this.
2. Now what is the true, that is the Aditya (the sun), the
person that dwells in yonder orb, and the person in the right eye. These two
rest on each other, the former resting with his rays in the latter, the latter
with his pranas (senses) in the former. When the latter is on the point of
departing this life, he sees that orb as white only, and those rays (of the sun)
do not return to him.
3. Now of the person in that (solar) orb Bhuh is the head,
for the head is one, and that syllable is one; Bhuvah the two arms, for the arms
are two, and these syllables are two; Svar the foot, for the feet are two, and
these syllables are two. Its secret name is Ahar (day), and he who knows this,
destroys (hanti) evil and leaves (gahati) it.
4. Of the person in the right eye Bhuh is the head, for the
head is one, and that syllable is one; Bhuvah the two arms, for the arms are
two, and these syllables are two; Svar the foot, for the feet are two, and these
syllables are two. Its secret name is Aham (ego), and he who knows this,
destroys (hanti) evil and leaves (gahati) it.
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SIXTH BRAHMANA
1. That person, under the form of mind (manas), being light
indeed, is within the heart, small like a grain of rice or barley. He is the
ruler of all, the lord of all-he rules all this, whatsoever exists.
SEVENTH BRAHMANA
1. They say that lightning is Brahman, because lightning (vidyut)
is called so from cutting off (vidanat). Whosoever knows this, that lightning is
Brahman, him (that Brahman) cuts off from evil, for lightning indeed is Brahman.
EIGHTH BRAHMANA
1. Let him meditate on speech as a cow. Her four udders are
the words Svaha, Vashat, Hanta, and Svadha. The gods live on two of her udders,
the svaha and the Vashat, men on the Hanta, the fathers on the Svadha. The bull
of that cow is breath (prana), the calf the rnind.
NINTH BRAHMANA
1.Agni Vaisvanara is the fire within man by which the food
that is eaten is cooked, i.e. digested. Its noise is that which one hears, if
one covers one's ears. When he is on the point of departing this life, he does
not hear that noise.
TENTH BRAHMANA
1.When the person goes away from this world, he comes to the
wind. Then the wind makes room for him, like the hole of a carriage wheel, and
through it he mounts higher. He comes to the sun. Then the sun makes room for
him, like the hole of a Lambara, and through it he mounts higher. He comes to
the moon. Then the moon makes room for him, like the hole of a drum, and through
it he mounts higher, and arrives at the world where there is no sorrow, no snow.
There he dwells eternal years.
ELEVENTH BRAHMANA
1. This is indeed the highest penance, if a man, laid up with
sickness, suffers pain. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
This is indeed the highest penance, if they carry a dead
person into the forest. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
This is indeed the highest penance, if they place a dead
person on the fire. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
TWELFTH BRAHMANA
1. Some say that food is Brahman, but this is not so, for
food decays without life (prana). Others say that life (prana) is Brahman, but
this is not so, for life dries up without food. Then these two deities (food and
life), when they have become one, reach that highest state (i.e. are Brahman).
Thereupon Pratrida said to his father: 'Shall I be able to do any good to one
who knows this, or shall I be able to do him any harm?' The father said to him,
beckoning with his hand: 'Not so, O Pratrida; for who could reach the highest
state, if he has only got to the oneness of these two?' He then said to him:
'Vi; verily, food is Vi, for all these beings rest (vishtani) on food.' He then
said: 'Ram; verily, life is Ram, for all these beings delight (ramante) in life.
All beings rest on him, all beings delight in him who knows this.'
THIRTEENTH BRAHMANA
1. Next follows the Uktha. Verily, breath (prana) is Uktha,
for breath raises up (utthapayati) all this. From him who knows this, there is
raised a wise son, knowing the Uktha; he obtains union and oneness with the
Uktha.
2. Next follows the Yagus. Verily, breath is Yagus, for all
these beings are joined in breath 2. For him who knows this, all beings are
joined to procure his excellence; he obtains union and oneness with the Yagus.
3. Next follows the Saman. Verily, breath is the saman, for
all these beings meet in breath. For him who knows this, all beings meet to
procure his excellence; he obtains union and oneness with the saman.
4. Next follows the Kshatra. Verily, breath is the Kshatra,
for breath is Kshatra, i.e. breath protects (trayate) him from being hurt (kshaititoh).
He who knows this, obtains Kshatra (power), which requires no protection; he
obtains union and oneness with Kshatra.
FOURTEENTH BRAHMANA
1. The words Bhumi (earth), Antariksha (sky), and Dyu
(heaven) form eight syllables. One foot of the Gayatri consists of eight
syllables. This (one foot) of it is that (i.e. the three worlds). And he who
thus knows that foot of it, conquers as far as the three worlds extend.
2. The Rikas, the Yagumshi, and the Samani form eight
syllables. One foot (the second) of the Gayatri consists of eight syllables.
This (one foot) of it is that (i.e. the three Vedas, the Rig-veda, Yagur-veda,
andsama-veda). And he who thus knows that foot of it, conquers as far as that
threefold knowledge extends.
3. The Prana (the up-breathing), the Apana (the
down-breathing), and the Vyana (the back-breathing) form eight syllables. One
foot (the third) of the Gayatri consists of eight syllables. This (one foot) of
it is that (i.e. the three vital breaths). And he who thus knows that foot of
it, conquers as far as there is anything that breathes. And of that (Gayatri, or
speech) this indeed is the fourth (turiya), the bright (darsata) foot, shining
high above the skies. What is here called turiya (the fourth) is meant for
katurtha (the fourth); what is called darsatam padam (the bright foot) is meant
for him who is as it were seen (the person in the sun); and what is called
paroragas (he who shines high above the skies) is meant for him who shines
higher and higher above every sky. And he who thus knows that foot of the
Gayatri, shines thus himself also with happiness and glory.
4. That Gayatri (as described before with its three feet)
rests on that fourth foot, the bright one, high above the sky. And that again
rests on the True (satyam), and the True is the eye, for the eye is (known to
be) true. And therefore even now, if two persons come disputing, the one saying,
I saw, the other, I heard, then we should trust the one who says, I saw. And the
True again rests on force (balam), and force is life (prana), and that (the
True) rests on life. Therefore they say, force is stronger than the True. Thus
does that Gayatri rest with respect to the self (as life). That Gayatri protects
(tatre) the vital breaths (gayas); the gayas are the pranas (vital breaths), and
it protects them. And because it protects (tatre) the vital breaths (gayas),
therefore it is called Gayatri. And that Savitri verse which the teacher
teaches, that is it (the life, the prana, and indirectly the Gayatri); and
whomsoever he teaches, he protects his vital breaths.
5. Some teach that Savitri as an Anushtubh verse, saying that
speech is Anushtubh, and that we teach that speech. Let no one do this, but let
him teach the Gayatri as Savitri. And even if one who knows this receives what
seems to be much as his reward (as a teacher), yet this is not equal to one foot
of the Gayatri.
6. If a man (a teacher) were to receive as his fee these
three worlds full of all things, he would obtain that first foot of the Gayatri.
And if a man were to receive as his fee everything as far as this threefold
knowledg,e extends, he would obtain that second foot Of the Gayatri. And if a
man were to receive as his fee everything whatsoever breathes, he would obtain
that third foot of the Gayatri. But that fourth bright foot, shining high above
the skies’, cannot be obtained by anybody- whence then could one receive such
a fee?
7. The adoration of that (Gayatri):
'O Gayatri, thou hast one foot, two feet, three feet, four
feet. Thou art footless, for thou art not known. Worship to thy fourth bright
foot above the skies.' If one (who knows this) hates some one and says, 'May he
not obtain this,' or 'May this wish not be accomplished to him,'then that wish
is not accomplished to him against whom he thus prays, or if he says, 'May I
obtain this.'
8. And thus Ganaka Vaideha spoke on this point to Budila
Asvatarasvi: 'How is it that thou who spokest thus as knowing the Gayatri, hast
become an elephant and carriest me?' He answered: 'Your Majesty, I did not know
its mouth. Agni, fire, is indeed its mouth; and if people pile even what seems
much (wood) on the fire, it consumes it all. And thus a man who knows this, even
if he commits what seems much evil, consumes it all and becomes pure, clean, and
free from decay and death.'
FIFTEENTH BRAHMANA
1. The face of the True (the Brahman) is covered with a
golden disk. Open that, O Pushan, that we may see the nature of the True.
2. O Pushan, only seer, Yama (judge), Surya (sun), son of
Pragapati, spread thy rays and gather them! The light which is thy fairest form,
I see it. I am what he is (viz. the person in the sun).
3. Breath to air and to the immortal! Then this my body ends
in ashes. Om! Mind, remember! Remember thy deeds! Mind, remember! Remember thy
deeds!
4. Agni, lead us on to wealth (beatitude) by a good path,
thou, O God, who knowest all things! Keep far from us crooked evil, and we shall
offer thee the fullest praise! (Rv. I, 189, i.)
SIXTH ADHYAYA 
FIRST BRAHMANA
1. Harih, Om. He who knows the first and the best, becomes
himself the first and the best among his people. Breath is indeed the first and
the best. He who knows this, becomes the first and the best among his people,
and among whomsoever he wishes to be so.
2. He who knows the richest , becomes himself the richest
among his people. Speech is the richest. He who knows this, becomes the richest
among his people, and among whomsoever he wishes to be so.
3. He who knows the firm rest, becomes himself firm on even
and uneven ground. The eye indeed is the firm rest, for by means of the eye a
man stands firm on even and uneven ground. He who knows this, stands firm on
even and uneven ground.
4. He who knows success, whatever desire he desires, it
succeeds to him. The ear indeed is success. For in the car are all these Vedas
successful. He who knows this, whatever desire he desires, it succeeds to him.
5. He who knows the home, becomes a home of his own people, a
home of all men. The mind indeed is the home. He who knows this, becomes a home
of his own people and a home of all men.
6. He who knows generation, becomes rich in offspring and
cattle. Seed indeed is generation. He who knows this, becomes rich in offspring
and cattle.
7. These Pranas (senses), when quarrelling together as to who
was the best, went to Brahman and said: 'Who is the richest of us?' He replied:
'He by whose departure this body seems worst, he is the richest.'
8. The tongue (speech) departed, and having been absent for a
year, it came back and said: 'How have you been able to live without. me?' They
replied: 'Like unto people, not speaking with the tongue, but breathing with
breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind,
generating with seed. Thus we have lived.' Then speech entered in.
9. The eye (sight) departed, and having been absent for a
year, it came back and said: 'How have you been able to live without-me?' They
replied: 'Like blind people, not seeing with the eye, but breathing with the
breath, speaking with the tongue, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind,
generating with seed. Thus we have lived.' Then the eye entered in.
10. The ear (hearing) departed, and having been absent for a
year, it came back and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They
replied : 'Like deaf people, not hearing with the ear, but breathing with the
breath, speaking with the tongue, seeing with the eye, knowing with the mind,
generating with seed. Thus we have lived.' Then the ear entered in.
11.The mind departed, and having been absent for a year, it
came back and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied:
'Like fools, not knowing with their mind, but breathing with the breath, seeing
with the eye, hearing with the ear, generating with seed. Thus we have lived.'
Then the mind entered in.
12. The seed departed, and having been absent for a year, it
came back and said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied:
'Like impotent people, not generating with seed, but breathing with the breath,
seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind. Thus we have
lived.' Then the seed entered in.
13. The (vital) breath, when on the point of departing, tore
up these senses, as a great, excellent horse of the Sindhu country might tare up
the pegs to which he is tethered. They said to him: 'Sir, do not depart. We
shall not be able to live without thee.' He said: 'Then make me an offering.'
They said: 'Let it be so.'
14. Then the tongue said: ' If I am the richest, then thou
art the richest by it.' The eye said : 'If I am the firm rest, then thou art
possessed of firm rest by it.' The ear said: 'If I am success, then thou art
possessed of success by it.' The mind said: 'If I am the home, thou art the home
by it.' The seed said: 'If I am generation, thou art possessed of generation by
it.' He said: 'What shall be food, what shall be dress for me?'
They replied: 'Whatever there is, even unto dogs, worms,
insects, and birds, that is thy food, and water thy dress. He who thus knows the
food of Ana (the breath), by him nothing is eaten that is not (proper) food,
nothing is received that is not (proper) food. Srotriyas (Vedic theologians) who
know this, rinse the mouth with water when they are going to eat, and rinse the
mouth with water after they have eaten, thinking that thereby they make the
breath dressed (with water).'
SECOND BRAHMANA
1.Svetaketu Aruneya went to the settlement of the Pankalas.
He came near to Pravahana Gaivali, who was walking about (surrounded by his
men). As soon as he (the king) saw him, he said: 'My boy!' Svetaketu replied:
'Sir!'
Then the king said: 'Have you been taught by your father!'
'Yes,' he replied.
2. The king said: 'Do you know how men, when they depart from
here, separate from each other?’
'No,' he replied.
'Do you know how they come back to this world?' 'No,'he
replied.
'Do you know how that world does never become full with the
many who again and again depart thither?' No,' he replied.
'Do you know at the offering of which libation the waters
become endowed with a human voice and rise and speak?’ 'No,' he replied.
'Do you know the access to the path leading to the Devas and
to the path leading to the Fathers, i.e. by what deeds men gain access to the
path leading to the Devas or to that leading to the Fathers? For we have heard
even the saying of a Rishi: "I heard of two paths for men, one leading to
the Fathers, the other leading to the Devas. On those paths all that lives moves
on, whatever there is between father (sky) and mother (earth)."'
Svetaketu said: 'I do not know even one of all these
questions.'
3. Then the king invited him to stay and accept his
hospitality. But the boy, not caring for hospitality, ran away, went back to his
father, and said : 'Thus then you called me formerly well-instructed!' The
father said:. 'What then, you sage?' The son replied: 'That fellow of a Raganya
asked me five questions, and I did not know one of them.'
'What were they?'said the father.
'These were they,' the son replied, mentioning the different
heads.
4. The father said: 'You know me, child, that whatever I
know, I told you. But come, we shall go thither, and dwell there as students.'
'You may go, Sir,' the son replied.
Then Gautama went where (the place of) Pravahana Gaivali was,
and the king offered him a seat, ordered water for him, and gave him the proper
offerings. Then he said to him: 'Sir, we offer a boon to Gautama.'
5. Gautama said: 'That boon is promised to me; tell me the
same speech which you made in the presence of my boy.'
6. He said: 'That belongs to divine boons, name one of the
human boons.'
7. He said: 'You know well that I have plenty of gold, plenty
of cows, horses, slaves, attendants, and apparel; do not heap on me I what I
have already in plenty, in abundance, and superabundance.'
The king said: 'Gautama, do you wish (for instruction from
me) in the proper way?’
Gautama replied: 'I come to you as a pupil.'
In word only have former sages (though Brahmans) come as
pupils (to people of lower rank), but Gautama actually dwelt as a pupil (of
Pravahana, who was a Raganya) in order to obtain the fame of having respectfully
served his master.
8. The king said: 'Do not be offended with us, neither you
nor your forefathers, because this knowledge has before now never dwelt with any
Brahmana. But I shall tell it to you, for who could refuse you when you speak
thus?
9. 'The altar (fire), O Gautama, is that world (heaven); the
fuel is the sun itself, the smoke his rays, the light the day, the coals the
quarters, the sparks the intermediate quarters. On that altar the Devas offer
the sraddha libation (consisting of water) . From that oblation rises Soma, the
king (the moon).
10. 'The altar, O Gautama, is Parganya (the god of rain); the
fuel is the year itself, the smoke the clouds, the light the lightning, the
coals the thunderbolt, the sparks the thunderings. On that altar the Devas offer
Soma, the king (the moon). From that oblation rises rain.
11. 'The altar, O Gautama, is this world; the fuel is the
earth itself, the smoke the fire, the light the night, the coals the moon, the
sparks the stars. On that altar the Devas offer rain. From that oblation rises
food.
12. 'The altar, O Gautama, is man; the fuel the opened mouth,
the smoke the breath, the light the tongue, the coals the eye, the sparks the
ear. On that altar the Devas offer food. From that oblation rises seed.
13. 'The altar, O Gautama' is woman'. On that altar the Devas
offer seed. From that oblation rises man. He lives so long as he lives, and then
when he dies,
14. 'They take him to the fire (the funeral pile), and then
the altar-fire is indeed fire, the fuel fuel, the smoke smoke, the light light,
the coals coals, the sparks sparks. In that very altar-fire the Devas offer man,
and from that oblation man rises, brilliant in colour.
15. 'Those who thus know this (even Grihasthas), and those
who in the forest worship faith and the True (Brahman Hiranyagarbha), go to
light (arkis), from light to day, from day to the increasing half, from the
increasing half to the six months when the sun goes to the north, from those six
months to the world of the Devas (Devaloka), from the world of the Devas to the
sun, from the sun to the place of lightning. When they have thus reached the
place of lightning a spirit comes near them, and leads them to the worlds of the
(conditioned) Brahman. In these worlds of Brahman they dwell exalted for ages.
There is no returning for them.
16. 'But they who conquer the worlds (future states) by means
of sacrifice, charity, and austerity, go to smoke, from smoke to night, from
night to the decreasing half of the moon, from the decreasing half of the moon
to the six months when the sun goes to the south, from these months to the world
of the fathers, from the world of the fathers to the moon. Having reached the
moon, they become food, and then the Devas feed on them there, as sacrificers
feed on Soma, as it increases and decrea. But when this (the result of their
good works on earth) ceases, they return again to that ether, from ether to the
air, from the air to rain, from rain to the earth. And when they have reached
the earth, they become food, they are offered again in the altar-fire, which is
man (see 11), and thence are born in the fire of woman. Thus they rise up
towards the worlds, and go the same round as before.
'Those, however, who know neither of these two paths, become
worms, birds, and creeping things.'
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THIRD BRAHMANA
1.If a man wishes to reach greatness (wealth for performing
sacrifices), he performs the upasad rule during twelve days (i.e. he lives on
small quantities of milk), beginning on an auspicious day of the light half of
the moon during the northern progress of the sun, collecting at the same time in
a cup or a dish made of Udumbara wood all sorts of herbs, including fruits. He
sweeps the floor (near the house-altar, avasathya), sprinkles it, lays the fire,
spreads grass round it according to rule, prepares the clarified butter (agya),
and on a day, presided over by a male star (nakshatra), after having properly
mixed the Mantha (the herbs, fruits, milk, honey, &c.), he sacrifices (he
pours agya into the fire), saying'-: 'O Gatavedas, whatever adverse gods there
are in thee, who defeat the desires of men, to them I offer this portion; may
they, being pleased, please me with all desires.' Svaha!
'That cross deity who lies down, thinking that all things are
kept asunder by her, I worship thee as propitious with this stream of ghee.'
Svaha!
2. He then says, Svaha to the First, Svaha to the Best, pours
ghee into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Breath, Svaha to her who is the
richest, pours ghee into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha
(mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Speech, Svaha to the Support, pours
ghee into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha the Eye, Svaha to Success, pours ghee
into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to the Ear, Svaha, to the Home, pours
ghee into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to the Mind, Svaha to offspring, pours
ghee into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha toSeed, pours ghee into the fire, and
throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
3. He then says,Svaha to Agni (fire), pours ghee into the
fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Soma, pours ghee into the fire, and
throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Bhuh (earth), Svaha, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Bhuvah (sky), Svaha, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svah (heaven), Svaha, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, Svaha, pours ghee into the
fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Brahman (the priesthood), pours ghee
into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Kshatra (the knighthood), pours ghee
into the fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to the Past, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to the Future, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to the Universe, pours ghee into the
fire, and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says,Svaha to all things, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
He then says, Svaha to Pragapati, pours ghee into the fire,
and throws what remains into the Mantha (mortar).
4. Then he touches it (the Mantha, which is dedicated to
Prana, breath), saying: 'Thou art fleet (as breath). Thou art burning (as fire).
Thou art.full (as Brahman). Thou art firm (as the sky). Thou art the abode of
all (as the earth). Thou hast been saluted with Hin (at the beginning of the
sacrifice by the prastotri). Thou art saluted with Hin (in the middle of the
sacrifice by the prastotri). Thou hast been sung (by the udgatri at the
beginning of the sacrifice). Thou art sung (by the udgatri in the middle of the
sacrifice). Thou hast been celebrated (by the adhvaryu at the beginning of the
sacrifice). Thou art celebrated again (by the agnidhra in the middle of the
sacrifice). Thou art bright in the wet (cloud). Thou art great. Thou art
powerful. Thou art food (as Soma). Thou art light (as Agni, fire, the eater).
Thou art the end. Thou art the absorption (of all things).'
5. Then he holds it (the Mantha) forth, saying: 'Thou knowest
all, we know thy greatness. He is indeed a king, a ruler, the highest lord. May
that king, that ruler make me the highest lord.'
6. Then he eats it, saying: 'Tat savitur varenyam (We
meditate on that adorable light) - The winds drop honey for the righteous, the
rivers drop honey, may our plants be sweet as honey! Bhuh (earth) Svaha!
'Bhargo devasya dhimahi (of the divine Savitri) - May the
night be honey in the morning, may the air above the earth, may heaven, our
father, be honey! Bhuvah (sky) Svaha!
'Dhiyo yo nah prokodayat (who should rouse our thoughts) -
May the tree be full of honey, may the sun be full of honey, may our cows be
sweet like honey! Svah (heaven) Svaha!'
He repeats the whole Savitri verse, and all the verses about
the honey, thinking, May I be all this! Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, Svaha! Having thus
swallowed all, he washes his hands, and sits down behind the altar, turning his
head to the East. In the morning he worships Aditya (the sun), with the hymn,
'Thou art the best lotus of the four quarters, may I become the best lotus among
men.' Then returning as he came, he sits down behind the altar and recites the
genealogical list.
7. Uddalaka Aruni told this (Mantha-doctrine) to his pupil
Vagasaneya Yagnavalkya, and said: 'If a man were to pour it on a dry stick,
branches would grow, and leaves spring forth.'
8. Vagasaneya Yagnavalkya told the same to his pupil Madhuka
Paingya, and said: 'If a man were to pour it on a dry stick, branches would
grow, and leaves spring forth.'
9. Madhuka Paingya told the same to his pupil Kula
Bhagavitti, and said: 'If a man were to pour it on a dry stick, branches would
grow, and leaves spring forth.'
10. Kula Bhagavitti told the same to his pupil Ganaki
Ayasthuna, and said: 'If a man were to pour it on a dry stick, branches would
grow, and leaves spring forth.'
11. Ganaki Ayasthuna told the same to his pupil Satyakama
Gabala, and said: 'If a man were to pour it on a dry stick, branches would grow,
and leaves spring forth.'
12. Satyakama Gabala told the same to his pupils, and said: '
If a man were to pour it on a dry stick, branches would grow, and leaves spring
forth.'
Let no one tell this to any one, except to a son or to a
pupil.
13. Four things are made of the wood of the Udumbara tree,
the sacrificial ladle (sruva), the cup (kamasa), the fuel, and the two churning
sticks.
There are ten kinds of village (cultivated) seeds, viz. rice
and barley (brihiyavas), sesamum and kidney-beans (tilamashas), millet and panic
seed (anupriyangavas), wheat (godhumas), lentils (masuras), pulse (khalvas), and
vetches (khalakulas). After having ground these he sprinkles them with curds
(dadhi), honey, and ghee, and then offers (the proper portions) of clarified
butter (agya).
FOURTH BRAHMANA
1.The earth is the essence of all these things, water is the
essence of the earth plants of water, flowers of plants, fruits of flowers, man
of fruits, seed of man.
2. And Pragapati thought, let me make an abode for him, and
he created a woman (Satarupa).
Tam srishivadha upasta, tasmat striyam adha upasita. Sa etam
prankam gravanam atmana eva samudaparayat, tenainam abhyasrigat.
3. Tasya vedir upastho, lomani barhis, karmadhishavane,
samiddho madhyatas, tau mushkau. Sa yavan ha vai vagapeyena yagamanasya loko
bhavati tavan asya loko bhavati ya evam vidvan adhopahasam karaty a sa strinam
sukritam vrinkte 'tha ya idam avidvan adhopahasam karaty asya striyah sukritam
vringate.
4. Etad dha sma vai tadvidvan Uddalaka Arunir ahaitad dha sma
vai tadvidvan Nako Maudgalya ahaitad dha sma vai tadvidvan Kumaraharita aha,
bahavo marya brahmanayana nirindriya visukrito’smal lokat prayanti ya idam
avidvamso 'dhopahasam karantiti. Bahu va idam suptasya va gagrato va retah
skandati,
5. Tad abhimrised anu va mantrayeta yan me 'dya retak
prithivim askantsid yad oshadhir apy asarad yad apah, idam aham tad reta adade
punar mam aitv indriyam punas tegah punar bhagah, punar agnayo dhishnya
yathasthanam kalpantam, ity anamikangushthabhyam adayantaretia stanau va bhruvau
va nimringyat.
6. If a man see himself in the water, he should recite the
following verse: 'May there be in me splendour, strength, glory, wealth,
virtue.'
She is the best of women whose garments are pure. Therefore
let him approach a woman whose garments are pure, and whose fame is pure, and
address her.
7. If she do not give in, let him, as he likes, bribe her
(with presents). And if she then do not give in, let him, as he likes, beat her
with a stick or with his hand, and overcome her, saying: 'With manly strength
and glory I take away thy glory,'-and thus she becomes unglorious.
8. If she give in, he says: 'With manly strength and glory I
give thee glory,' - and thus they both become glorious.
9. Sa yam ikkhet kamayeta meti tasyam artham nishtaya mukhena
mukham sandhayopastham asya abhimrisya gaped angadangat sambhavasi hridayad adhi
gayase, sa tvam angakashayo 'si digdhaviddham iva madayemam amum mayiti.
10. Atha yam ikkhen na garbham dadhiteti tasyam artham
nishiaya mukhena mukham sandhayabhipranyapanyad indriyena te retasa reta adada
ity areta o eva bhavati.
11. Atha yam ikkhed garbham dadhiteti tasyam artham nishtaya
mukhena mukham sandhayapanyabhipranyad indriyena te retasa reta adadhamiti
garbhiny eva bhavati.
12. Now again, if a man's wife has a lover and the husband
hates him, let him (according to rule) place fire by an unbaked jar, spread a
layer of arrows in inverse order, anoint these three arrow-heads with butter in
inverse order, and sacrifice, saying: 'Thou hast sacrificed in my fire, I take
away thy up and down breathing, I here.'
'Thou hast sacrificed in my fire, I take away thy sons and
cattle, I here.'
'Thou hast sacrificed in my fire, I take away thy sacred and
thy good works, I here.'
'Thou hast sacrificed in my fire, I take away thy hope and
expectation, I here.'
He whom a Brahmana who knows this curses, departs from this
world without strength and without good works. Therefore let no one wish even
for sport with the wife of a Srotriya who knows this, for he who knows this, is
a dangerous enemy.
13. When the monthly illness seizes his wife, she should for
three days not drink from a metal vessel, and wear a fresh dress. Let no
Vrishala or Vrishali (a Sudra man or woman) touch her. At the end of the three
days, when she has bathed, the husband should make her pound rice.
14. And if a man wishes that a white son should be born to
him, and that he should know one Veda, and live to his full age, then, after
having prepared boiled rice with milk and butter, they should both eat, being
fit to have offspring.
15. And if a man wishes that a reddish son with tawny eyes
should be born to him, and that he should know two Vedas, and live to his full
age, then, after having prepared boiled rice with coagulated milk and butter,
they should both eat, being fit to have offspring.
16. And if a man wishes that a dark son should be born to him
with red eyes, and that he should know three Vedas, and live to his full age,
then, after having prepared boiled rice with water and butter, they should both
eat, being fit to have offspring.
17. And if a man wishes that a learned daughter should be
born to him, and that she should live to her full age, then, after having
prepared boiled rice with sesamum and butter, they should both eat, being fit to
have offspring.
18. And if a man wishes that a learned son should be born to
him, famous, a public man, a popular speaker, that he should know all the Vedas,
and that he should live to his full age, then, after having prepared boiled rice
with meat and butter, they should both eat, being fit to have offspring. The
meat should be of a young or of an old bull.
19. And then toward morning, after having, according to the
rule of the Sthalipaka (pot-boiling), performed the preparation of the Agya
(clarified butter'), he sacrifices from the Sthalipaka bit by bit, saying: 'This
is for Agni, Svaha! This is for Anumati, Svaha! This is for the divine Savitri,
the true creator, Svaha!' Having sacrificed, he takes out the rest of the rice
and eats it, and after having eaten, he gives it to his wife. Then he washes his
hands, fills a water-jar, and sprinkles her thrice with it, saying: ' Rise
hence, O Visvavasu, seek another blooming girl, a wife with her husband.'
20. Then he embraces her, and says: 'I am Ama (breath), thou
art Sa (speech ). Thou art Sa (speech), I am Ama (breath). I am the saman, thou
art the Rik. 1 am the sky, thou art the earth. Come, let us strive together,
that a male child may be begotten.'
21. Athasya uru vihapayati, vigihitham dyavaprithivi iti
tasyam artham nishtaya mukhena mukham sandhaya trir enam anulomam anumarshti,
Vishnur yonim kalpayatu, Tvashta rupani pimsatu, asinkatu Pragapatir Dhata
garbham dadhatu te. Garbham dhehi Sinivali, garbham dhehi prithushtuke, garbham
te Asvinau devav adhattam pushkarasragau.
22. Hiranmayi arani yabhyam nirmanthatam asvinau, tam te
garbham havamahe dasame masi suitave. Yathagnigarbha prithivi, yatha dyaur
indrena garbhini, vayur disam yatha garbha evam garbham dadhami te ‘sav iti.
23. Soshyantim adbhir abhyukshati. Yatha vayuh pushkarinim
samingayati sarvatah, eva te garbha egatu sahavaitu garayuna. Indrasyayam vragah
kritah sargalah saparisrayah, tam indra nirgahi garbhena savaram saheti.
24. When the child is born, he prepares the fire, places the
child on his lap, and having poured prishadagya, i.e. dadhi (thick milk) mixed
with ghrita (clarified butter) into a metal jug, he sacrifices bit by bit of
that prishadagya, saying: 'May I, as I increase in this my house, nourish a
thousand! May fortune never fail in his race, with offspring and cattle, Svaha!'
'I offer to thee. in my mind the vital breaths which are in
me, Svaha!,
'Whatever in my work I have done too much, or whatever I have
here done too little, may the wise Agni Svishtakrit make this right and proper
for us, Svaha!'
25. Then putting his mouth near the child's right ear, he
says thrice, Speech, speech! After that he pours together thick milk, honey, and
clarified butter, and feeds the child with (a ladle of) pure gold, saying: 'I
give thee Bhuh, I give thee Bhuvah, I give thee Svah. Bhur, Bhuvah, Svah, I give
thee all.'
26. Then he gives him his name, saying: 'Thou art Veda;' but
this is his secret name.
27. Then he hands the boy to his mother and gives him her
breast, saying: ‘O Sarasvad, that breast of thine which is inexhaustible,
delightful, abundant, wealthy, generous, by which thou cherishest all blessings,
make that to flow here.'
28. Then he addresses the mother of the boy:
'Thou art Ila Maitravaruni: thou strong woman hast born a
strong boy. Be thou blessed with strong children thou who hast blessed me with a
strong child.'
And they say of such a boy: 'Ah, thou art better than thy
father; ah, thou art better than thy grandfather. Truly he has reached the
highest point in happiness, praise, and Vedic glory who is born as the son of a
Brahmana that knows this.'
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FIFTH BRAHMANA
1. Now follows the stem:
1. Pautimashiputra from Katyayaniputra,
2. Katyayaniputra from Gotamiputra,
3. Gotamiputra from Bharadvagiputra,
4. Bharadvagiputra from Parasariputra,
5. Parasariputra from Aupasvatiputra,
6. Aupasvatiputra from Parasariputra,
7. Parasariputra from Katyayaniputra,
8. Katyayaniputra from Kausikiputra,
9. Kausikiputra from Alambiputra and Vaiyaghrapadiputra,
10. Alambiputra and Vaiyaghrapadiputra from Kanviputra,
11. Kanviputra from Kapiputra,
12. Kapiputra
2. from Atreyiputra,
13. Atreyiputra from Gautamiputra,
14. Gautamiputra from Bharadvagiputra,
15. Bharadvagiputra from Parasariputra,
16. Parasariputra from Vatsiputra,
17. Vatsiputra from Parasariputra,
18. Parasariputra from Varkaruitiputra'
19. Varkaruniputra from Varkaruniputra,
20. Varkaruitiputra from Artabhagiputra,
21. Artabhagiputra from Saungiputra,
22. Saungiputra from Sankritiputra,
23. Sankritiputra from Alambayaniputra,
24. Alambayaniputra from Alambiputra,
25. Alambiputra from Gayantiputra,
26. Gayantiputra from Mandukayaniputra,
27. Mandukayaniputra from Mandtikiputra,
28. Mandtikiputra from Sandiliputra,
29. Sandiliputra from Rathitariputra,
30. Rathitariputra from Bhaiukiputra,
31. Bhalukiputra from Kraunkikiputrau,
32. Kraunkikiputrau from Vaittabhatiputra
33. Vaittabhatiputra from Karsakeyiputra,
34. Karsakeyiputra from Prakinayogiputra,
35. Prakinayogiputra from Sankiviputra,
36. Sangiviputra from Prasnitputra Asurivasin,
37. Prasniputra Asurivasin from Asurayana,
38. Asurayana from Asuri,
39. Asuri
3. from Yagnavalkya,
40. Yagnavalkya from Uddalaka,
41. Uddalaka from Aruna,
42. Aruna from Upavesi,
43. Upavesi from Kusri,
44. Kusri from Vagasravas,
45. Vagasravas from Gihvavat Vadhyoga,
46. Gihvavat Vadhyoga from Asita Varshagana,
47. Asita Varshagana from Harita Kasyapa,
48. Harita Kasyapa from Silpa Kasyapa,
49. Silpa Kasyapa from Kasyapa Naidhruvi,
50. Kasyapa Naidhruvi from Vak,
51. Vak from Ambhini,
52. Ambhini from Aditya, the Sun.
As coming from Aditya, the Sun, these pure Yagus verses have
been proclaimed by Yagnavalkya Vagasaneya.
4. The same as far as Sangiviputra (No. 36), then
36. Sangiviputra from Mandukayani,
37. Mandukayani from Mandavya,
38. Mandavya from Kautsa,
39. Kautsa from Mahitthi,
40. Mahitthi from Vamakakshayana,
41. Vamakakshayana from Sandilya,
42. Sandilya from Vatsya,
43. Vatsya from Kusri,
44. Kusri from Yagntavakas Ragastambayana,
45. Yagntavakas Ragastambayana from Tura Kavasheya,
46. Tura Kavasheya from Pragapati,
47. Pragapati from Brahman,
48. Brahman is Svayambhu, self-existent.
Adoration to Brahman!
Suggested Further Reading
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| Source: Max Müllers' translation of the
Upanishads, Volume One. (1879) (Volume 1 of the Sacred Books of
the East.) and Volume Two. (1884) (Volume 15 of the Sacred Books
of the East.). While we have made every effort to reproduce the
text correctly, we do not guarantee or accept any responsibility
for any errors or omissions or inaccuracies in the reproduction
of this text. |
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