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KAUSHITAKI-UPANISHAD
FIRST ADHYAYA
1. KITRA Gangyayani, forsooth,
wishing to perform a sacrifice, chose Aruni (Uddalaka,
to be his chief priest). But Aruni sent his son,
Svetaketu, and said: 'Perform the sacrifice for
him.' When Svetaketu had arrived, Kitra asked him:
'Son of Gautama, is there a hidden place in the
world where you are able to place me, or is it the
other way, and are you going to place me in the
world to which it (that other way) leads,?'
He answered and said: 'I do not know
this But, let me ask the master.' Having approached
his father, he asked : 'Thus has Kitra asked me how
shall I answer?'
Aruni said: 'I also do not know
this. Only after having learnt the proper portion
of the Veda in Kitra's own dwelling, shall we
obtain what others give us (knowledge). Come, we
will both go.'
Having said this he took fuel in his
hand (like a pupil), and approached Kitra
Gangyayani, saying: 'May I come near to you ?' He
replied: 'You are worthy of Brahman, O Gautama,
because you were not led away by pride. Come
hither, I shall make you know clearly.'
2. And Kitra said: All who depart
from this world (or this body) go to the moon. In
the former, (the bright) half, the moon delights in
their spirits; in the other, (the dark) half, the
moon sends them on to be born again. Verily, the
moon is the door of the Svarga world (the heavenly
world). Now, if a man objects to the moon (if one
is not satisfied with life there) the moon sets him
free. But if a man does not object, then the moon
sends him down as rain upon this earth. And
according to his deeds and according to his
knowledge he is born again here as a worm, or as an
insect, or as a fish, or as a bird, or as a lion,
or as a boar, or as a serpent, or as a tiger, or as
a man, or as something else in different places.
When he has thus returned to the earth, some one (a
sage) asks: 'Who art thou?' And he should answer:
'From the wise moon, who orders the seasons, when
it is born consisting of fifteen parts, from the
moon who is the home of our ancestors, the seed was
brought. This seed, even me, they (the gods
mentioned in the Pankagnividya) gathered up in an
active man, and through an active man they brought
me to a mother. Then I, growing up to be born, a
being living by months, whether twelve or thirteen,
was together with my father, who also lived by
(years of) twelve or thirteen months, that I might
either know it (the true Brahman) or not know it.
Therefore, O ye seasons, grant that I may attain
immortality (knowledge of Brahman). By this my true
saying, by this my toil (beginning with the
dwelling in the moon and ending with my birth on
earth) I am (like) a season, and the child of the
seasons.' 'Who art thou?' the sage asks again. 'I
am thou,' he replies. Then he sets him free (to
proceed onward).
3. He (at the time of death), having
reached the path of the gods, comes to the world of
Agni (fire), to the world of Vayu (air), to the
world of Varuna, to the world of Indra, to the
world of Pragapati (Virag), to the world of Brahman
(Hiranyagarbha). In that world there is the lake
Ara, the moments called Yeshtiha, the river Vigara
(age-less), the tree Ilya, the city Salagya, the
palace Aparagita (unconquerable), the door-keepers
Indra and Pragapati, the hall of Brahman, called
Vibhu (built by vibhu, egoism), the throne
Vikakshana (buddhi, perception), the couch
Amitaugas (endless splendour), and the beloved
Manasi (mind) and her image Kakshushi (eye), who,
as if taking flowers, are weaving the worlds, and
the Apsaras, the Ambas (sruti, sacred scriptures),
and Ambayavis (buddhi, understanding), and the
rivers Ambayas (leading to the knowledge of
Brahman). To this world he who knows this (who
knows the Paryanka-vidya) approaches. Brahman says
to him: 'Run towards him (servants) with such
worship as is due to myself. He has reached the
river Vigara (age-less), he will never age.'
4. Then five hundred Apsaras go
towards him, one hundred with garlands in their
hands, one hundred with ointments in their hands,
one hundred with perfumes in their hands, one
hundred with garments in their hands, one hundred
with fruit 2 in their hands. They adorn him. with
an adornment worthy of Brahman, and when thus
adorned with the adornment of Brahman, the knower
of Brahman moves towards Brahman (neut.) He comes
to the lake Ara, and he crosses it by the mind,
while those who come to it without knowing the
truth, are drowned. He comes to the moments called
Yeshtiha, they flee from him. He comes to the river
Vigarga, and crosses it by the mind alone, and
there shakes off his good and evil deeds. His
beloved relatives obtain the good, his unbeloved
relatives the evil he has done. And as a man,
driving in a chariot, might look at the two wheels
(without being touched by them), thus he will look
at day and night, thus at good and evil deeds, and
at all pairs (at all correlative things, such as
light and darkness, heat and cold, &c.) Being freed
from good and freed from evil he, the knower of
Brahman (neut.), moves towards Brahman.
5. He approaches the tree Ilya, and
the odour of Brahman reaches him. He approaches the
city Salagya, and the flavour of Brahman reaches
him. He approaches the palace Aparagita, and the
splendour of Brahman reaches him. He approaches the
door-keepers Indra and Pragapati, and they run away
from him. He approaches the hall Vibhu, and the
glory of Brahman reaches him (he thinks, I am
Brahman). He approaches the throne Vikakshana. The
Saman verses, Brihad and Rathantara, are the
eastern feet of that throne; the Saman verses,
Syaita and Naudhasa, its western feet; the Saman
verses, Vairtipa and Vairaga, its sides lengthways
(south and north); the Saman verses, Sakvara and
Raivata, its sides crossways (east and west). That
throne is Pragna knowledge, for by knowledge
(self-knowledge) he sees clearly. He approaches the
couch Amitaugas. That is Prana (speech). The past
and the future are its eastern feet; prosperity and
earth its western feet; the Saman verses, Brihad
and Rathantara, are the two sides lengthways of the
couch (south and north); the Saman verses, Bhadra
and Yagnayagniya, are its cross-sides at the head
and feet (east and west); the Rik and Saman are the
long sheets (east and west); the Yagus the
cross-sheets (south and north); the moon-beam the
cushion; the Udgitha the (white) coverlet;
prosperity the pillow. On this couch sits Brahman,
and he who knows this (who knows himself one with
Brahman sitting on the couch) mounts it first with
one foot only. Then Brahman says to him: 'Who art
thou?' and he shall answer:
6. 'I am (like) a season, and the
child of the seasons, sprung from the womb of
endless space, from the light (from the luminous
Brahman). The light, the origin of the year, which
is the past, which is the present, which is all
living things, and all elements, is the Self . Thou
art the Self. What thou art, that am I.'
Brahman says to him: 'Who am I?' He
shall answer: 'That which is, the true' (Sat-tyam).
Brahman asks: 'What is the true?' He
says to him: 'What is different from the gods and
from the senses (prana) that is Sat, but the gods
and the senses are Tyam. Therefore by that name
Sattya (true) is called all this whatever there is.
All this thou art.'
7. This is also declared by a verse:
'This great Rishi, whose belly is the Yagus, the
head the Saman, the form the Rik, is to be known as
being imperishable, as being Brahman.'
Brahman says to him: 'How dost thou
obtain my male names?' He should answer: 'By breath
(pranah).'
Brahman asks: 'How my female names?'
He should answer: 'By speech (vak).'
Brahman asks: 'How my neuter names?'
He should answer: 'By mind (manas).' 'How smells?'
'By the nose.' 'How forms?' 'By the eye.' 'How
sounds?' 'By the ear.' 'How flavours of food?' 'By
the tongue.' 'How actions?' 'By the hands.' 'How
pleasures and pain?' 'By the body.' 'How joy,
delight, and offspring?' 'By the organ.' 'How
journeyings?' 'By the feet.' 'How thoughts, and
what is to be known and desired?' 'By knowledge (pragna)
alone.'
Brahman says to him: 'Water indeed
is this my world', the whole Brahman world, and it
is thine.'
Whatever victory, whatever might
belongs to Brahman, that victory and that might he
obtains who knows this, yea, who knows this.
SECOND ADHYAYA
1. Prana (breath) is Brahman, thus
says Kashitaki. Of this prana, which is Brahman,
the mind (manas) is the messenger, speech the
housekeeper, the eye the guard, the ear the
informant. He who knows mind as the messenger of
prana, which is Brahman, becomes possessed of the
messenger. He who knows speech as the housekeeper,
becomes possessed of the housekeeper. He who knows
the eye as the guard, becomes possessed of the
guard. He who knows the ear as the informant,
becomes possessed of the informant.
Now to that prana, which is Brahman,
all these deities (mind, speech, eye, ear) bring an
offering, though he asks not for it, and thus to
him who knows this all creatures bring an offering,
though he asks not for it. For him who knows this,
there is this Upanishad (secret vow), 'Beg not!' As
a man who has begged through a village and got
nothing sits down and says, 'I shall never eat
anything given by those people,' and as then those
who formerly refused him press him (to accept their
alms), thus is the rule for him who begs not, but
the charitable will press him and say, 'Let us give
to thee.'
2. Prana (breath) is Brahman, thus
says Paingya. And in that prana, which is Brahman,
the eye stands firm behind speech, the ear stands
firm behind the eye, the mind stands firm behind
the ear, and the spirit stands firm behind the
mind'. To that prana, which is Brahman, all these
deities bring an offering, though he asks not for
it, and thus to him who knows this, all creatures
bring an offering, though he asks not for it. For
him who knows this, there is this Upanishad (secret
vow), 'Beg not!' As a man who has begged through a
village and got nothing sits down and says, 'I
shall never eat anything given by those people,'
and as then those who formerly refused him press
him (to accept their alms), thus is the rule for
him who begs not, but the charitable will press him
and say, Let us give to thee.'
3. Now follows the attainment of the
highest treasure (scil. prana, spirit). If a man
meditates on that highest treasure, let him on a
full moon or a new moon, or in the bright
fortnight, under an auspicious Nakshatra, at one of
these proper times, bending his right knee, offer
oblations of ghee with a ladle (sruva), after
having placed the fire, swept the ground, strewn
the sacred grass, and sprinkled water. Let him say:
'The deity called Speech is the attainer, may it
attain this for me from him (who possesses and can
bestow what I wish for). Svaha to it!'
'The deity called prana (breath) is
the attainer, may it attain this for me from him.
Svaha to it!'
'The deity called the eye is the
attainer, may it attain this for me from him. Svaha
to it!'
'The deity called the ear is the
attainer, may it attain this for me from him. Svaha
to it!'
'The deity called mind (manas) is
the attainer of it, may it attain this for me from
him. Svaha to it.'
'The deity called pragna (knowledge)
is the attainer of it, may it attain this for me
from him. Svaha to it!'
Then having inhaled the smell of the
smoke, and having rubbed his limbs with the
ointment of ghee, walking on in silence' let him
declare his wish, or let him send a messenger. He
will surely obtain his wish.
4. Now follows the Daiva Smara, the
desire to be accomplished by the gods. If a man
desires to become dear to any man or woman, or to
any men or women, then at one of the
(fore-mentioned) proper times he offers, in exactly
the same manner (as before), oblations of ghee,
saying: 'I offer thy speech in myself, I (this one
here),Svaha.' 'I offer thy ear in myself, I (this
one here), Svaha.' 'I offer thy mind in myself, I
(this one here), Sv'ha.' 'I offer thy pragna
(knowledge) in myself, I (this one here), Svaha.'
Then having inhaled the smell of the smoke, and
having rubbed his limbs with the ointment of.ghee,
walking on in silence, let him try to come in
contact or let him stand speaking in the wind, (so
that the wind may carry his words to the person by
whom he desires to be loved). Surely he becomes
dear, and they think of him.
5. Now follows the restraint (samyamana)
instituted by Pratardana (the son of Divodasa):
they call it the inner Agni-hotra. So long as a man
speaks, he cannot breathe, he offers all the while
his prana (breath) in his speech. And so long as a
man breathes, he cannot speak, he offers all the
while his speech in his breath. These two endless
and immortal oblations he offers always, whether
waking or sleeping. Whatever other oblations there
are (those, e. g. of the ordinary Agnihotra,
consisting of milk and other things), they have an
end, for they consist of works (which, like all
works, have an end). The ancients, knowing this
(the best Agnihotra), did not offer the (ordinary)
Agnihotra.
6. Uktha is Brahman, thus said
Sushkabhringara. Let him meditate on it (the uktha)
as the same with the Rik, and all beings will
praise him as the best. Let him meditate on it as
the same with the Yagus, and all beings will join
before him as the best. Let him meditate on it as
the same with the Saman, and all beings will bow
before him as the best. Let him meditate on it as
the same with might, let him meditate on it as the
same with glory, let him meditate on it as the same
with splendour. For as the bow is among weapons the
mightiest, the most glorious, the most splendid,
thus is he who knows this among all beings the
mightiest, the most glorious, the most splendid.
The Adhvaryu conceives the fire of the altar, which
is used for the sacrifice, to be himself. In it he
(the Adhvaryu) weaves the Yagus portion of the
sacrifice. And in the Yagus portion the Hotri
weaves the Rik portion of the sacrifice. And in the
Rik portion the Udgatri weaves the Saman portion of
the sacrifice. He (the Adhvaryu or prana) is the
self of the threefold knowledge; he indeed is the
self of it (of prana). He who knows this is the
self of it (becomes prana).
7. Next follow the three kinds of
meditation of the all-conquering (sarvagit)
Kaushitaki. The all-conquering Kaushitaki adores
the sun when rising, having put on the sacrificial
cord, having brought water, and having thrice
sprinkled the water-cup, saying: 'Thou art the
deliverer, deliver me from sin.' In the same manner
he adores the sun when in the zenith, saying: 'Thou
art the highest deliverer, deliver me highly from
sin.' In the same manner he adores the sun when
setting, saying: 'Thou art the full deliverer,
deliver me fully from sin.' Thus he fully removes
whatever sin he committed by day and by night. And
in the same manner he who knows this, likewise
adores the sun, and fully removes whatever sin be
committed by day and by night.
8. Then (secondly) let him worship
every month (in the year) at the time of the new
moon, the moon as it is seen in the west in the
same manner (as before described with regard to the
sun), or let him send forth his speech toward the
moon with two green blades of grass, saying: 'O
thou who art mistress of immortal joy, through that
gentle heart of mine which abides in the moon, may
I never weep for misfortune concerning my
children.'
The children of him (who thus adores
the moon) do not indeed die before him. Thus it is
with a man to whom a son is already born.
Now for one to whom no son is born
as yet. He mutters the three Rik verses. 'Increase,
O Soma! may vigour come to thee' (Rv. 1, 91, 16 ;
IX, 31, 4).
'May milk, may food go to thee' (Rv.
I, 91, 18); That ray which the Adityas gladden.'
Having muttered these three Rik
verses, he says: 'Do not increase by our breath (prana),
by our offspring, by our cattle; he who hates us
and whom we hate, increase by his breath, by his
offspring, by his cattle. Thus I turn the turn of
the god, I return the turn of Aditya.' After these
words, having raised the right arm (toward Soma),
he lets it go again.
9. Then (thirdly) let him worship on
the day of the full moon the moon as it is seen in
the east in the same manner, saying: 'Thou art
Soma, the king, the wise, the five-mouthed, the
lord of creatures. The Brahmana is one of thy
mouths; with that mouth thou eatest the kings (Kshatriyas);
make me an eater of food by that mouth! The king is
one of thy mouths; with that mouth thou eatest the
people (Vaisyas) ; make me an eater of food by that
mouth! The hawk is one of thy mouths; with that
mouth thou eatest the birds; make me an eater of
food by that mouth! Fire is one of thy mouths; with
that mouth thou eatest this world; make me an eater
of food by that mouth! In thee there is the fifth
mouth; with that mouth thou eatest all beings; make
me an eater of food by that mouth! Do not decrease
by our life, by our offspring, by our cattle; he
who hates us and whom we hate, decrease by his
life, by his offspring, by his cattle. Thus I turn
the turn of the god, I return the turn of Aditya.'
After these words, having raised the right arm, he
lets it go again.
10. Next (having addressed these
prayers to Soma) when being with his wife, let him
stroke her heart, saying: 'O fair one, who hast
obtained immortal joy by that which has entered thy
heart through Pragapati, mayest thou never fall
into sorrow about thy children.' Her children then
do not die before her.
11. Next, if a man has been absent
and returns home, let him smell (kiss) his son's
head, saying: 'Thou springest from every limb, thou
art born from the heart, thou, my son, art my self
indeed, live thou a hundred harvests.' He gives him
his name, saying: 'Be thou a stone, be thou an axe,
be thou solid gold; thou, my son, art light indeed,
live thou a hundred harvests.' He pronounces his
name. Then he embraces him, saying: 'As Pragapati
(the lord of creatures) embraced his creatures for
their welfare, thus I embrace thee,' (pronouncing
his name.) Then he mutters into his right ear,
saying: 'O thou, quick Maghavan, give to him' (Rv.
111, 36, 103). 'O Indra, bestow the best wishes' (Rv.
11, 21, 6), thus he whispers into his left ear. Let
him then thrice smell (kiss) his head, saying: 'Do
not cut off (the line of our race), do not suffer.
Live a hundred harvests of life; I kiss thy head, O
son, with thy name.' He then thrice makes a lowing
sound over his head, saying: 'I low over thee with
the lowing sound of cows.'
12. Next follows the Daiva Parimara,
the dying around of the gods (the absorption of the
two classes of gods, mentioned before, into prana
or Brahman). This Brahman shines forth indeed when
the fire burns, and it dies when it burns not. Its
splendour goes to the sun alone, the life (prana,
the moving principle) to the air.
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when the sun is seen, and it dies when it is not
seen. Its splendour goes to the moon alone, the
life (prana) to the air.
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when the moon is seen, and it dies when it is not
seen. Its splendour goes to the lightning alone,
its life (prana) to the air.
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when the lightning flashes, and it dies when it
flashes not. Its splendour goes to the air, and the
life (prana) to the air.
Thus all these deities (i.e. fire,
sun, moon, lightning), having entered the air,
though dead, do not vanish; and out of the very air
they rise again. So much with reference to the
deities (mythological). Now then with reference to
the body (physiological).
13. This Brahman shines forth indeed
when one speaks with speech, and it dies when one
does not speak. His splendour goes to the eye
alone, the life (prana) to breath (prana).
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when one sees with the eye, and it dies when one
does not see. Its splendour goes to the ear alone,
the life (prana) to breath (prana).
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when one hears with the ear, and it dies when one
does not hear. Its splendour goes to the mind
alone, the life (prana) to breath (prana).
This Brahman shines forth indeed
when one thinks with the mind, and it dies when one
does not think. Its splendour goes to the breath (prana)
alone, and the life (prana) to breath (prana).
Thus all these deities (the senses,
&c.), having entered breath or life (prana) alone,
though dead, do not vanish ; and out of very breath
(prana) they rise again. And if two mountains, the
southern and northern, were to move forward trying
to crush him who knows this, they would not crush
him. But those who hate him and those whom he
hates, they die around him.
14. Next follows the Nihsreyasadana
(the accepting of the pre-eminence of prana (breath
or life) by the other gods). The deities (speech,
eye, ear, mind), contending with each for who was
the best, went out of this body, and the body lay
without. breathing, withered, like a log of wood.
Then speech went into it, but speaking by speech,
it lay still. Then the eye went into it, but
speaking by speech, and seeing by the eye, it lay
still. Then the ear went into it, but speaking by
speech, seeing by the eye, hearing by the ear, it
lay still. Then mind went into it, but speaking by
speech, seeing by the eye, hearing by the ear,
thinking by the mind, it lay still. Then breath (prana,
life) went into it, and thence it rose at once. All
these deities, having recognised the pre-eminence
in prana, and having comprehended prana alone as
the conscious self (pragnatman went out of this
body with all these (five different kinds of prana),
and resting in the air (knowing that prana had
entered the air), and merged in the ether (akasa),
they went to heaven. And in the same manner he who
knows this, having recognised the pre-eminence in
prana, and having comprehended prana alone as the
conscious self (pragnatman), goes out of this body
with all these (does no longer believe in this
body), and resting in the air, and merged in the
ether, he goes to heaven, he goes to where those
gods (speech, &c.) are. And having reached this he,
who knows this, becomes immortal with that
immortality which those gods enjoy.
15. Next follows the father's
tradition to the son, and thus they explain it. The
father, when going to depart, calls his son, after
having strewn the house with fresh grass, and
having laid the sacrificial fire, and having placed
near it a pot of water with a jug (full of rice),
himself covered with a new cloth, and dressed in
white. He places himself above his son, touching
his organs with his own organs, or he may deliver
the tradition to him while he sits before him. Then
he delivers it to him. The father says:
Let me place my speech in thee.' The
son says:
I take thy speech in me.' The father
says: 'Let me place my scent (prana) in thee.' The
son says : 'I take thy scent in me.' The father
says: 'Let me place my eye in thee.' The son says :
'I take thy eye in me.' The father says : 'Let me
place my ear in thee.' The son says: 'I take thy
ear in me.' The father says: 'Let me place my
tastes of food in thee.' The son says : 'I take thy
tastes of food in me.' The father says- 'Let me
place my actions in thee.' The son says: 'I take
thy actions in me.' The father says : 'Let me place
my pleasure and pain in thee.' The son says: 'I
take thy pleasure and pain in me.' The father says
Let me place happiness, joy, and offspring in
thee.' The son says: 'I take thy happiness, joy,
and offspring in me.' The father says : 'Let me
place my walking in thee.' The son says : 'I take
thy walking in me.' The father says: 'Let me place
my mind in thee.' The son says: 'I take thy mind in
me.' The father says: 'Let me place my knowledge (pragna)
in thee.' The son says: 'I take thy knowledge in
me.' But if the father is very ill, he may say
shortly: 'Let me place my spirits (pranas) in
thee,' and the son: 'I take thy spirits in me.'
Then the son walks round his father
keeping his right side towards him, and goes away.
The father calls after him: 'May fame, glory of
countenance, and honour always follow thee.' Then
the other looks back over his left shoulder,
covering himself with his hand or the hem of his
garment, saying: 'Obtain the heavenly worlds (svarga)
and all desires.'
If the father recovers, let him be
under the authority of his son, or let him wander
about (as an ascetic). But if he departs, then let
them despatch him, as he ought to be despatched,
yea, as he ought to be despatched.
THIRD ADHYAYA
1. Pratardana, forsooth, the son of
Divodasa (king of Kasi), came by means of fighting
and strength to the beloved abode of Indra. Indra
said to him 'Pratardana, let me give you a boon to
choose.' And Pratardana answered: 'Do you yourself
choose that boon for me which you deem most
beneficial for a man.' Indra said to him: 'No one
who chooses, chooses for another; choose thyself.'
Then Pratardana replied : 'Then that boon to choose
is no boon for me.'
Then, however, Indra did not swerve
from the truth, for Indra is truth. Indra said to
him: 'Know me only; that is what I deem most
beneficial for man, that he should know me. I slew
the three-headed son of Tvashtri; I delivered the
Arunmukhas, the devotees, to the wolves (salavrika);
breaking many treaties, I killed the people of
Prahlada in heaven, the people of Puloma in the
sky, the people of Kalakanga on earth. And not one
hair of me was harmed there. And he who knows me
thus, by no deed of his is his life harmed, not by
the murder of his mother, not by the murder of his
father, not by theft, not by the killing of a
Brahman. If he is going to commit a sin, the bloom
I does not depart from his face!
2. Indra said: 'I am prana, meditate
on me as the conscious self (pragnatman), as life,
as immortality. Life is prana, prana is life.
Immortality is prana, prana is immortality. As long
as prana dwells in this body, so long surely there
is life. By prana he obtains immortality in the
other world, by knowledge true conception. He who
meditates on me as life and immortality, gains his
full life in this world, and obtains in the Svarga
world immortality and indestructibility.'
(Pratardana said): 'Some maintain
here, that the pranas become one, for (otherwise)
no one could at the same time make known a name by
speech, see a form with the eye, hear a sound with
the ear, think a thought with the mind. After
having become one, the pranas perceive all these
together, one by one. While speech speaks, all
pranas speak after it. While the eye sees, all
pranas see after it. While the car hears, all
pranas hear after it. While the mind thinks, all
pranas think after it. While the prana breathes,
all pranas breathe after it.'
'Thus it is indeed,' said Indra,
'but nevertheless there is a pre-eminence among the
pranas.
3. Man lives deprived of speech, for
we see dumb people. Man lives deprived of sight,
for we see blind people. Man lives deprived of
hearing, for we see deaf people. Man lives deprived
of mind, for we see infants. Man lives deprived of
his arms, deprived of his legs, for we see it thus.
But prana alone is the conscious self (pragnatman),
and having laid hold of this body, it makes it rise
up. Therefore it is said, Let man worship it alone
as uktha. What is prana, that is pragna
(self-consciousness); what is pragna
(self-consciousness), that is prana, for together
they (pragna and prana) live in this body, and
together they go out of it. Of that, this is the
evidence, this is the understanding. When a man,
being thus asleep, sees no dream whatever, he
becomes one with that prana alone. Then speech goes
to him (when he is absorbed in prana) with all
names, the eye with all forms, the ear with all
sounds, the mind with all thoughts. And when he
awakes, then, as from a burning fire sparks proceed
in all directions, thus from that self the pranas
(speech, &c.) proceed, each towards its place; from
the pranas the gods (Agni, &c.), from the gods the
worlds.
Of this, this is the proof, this is
the understanding. When a man is thus sick, going
to die, falling into weakness and faintness, they
say: 'His thought has departed, he hears not, he
sees not, he speaks not, he thinks not.' Then he
becomes one with that prana alone. Then speech goes
to him (who is absorbed in prana) with all names,
the eye with all forms, the ear with all sounds,
the mind with all thoughts. And when he departs
from this body, he departs together with all these
4. Speech gives up to him (who is
absorbed in prana) all names, so that by speech he
obtains all names. The nose gives up to him all
odours, so that by scent he obtains all odours. The
eye gives up to him all forms, so that by the eye
he obtains all forms. The ear gives up to him all
sounds, so that by the ear he obtains all sounds.
The mind gives up to him all thoughts, so that by
the mind he obtains all thoughts. This is the
complete absorption in prana. And what is prana is
pragna (selfconsciousness), what is pragna
(self-consciousness) is prana. For together do
these two live in the body, and together do they
depart.
Now we shall explain how all things
become one a in that pragna. (self-consciousness).
5. Speech is one portion taken out
of pragna (self-conscious knowledge), the word is
its object, placed outside. The nose is one portion
taken out of it, the odour is its object, placed
outside. The eye is one portion taken out of it,
the form is its object, placed outside. The ear is
one portion taken out of it, the sound is its
object, placed outside. The tongue is one portion
taken out of it, the taste of food is its object,
placed outside. The two hands are one portion taken
out of it, their action is their object, placed
outside. The body is one portion taken out of it,
its pleasure and pain are its object, placed
outside. The organ is one portion taken out of it,
happiness, joy, and offspring are its object,
placed outside. The two feet are one portion taken
out of it, movements are their object, placed
outside. Mind is one portion taken out of it,
thoughts and desires are its object, placed
outside.
6. Having by pragna (self-conscious
knowledge) taken possession of speech, he obtains
by speech all words. Having by pragna taken
possession of the nose, he obtains all odours.
Having by pragna taken possession of the eye, he
obtains all forms. Having by pragna taken
possession of the ear, he obtains all sounds.
Having by pragna taken possession of the tongue, he
obtains all tastes of food. Having by pragna taken
possession of the two hands, he obtains all
actions. Having by pragna taken possession of the
body, he obtains pleasure and pain. Having by
pragna taken possession of the organ, he obtains
happiness, joy, and offspring. Having by pragna
taken possession of the two feet, he obtains all
movements. Having by pragna taken possession of
mind, he obtains all thoughts.
7. For without pragna
(self-consciousness) speech does not make known (to
the self) any word. 'My mind was absent,' he says,
'I did not perceive that word.' Without pragna the
nose does not make known any odour. 'My mind was
absent,' he says, ' I did not perceive that odour.'
Without pragna the eye does not make known any
form. 'My mind was absent,' he says, ' I did not
perceive that form.' Without pragna the ear does
not make known any sound. 'My mind was absent,' he
says, 'I did not perceive that sound.' Without
pragna the tongue does not make known any taste.
'My mind was absent,' he says, ' I did not perceive
that taste.' Without pragna the two hands do not
make known any act. 'Our mind was absent,' they
say, 'we did not perceive any act.' Without pragna
the body does not make known pleasure or pain. 'My
mind was absent,' he says, 'I did not perceive that
pleasure or pain.' Without pragna the organ does
not make known happiness, joy, or offspring. 'My
mind was absent,' he says, 'I did not perceive that
happiness, joy, or offspring.' Without pragna the
two feet do not make known any movement. 'Our mind
was absent,' they say, 'we did not perceive that
movement.' Without pragna no thought succeeds,
nothing can be known that is to be known.
8. Let no man try to find out what
speech is, let him know the speaker, Let no man try
to find out what odour is, let him know him who
smells. Let no man try to find out what form is,
let him know the seer. Let no man try to find out
what sound is, let him know the hearer. Let no man
try to find out the tastes of food, let him know
the knower of tastes. Let no man try to find out
what action is, let him know the agent. Let no man
try to find out what pleasure and pain are, let him
know the knower of pleasure and pain. Let no man
try to find out what happiness, joy, and offspring
are, let him know the knower of happiness, joy, and
offspring. Let no man try to find out what movement
is, let him know the mover. Let no man try to find
out what mind is, let him know the thinker. These
ten objects (what is spoken, smelled, seen, &c.)
have reference to pragna (self-consciousness), the
ten subjects (speech, the senses, mind) have
reference to objects. If there were no objects,
there would be no subjects; and if there were no
subjects, there would be no objects. For on either
side alone nothing could be achieved. But that (the
self of pragna, consciousness, and prana, life) is
not many, (but one.) For as in a car the
circumference of a wheel is placed on the spokes,
and the spokes on the nave, thus are these objects
(circumference) placed on the subjects (spokes),
and the subjects on the prana. And that prana
(breath, the living and breathing power) indeed is
the self of pragna (the self-conscious self),
blessed, imperishable, immortal. He does not
increase by a good action, nor decrease by a bad
action. For he (the self of prana and pragna) makes
him, whom he wishes to lead up from these worlds,
do a good deed; and the same makes him, whom he
wishes to lead down from these worlds, do a bad
deed. And he is the guardian of the world, he is
the king of the world, he is the lord of the
universe,and he is my (Indra's) self, thus let it
be known, yea, thus let it be known!
FOURTH ADHYAYA
1. There was formerly Gargya Balaki,
famous as a man of great reading; for it was said
of him that he lived among the Usinaras, among the
Satvat-Matsyas the Kuru-Pankalas, the Kasi-Videhas.
Having gone to Agatasatru, (the king) of Kasi, he
said to him: 'Shall I tell you Brahman?' Agatasatru
said to him: '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. [about 2 pages of verbatim
Sanskrit omitted]
3. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the sun, on him I meditate (as Brahman).'
Agatasatru said to him: 'No, no! do
not challenge me (to a disputation) on this. I
meditate on him who is called great, clad in white
raiment, the supreme, the head of all beings. Who
so meditates on him thus, becomes supreme, and the
head of all beings.'
4. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the moon, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Soma,
the king, the self, (source) of all food. Whoso
meditates on him thus, becomes the self, (source)
of all food.'
5. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the lightning, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him - 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self
in light. Whoso meditates on hirn thus, becomes the
self in light.'
6. Balaki said : 'The person that is
in the thunder, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self
of sound'. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes the
self of sound.'
7. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the ether, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the
full, quiescent Brahman. Whoso meditates on him
thus, is filled with offspring and cattle. Neither
he himself nor his offspring dies before the time.'
8. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the air, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Indra
Vaikuntha, as the unconquerable army. Whoso
meditates on him thus, becomes victorious,
unconquerable, conquering his enemies.'
9. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the fire, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as
powerful. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes
powerful among others.'
10. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the water, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self
of the name. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes
the self of the name.' So far with regard to
deities (mythological); now with regard to the body
(physiological).
11. Balaki said : 'The person that
is in the mirror, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the
likeness. Whoso meditates on him thus, to him a son
is born in his family who is his likeness, not one
who is not his likeness.'
12. Balaki said : 'The person that
is in the echo, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the
second, who never goes away. Whoso meditates on him
thus, he gets a second from his second (his wife),
he becomes doubled 1.
13. Balaki said: 'The sound that
follows a man, on that I meditate.
Agatasatru. said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as life.
Whoso meditates on him thus, neither he himself nor
his offspring will faint before the time.'
14. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the shadow, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as death.
Whoso meditates on him thus, neither he himself nor
his offspring will die before the time.'
15. Balaki said : 'The person that
is embodied, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Lord of
creatures. Whoso meditates on him thus, is
multiplied in offspring and cattle.'
16. Balaki said: 'The Self which is
conscious (pragna), and by whom he who sleeps here,
walks about in sleep, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Yama the
king. Whoso meditates on him thus, everything is
subdued for his excellencies.'
17. Balaki said: 'The person that is
in the right eye, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him: 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self
of the name, as the self of fire, as the self of
splendour. Whoso meditates on him thus, he becomes
the self of these.'
18. Balaki said The person that is
in the left eye, on him I meditate.'
Agatasatru said to him : 'Do not
challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self
of the true, as the self of lightning, as the self
of light. Whoso meditates on him thus, he becomes
the self of these.'
19. After this Balaki became silent.
Agatasatru said to him: 'Thus far only (do you
know), O Balaki?' 'Thus far only,' replied BalaAki.
Then Agatasatru said to him: 'Vainly
did you challenge me, saying: 'Shall I tell you
Brahman? O Balaki, he who is the maker of those
persons (whom you mentioned), he of whom all this
is the work, he alone is to be known.'
Thereupon Balaki came, carrying fuel
in his hand, saying: 'May I come to you as a
pupil?' Agatasatru said to him: ' I deem it
improper that a Kshatriya should initiate a
Brahmana. Come, I shall make you know clearly.'
Then taking him by the hand, he went forth. And the
two together came to a person who was asleep. And
Agatasatru called him, saying: 'Thou great one,
clad in white raiment, Soma, King.' But he remained
lying. Then he pushed him with a stick, and he rose
at once. Then said Agatasatru to him: 'Balaki,
where did this person here sleep? Where was he?
Whence came he thus back?. Balaki did not know.
20. And Agatasatru said to him:
'Where this person here slept, where he was, whence
he thus came back, is this: The arteries of the
heart called Hita extend from the heart of the
person towards the surrounding body. Small as a
hair divided a thousand times, they stand full of a
thin fluid of various colours, white, black,
yellow, red. In these the person is when sleeping
he sees no dream.
Then he becomes one with that prana
alone. Then speech goes to him with all names, the
eye with all forms, the ear with all sounds, the
mind with all thoughts. And when he awakes, then,
as from a burning fire, sparks proceed in all
directions, thus from that self the pranas (speech,
&c.) proceed, each towards its place, from the
pranas the gods, from the gods the worlds. And as a
razor might be fitted in a razor-case, or as fire
in the fire-place (the arani on the altar), even
thus this conscious self enters the self of the
body (considers the body as himself) to the very
hairs and nails. And the other selfs (such as
speech, &c.) follow that self, as his people follow
the master of the house. And as the master feeds
with his people, nay, as his people feed on the
master, thus does this conscious self feed with the
other selfs, as a master with his people, and the
other selfs follow him, as his people follow the
master. So long as Indra did not understand that
self, the Asuras conquered him. When he understood
it, he conquered the Asuras and obtained the
pre-eminence among all gods, sovereignty,
supremacy. And thus also he who knows this obtains
pre-eminence among all beings, sovereignty,
supremacy, - yea, he who knows this. |