|
KHANDOGYA-UPANISHAD
FIRST
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the syllable Om, called the udgitha; for the udgitha (a
portion of the Sama-veda) is sung, beginning with Om.
The full
account, however, of Om is this:-
2. The
essence of all beings is the earth, the essence of the earth is water, the
essence of water the plants, the essence of plants man, the essence of man
speech, the essence of speech the Rig-veda, the essence of the Rig-veda
the Sama-veda, the essence of the Sama-veda the udgitha (which is Om).
3. That
udgitha (Om) is the best of all essences, the highest, deserving the
highest place, the eighth.
4. What then
is the Rik ? What is the Saman? What is the udgitha ? This is the
question.
5. The Rik
indeed is speech, Saman is breath, the udgitha is the syllable Om. Now
speech and breath, or.Rik and Saman, form one couple.
6. And that
couple is joined together in the syllable Om. When two people come
together, they fulfil each other's desire.
7. Thus he
who knowing this, meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgitha, becomes
indeed a fulfiller of desires.
8. That
syllable is a syllable of permission, for whenever we permit anything, we
say Om, yes. Now permission is gratification. He who knowing this
meditates on the syllable (Om), the udgitha, becomes indeed a gratifier of
desires.
9. By that
syllable does the threefold knowledge (the sacrifice, more particularly
the Soma sacrifice, as founded on the three Vedas) proceed. When the
Adhvaryu priest gives an order, he says Om. When the Hotri priest recites,
he says Om. When the Udgatri priest sings, he says Om, -- all for the
glory of that syllable. The threefold knowledge (the sacrifice) proceeds
by the greatness of that syllable (the vital breaths), and by its essence
(the ablations).
10. Now
therefore it would seem to follow, that both he who knows this (the true
meaning of the syllable Om), and he who does not, perform the same
sacrifice. But this is not so, for knowledge and ignorance are different.
The sacrifice which a man performs with knowledge, faith, and the
Upanishad is more powerful. This is the full account of the syllable Om.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. When the
Devas and Asuras struggled together, both of the race of Pragapati, the
Devas took the udgitha (Om), thinking they would vanquish the Asuras with
it.
2. They
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as the breath (scent) in the nose, but the
Asuras pierced it (the breath) with evil. Therefore we smell by the breath
in the nose both what is good smelling and what is bad-smelling. For the
breath was pierced by evil.
Then they
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as speech, but the Asuras pierced it with
evil. Therefore we speak both truth and falsehood. For speech is pierced
by evil.
4. Then they
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as the eye, but the Asuras pierced it with
evil. Therefore we see both what is sightly and unsightly. For the eye is
pierced by evil.
5. Then they
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as the ear, but the Asuras pierced it with
evil. Therefore we hear both what should be heard and what should not be
heard. For the ear is pierced by evil.
6. Then they
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as the mind, but the Asuras pierced it with
evil. Therefore we conceive both what should be conceived and what should
not be conceived. For the mind is pierced by evil.
7. Then comes
this breath (of life) in the mouth. They meditated on the udgitha (Om) as
that. breath. When the Asuras came to it, they were scattered, as (a ball
of earth) would be scattered when hitting a solid stone.
8. Thus, as a
ball of earth is scattered when hitting on a solid stone, will he be
scattered who wishes evil to one who knows this, or who persecutes him;
for he is a solid stone.
9. By it (the
breath in the mouth) he distinguishes neither what is good nor what is
bad-smelling, for that breath is free from evil. What we eat and drink
with it supports the other vital breaths (i.e. the senses, such as smell,
&c.) When at the time of death he does not find that breath (in the mouth,
through which he eats and drinks and lives), then he departs. He opens the
mouth at the time of death (as if wishing to eat).
10. Angiras
meditated on the udgitha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it to be
Angiras, i.e. the essence of the members (anginam rasah);
11. Therefore
Brihaspati meditated on udgitha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it to
be Brihaspati, for speech is brihati, and he (that breath) is the lord (pati)
of speech;
12. Therefore
Ayisya meditated on the udgitha (Om) as that breath, and people hold it to
be Ayasya, because it comes (ayati) from the mouth (.Asya);
13. Therefore
Vaka Dalbhya knew it. He was the Udgatri (singer) of the
Naimishiya-sacrificers, and by singing he obtained for them their wishes.
14. He who
knows this, and meditates on the syllable Om (the imperishable udgitha) as
the breath of life in the mouth, he obtains all wishes by singing. So much
for the udgitha (Om) as meditated on with reference to the body.
THIRD
KHANDA
1. Now
follows the meditation on the udgitha with reference to the gods. Let a
man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as he who sends warmth (the sun in the
sky). When the sun rises it sings as Udgatri for the sake of all
creatures. When it rises it destroys the fear of darkness. He who knows
this, is able to destroy the fear of darkness (ignorance).
2. This (the
breath in the mouth) and that (the sun) are the same. This is hot and that
is hot. This they call svara (sound), and that they call pratyasvara
(reflected sound). Therefore let a man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as
this and that (as breath and as sun).
3. Then let a
man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as vyana indeed. If we breathe up, that
is prana, the up-breathing. If we breathe down, that is apana, the
down-breathing. The combination of prana and apana is vyana,
back-breathing or holding in of the breath. This vyana is speech.
Therefore when we utter speech, we neither breathe up nor down.
4. Speech is
Rik, and therefore when a man utters a Rik verse he neither breathes up
nor down.
Rik is Saman,
and therefore when a man utters a Saman verse he neither breathes up nor
down.
Saman is
udgitha, and therefore when a man sings (the udgitha, Om) he neither
breathes up nor down.
5. And other
works also which require strength, such as the production of fire by
rubbing, running a race, stringing a strong bow, are performed without
breathing up or down. Therefore let a man meditate on the udgitha (Om) as
vyana.
6. Let a man
meditate on the syllables of the udgitha, i.e. of the word udgitha. Ut is
breath (prana), for by means of breath a man rises (uttishthati). Gi is
speech, for speeches are called girah. Tha is food, for by means of food
all subsists (sthita).
7. Ut is
heaven, gi the sky, tha the earth. Ut is the sun, gi the air, tha the
fire. Ut is the Sama-veda, gi the Yagur-veda, tha the Rig-veda. Speech
yields the milk, which is the milk of speech itself, to him who thus
knowing meditates on those syllables of the name of udgitha, he becomes
rich in food and able to eat food.
8. Next
follows the fulfilment of prayers. Let a man thus meditate on the
Upasaranas, i. e. the objects which have to be approached by meditation:
Let him (the Udgatri) quickly reflect on the Saman with which he is going
to praise;
9. Let him
quickly reflect on the Rik in which that Saman occurs; on the Rishi (poet)
by whom it was seen or composed; on the Devata (object) which he is going
to praise;
10. On the
metre in which he is going to praise; on the tune with which he is going
to sing for himself;
11. On the
quarter of the world which he is going to praise. Lastly, having
approached himself (his name, family, &c.) by meditation, let him sing the
hymn of praise, reflecting on his desire, and avoiding all mistakes in
pronunciation, &c. Quickly I will the desire be then fulfilled to him, for
the sake of which he may have offered his hymn of praise, yea, for which
he may have offered his hymn of praise.
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the syllable Om, for the udgitha is sung beginning with Om.
And this is the full account of the syllable Om:-
2. The Devas,
being afraid of death, entered upon (the performance of the sacrifice
prescribed in) the threefold knowledge (the three Vedas). They covered
themselves with the metrical hymns. Because they covered (khad) themselves
with the hymns, therefore the hymns are called khandas.
3. Then, as a
fisherman might observe a fish in the water, Death observed the Devas in
the Rik, Yagus, and Saman-(sacrifices). And the Devas seeing this, rose
from the Rik, Yagus, and Saman-sacrifices, and entered the Svara, i.e. the
Om (they meditated on the Om).
4. When a man
has mastered the Rig-veda, he says quite loud Om; the same, when he has
mastered the Saman and the Yagus. This Svara is the imperishable
(syllable), the immortal, free from fear. Because the Devas entered it,
therefore they became immortal, and free from fear.
5. He who
knowing this loudly pronounces (pranauti) that syllable, enters the Same
(imperishable) syllable, the Svara, the immortal, free from fear, and
having entered it, becomes immortal, as the Devas are immortal.
FIFTH KHANDA
1. The
udgitha is the pranava, the pranava is the udgitha. And as the udgitha is
the sun, So is the pranava, for he (the sun) goes sounding Om.
2. 'Him I
sang praises to, therefore art thou my only one,' thus said Kaushitaki to
his son. 'Do thou revolve his rays, then thou wilt have many sons.' So
much in reference to the Devas.
Now with
reference to the body. Let a man meditate on the udgitha as the breath (in
the mouth), for he goes sounding Om.
4. 'Him I
sang praises to, therefore art thou my only son,' thus said Kaushitaki to
his son. 'Do thou therefore sing praises to the breath as manifold, if
thou wishest to have many sons.'
5. He who
knows that the udgitha is the pranava, and the pranava the udgitha,
rectifies from the seat of the Hotri priest any mistake committed by the
Udgitri priest in performing the udgitha, yea, in performing the udgitha.
SIXTH KHANDA
1. The Rik (veda)
is this earth, the Saman (veda) is fire. This Saman (fire) rests on
that.Rik (earth). Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is
this earth, ama is fire, and that makes Sama.
2. The Rik is
the sky, the Saman air. This Saman (air) rests on that Rik (sky).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the.Rik. Sa is the sky, ama the
air, and that makes Sama.
3. Rik is
heaven, Saman the sun. This Saman (sun) rests on that Rik (heaven).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the.Rik. Sa is heaven, ama the
sun, and that makes Sama.
4. Rik is the
stars, Saman the moon. This Saman (moon) rests on that.Rik (stars).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is the stars, ama
the moon, and that makes Sama.
5. Rik is the
white light of the sun, Saman the blue exceeding darkness (in the sun).
This Saman (darkness) rests on that Rik (brightness). Therefore the Saman
is sung as resting on the Rik.
6. Sa is the
white light of the sun, ama the blue exceeding darkness, and that makes
Sama. Now that golden person, who is seen within the sun, with golden
beard and golden hair, golden altogether to the very tips of his nails,
7. Whose eyes
are like blue lotus's, his name is ut, for he has risen (udita) above all
evil. He also who knows this, rises above all evil.
8. Rik and
Saman are his joints, and therefore he is udgitha. And therefore he who
praises him (the ut) is called the Ud-gatri (the out-singer). He (the
golden person, called ut) is lord of the worlds beyond that (sun), and of
all the wishes of the Devas (inhabiting those worlds). So much with
reference to the Devas.
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. Now with
reference to the body. Rik is speech, Saman breath. This Saman (breath)
rests on that Rik (speech). Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the
Rik. Sa is speech, ama is breath, and that makes Sama.
2. Rik is the
eye, Saman the self. This Saman (shadow) rests on that Rik (eye).
Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is the eye, ama the
self and that makes Sama.
3. Rik is the
ear, Saman the mind. This Saman (mind) rests on that Rik (ear). Therefore
the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is the ear, ama the mind, and
that makes Sama.
4- Rik is the
white light of the eye, Saman- the blue exceeding darkness. This Saman
(darkness)
rests on the
Rik (brightness). Therefore the Saman is sung as resting on the Rik. Sa is
the white light of the eye, ama the blue exceeding darkness, and that
makes Sama.
5. Now the
person who is seen in the eye, he is Rik, he is Saman, Uktha, Yagus,
Brahman. The form of that person (in the eye) is the same, as the form of
the other person (in the sun), the joints of the one (Rik and Saman) are
the joints of the other, the name of the one (ut) is the name of the
other.
6. He is lord
of the worlds beneath that (the self in the eye), and of all the wishes of
men. Therefore all who sing to the vina (lyre), sing him, and from him
also they obtain wealth.
7. He who
knowing this sings a Saman, sings to both (the adhidaivata and adhyatma
self, the person in the sun and the person in the eye, as one and the same
person). He obtains through the one, yea, he obtains the worlds beyond
that, and the wishes of the Devas;
8. And he
obtains through the other the worlds beneath that, and the wishes of men.
Therefore an
Udgatri priest who knows this, may say (to the sacrificer for whom he
officiates);
9. 'What wish
shall I obtain for you by my songs?' For he who knowing this sings a Saman
is able to obtain wishes through his song, yea, through his song.
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. There were
once three men, well-versed in udgitha, Silaka Salavatya, Kaikitayana
Dalbhya, and Pravahana Gaivali. They said: 'We are well versed in udgitha.
Let us have a discussion on udgitha.'
2. They all
agreed and sat down. Then Pravahana Gaivali said: 'Sirs, do you both speak
first, for I wish to hear what two Brahmanas I have to say.
3. Then
Silaka Salavatya said to Kaikitayana Dalbhya: 'Let me ask you.'
'Ask,' he
replied.
4. 'What is
the origin of the Saman?' 'Tone (svara),' he replied.
'What is the
origin of tone?' Breath,' he replied.
What is the
origin of breath?' 'Food,' he replied.
'What is the
origin of food?' 'Water,' he replied.
5. 'Wha is
the origin of water?' 'That world (heaven),' he replied.
'And what is
the origin of that world ?'
He replied:
'Let no man carry the Saman beyond the world of svarga (heaven). We place
(recognise) the Saman in the world of svarga, for the Saman is extolled as
svarga (heaven).'
6. Then said
Silaka Salavatya to Kaikitayana Dalbhya: 'O Dalbhya, thy Saman is not
firmly established. And if any one were to say, Your head shall fall off
(if you be wrong), surely your head would now fall.'
7. 'Well
then, let me know this from you, Sir,' said Dalbhya.
'Know it,'
replied Silaka Salavatya.
'What is the
origin of that world (heaven)?'
'This world,'
he replied.
'And what is
the origin of this world? --
He replied:
'Let no man carry the Saman beyond this world as its rest. We place the
Saman in this world as its rest, for the Saman is extolled as rest.'
8. Then said
Pravihana Gaivali to Silaka Salavatya: 'Your Saman (the earth), O
Salavatya, has an end. And if any one were to say, Your head shall fall
off (if you be wrong), surely your head would now fall.'
'Well then,
let me know this from you, Sir,' said Salavatya.
'Know it,'
replied Gaivali.
NINTH
KHANDA
1 'What is
the origin of this world?' 'Ether',' he replied. For all these beings take
their rise from the ether, and return into the ether. Ether is older than
these, ether is their rest.
2. He is
indeed the udgitha (Om = Brahman), greater than great (parovariyas), he is
without end. He who knowing this meditates on the udgitha, the greater
than great, obtains what is greater than great, he conquers the worlds
which are greater than great.
3. Atidhanvan
Saunaka, having taught this udgitha to Udara-sandilya, said: 'As long as
they will know in your family this udgitha, their life in this world will
be greater than great.
4. 'And thus
also will be their state in the other world.' He who thus knows the
udgitha, and meditates on it thus, his life in this world will be greater
than great, and also his state in the other world, yea, in the other
world.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. When the
Kurus had been destroyed by (hail) stones, Ushasti Kakrayana lived as a
beggar with his virgin wife at Ibhyagrama.
2. Seeing a
chief eating beans, he begged of him. The chief said: 'I have no more,
except those which are put away for me here.'
3. Ushasti
said: 'Give me to eat of them.' He gave him the beans, and said: 'There is
something to drink also.' Then said Ushasti: 'If I drank of it, I should
have drunk what was left by another, and is therefore unclean.'
4. The chief
said: 'Were not those beans also left over and therefore unclean?'
'No,' he
replied; 'for I should not have lived, if I had not eaten them, but the
drinking of water would be mere pleasure.'
5. Having
eaten himself, Ushasti gave the remaining beans to his wife. But she,
having eaten before, took them and put them away.
6. Rising the
next morning, Ushasti said to her: 'Alas, if we could only get some food,
we might gain a little wealth. The king here is going to offer a
sacrifice, he should choose me for all the priestly offices.'
7. His wife
said to him: 'Look, here are those beans of yours.' Having eaten them, he
went to the sacrifice which was being performed.
8. He went
and sat down on the orchestra near the Udgatris, who were going to sing
their hymns of praise. And he said to the Prastotri (the leader):
9. 'Prastotri,
if you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the prastava (the hymns
&c. of the Prastotri), are going to sing it, your head will fall off.'
10. In the
same manner he addressed the Udgatri: 'Udgatri, if you, without knowing
the deity which belongs to the udgitha (the hymns of the Udgatri), are
going to sing it, your head will fall off.'
11. In the
same manner he addressed the Pratihartri: ' Pratihartri, if you, without
knowing the deity which belongs to the pratihara (the hymns of the
Pratihartri), are going to sing it, your head will fall off.'
They stopped,
and sat down in silence.
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. Then the
sacrificer said to him: 'I should like to know who you are, Sir.' He
replied: 'I am Ushasti Kakrayana.'
2. He said:
'I looked for you, Sir, for all these sacrificial offices, but not finding
you, I chose others.'
3. 'But now,
Sir, take all the sacrificial offices.'
Ushasti said:
'Very well; but let those, with my permission, perform the hymns of
praise. Only as much wealth as you give to them, so much give to me also.'
The
sacrificer assented.
4. Then the
Prastotri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Prastotri, if
you, without knowing the deity which belongs to the prastava, are going to
sing it, your head will fall off," --which then is that deity?'
5. He said:
'Breath (prana). For all these beings merge into breath alone, and from
breath they arise. This is the deity belonging to the prastava. If,
without knowing that deity, you had sung forth your hymns, your head would
have fallen off, after you had been warned by me.'
6. Then the
Udgatri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Udgatri, if you,
without knowing the deity which belongs to the udgitha, are going to sing
it, your head will fall off," -- which then is that deity?'
7. He said:
'The sun (aditya). For all these beings praise the sun when it stands on
high. This is the deity belonging to the udgitha. If, without knowing that
deity, you had sung out your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after
you had been warned by me.'
8. Then the
Pratihartri approached him, saying: 'Sir, you said to me, " Pratihartri,
if you, without knowing the deity belonging to the pratihara, are going to
sing it, your head will fall off, -which then is that deity?'
9. He said:
'Food (anna). For all these beings live when they partake of food. This is
the deity belonging to the pratihara. If, without knowing that deity, you
had sung your hymns, your head would have fallen off, after you had been
warned by me.'
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. Now
follows the udgitha of the dogs. Vaka Dalbhya, or, as he was also called,
Glava Maitreya, went out to repeat the Veda (in a quiet place).
2. A white
(dog) appeared before him, and other dogs gathering round him, said to
him: 'Sir, sing and get us food, we are hungry.'
3. The white
dog said to them: 'Come to me to-morrow morning.' Vaka Dalbhya, or, as he
was also called, Glava Maitreya, watched.
4. The dogs
came on, holding together, each dog keeping the tail of the preceding dog
in his mouth, as the priests do when they are going to sing praises with
the Vahishpavamana hymn. After they had settled down, they began to say
Hin.
5. Om, let us
eat! Om, let us drink! Om, may the divine Varuna, Pragapati, Savitri bring
us food! Lord of food, bring hither food, bring it, Om!'
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1 The
syllable Hau is this world (the earth), the syllable Hai the air, the
syllable Atha the moon, the syllable Iha the self, the syllable I is Agni,
fire.
2. The
syllable U is the sun, the syllable E is the Nihava or invocation, the
syllable Auhoi is the Visve Devas, the syllable Hin is Pragapati, Svara
(tone) is breath (prana), the syllable Ya is food, the syllable Vag is
Virag.
3. The
thirteenth stobha syllable, viz. the indistinct syllable Hun, is the
Undefinable (the Highest Brahman).
4. Speech
yields the milk, which is the milk of speech itself to him who knows this
Upanishad (secret doctrine) of the Samans in this wise. He becomes rich in
food, and able to eat food, - yea, able to eat food.
SECOND
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. Meditation
on the whole of the Saman is good, and people, when anything is good, say
it is Saman; when it is not good, it is not Saman.
2. Thus they
also say, he approached him with Saman, i.e. becomingly; and he approached
him without Saman, i.e. unbecomingly.
3. And they
also say, truly this is Saman for us, i.e. it is good for us, when it is
good; and truly
that is not
Saman for us, i.e. it is not good for us, when it is not good.
4. If any one
knowing this meditates on the Saman as good, depend upon it all good
qualities will approach quickly, aye, they will become his own.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman as the five worlds. The hinkara is the
earth, the prastava the fire, the udgitha the sky, the pratihara the sun,
the nidhana heaven; so in an ascending line.
2. In a
descending line, the hinkara is heaven, the prastava the sun, the udgitha
the sky, the pratihara the fire, the nidhana the earth.
3. The worlds
in an ascending and in a descending line belong to him who knowing this
meditates on the fivefold Saman as the worlds.
THIRD
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman as rain. The hinkara is wind (that brings
the rain); the prastava is, 'the cloud is come;' the udgitha is, 'it
rains;' the pratihara, 'it flashes, it thunders;'
2. The
nidhana is, 'it stops.' There is rain for him, and he brings rain for
others who thus knowing meditates on the fivefold Saman as rain.
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman in all waters. When the clouds gather, that
is the hinkara; when it rains, that is the prastava ; that which flows in
the east, that is the udgitha; that which flows in the West, that is the
pratihara; the sea is the nidhana.
2. He does
not die in water, nay, he is rich in water who knowing this meditates on
the fivefold Saman as all waters.
FIFTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman as the seasons. The hinkara is spring, the
prastava summer (harvest of yava, &c.), the udgitha the rainy season, the
pratihara autumn, the nidhana winter.
2. The
seasons belong to him, nay, he is always in season (successful) who
knowing this meditates on the fivefold Saman as the seasons.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman in animals. The hinkara is goats, the
prastava sheep, the udgitha cows, the pratihara horses, the nidhana man.
2. Animals
belong to him, nay, he is rich in animals who knowing this meditates on
the fivefold Saman as animals.
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the fivefold Saman, which is greater than great, as the pranas
(senses). The hinkara is smell (nose), the prastava speech (tongue), the
udgitha sight (eye), the pratihara hearing (ear), the nidhana mind. These
are one greater than the other.
2. What is
greater than great belongs to him, nay, he conquers the worlds which are
greater than great, who knowing this meditates on the fivefold Saman,
which is greater than great, as the prinas (senses).
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. Next for
the sevenfold Saman. Let a man meditate on the sevenfold Saman in speech.
Whenever there is in speech the syllable hun, that is hinkara, pra is the
prastava, a is the adi, the first, i.e. Om,
2. Ud is the
udgitha, pra. the pratihara, upa the upadrava, ni the nidhana.
3. Speech
yields the milk, which is the milk of speech itself, to him who knowing
this meditates on the sevenfold Saman in speech. He becomes rich in food,
and able to eat food.
NINTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on the sevenfold Saman as the sun. The sun is Saman, because he
is always the same (Sama); he is Saman because he is the same, everybody
thinking he looks towards me, he looks towards me.
2. Let him
know that all beings are dependent on him (the sun). What he is before his
rising, that is the hinkara. On it animals are dependent. Therefore
animals say hin (before sunrise), for they share the hinkara of that Saman
(the sun).
3. What he is
when first risen, that is the prastava. On it men are dependent. Therefore
men love praise (prastuti) and celebrity, for they share the prastiva of
that Saman.
4- What he is
at the time of the sangava, that is the Adi, the first, the Om. On it
birds are dependent. Therefore birds fly about in the sky without support,
holding themselves, for they share the adi (the Om) of that Saman.
5. What he is
just at noon, that is the udgitha. On it the Devas are dependent (because
they are brilliant). Therefore they are the best of all the descendants of
Pragapati, for they share the udgitha of that Saman.
6. What he is
after midday and before afternoon, that is the pratihara. On it all germs
are dependent. Therefore these, having been conceived (pratihrita), do not
fall, for they share the pratihara of that Saman.
7. What he is
after the afternoon and before sunset, that is the upadrava. On it the
animals of the forest are dependent. Therefore, when they see a man, they
run (upadravanti) to the forest as a safe hiding-place, for they share the
upadrava of that Saman.
8. What he is
when he first sets, that is the nidhana. On it the fathers are dependent.
Therefore they put them down (nidadhati), for they share the nidhana of
that Saman. Thus a man meditates on the sevenfold Saman as the sun.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. Next let a
man meditate on the sevenfold Saman which is uniform in itself and leads
beyond death. The word hinikara has three syllables, the word prastava has
three syllables: that is equal (Sama).
2. The word
Adi (first, Om) has two syllables, the word pratihara has four syllables.
Taking one syllable from that over, that is equal (Sama).
3. The word
udgitha has three syllables, the word upadrava has four syllables. With
three and three syllables it should be equal. One syllable being left
over, it becomes trisyllabic. Hence it is equal.
4. The word
nidhana has three syllables, therefore it is equal. These make twenty-two
syllables.
5. With
twenty-one syllables a man reaches the sun (and death), for the sun is the
twenty-first from here; with the twenty-second he conquers what is beyond
the sun: that is blessedness, that is freedom from grief.
6. He obtains
here the victory over the sun (death), and there is a higher victory than
the victory over the sun for him, who knowing this meditates on the
sevenfold Saman as uniform in itself, which leads beyond death, yea, which
leads beyond death.
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is mind, the prastava speech, the udgitha sight, the pratihara
hearing, the nidhana breath. That is the Gayatra Saman, as interwoven in
the (five) pranas.
2. He who
thus knows this Gayatra interwoven in the pranas, keeps his senses,
reaches the full life, he lives long , becomes great with children and
cattle, great by fame. The rule of him who thus meditates on the Gayatra
is, 'Be not high-minded.'
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is, he rubs (the fire-stick); the prastava, smoke rises; the
udgitha, it burns; the pratihara, there are glowing coals; the nidhana, it
goes down; the nidhana, it is gone out. This is the Rathantara Saman as
interwoven in fire.
2. He who
thus knows this Rathantara interwoven in fire, becomes radiant and strong.
He reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and
cattle, great by fame. The rule is, 'Do not rinse the mouth or spit before
the fire.'
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
[The next
Khanda is not translated by Muller: this translation from The Principal
Upanishads, S. Radhakrishnan tr.]
1. One
summons, that is the syllable him. He makes request, that is a prastava.
Along with the woman, he lies down, that is the udgiha. He lies on the
woman, that is the pratihara. He comes to the end, that is the nidhana. He
comes to the finish, that is the nidhana. This is the Vamadevya chant
woven on sex intercourse.
2. He who
knows this Vamadeva chant as woven on sex intercourse, comes to
intercourse, procreates himself from every act, reaches a full length of
life, lives well, becomes great in offspring and in cattle, great in fame.
One should not despise any woman. That is the rule
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Rising,
the sun is the hinkara, risen, he is the prastava, at noon he is the
udgitha, in the afternoon he is the pratihara, setting, he is the nidhana.
That is the Brihat Saman as interwoven in the sun.
2. He who
thus knows the Brihat as interwoven in the sun, becomes refulgent and
strong, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with
children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the
heat of the sun.'
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
I. The mists
gather, that is the hinkara; the cloud has risen, that is the prastava; it
rains, that is the udgitha; it flashes and thunders, that is the pratihara;
it stops, that is the nidhana. That is the Vairupa Saman, as interwoven in
Parganya, the god of rain.
2. He who
thus knows the Vairupa as interwoven in Parganya, obtains all kinds of
cattle (virupa), he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great
with children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of
the rain.'
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is spring, the prastava summer, the udgitha the rainy season, the
pratihara autumn, the nidhana winter. That is the Vairaga Saman, as
interwoven in the seasons.
2. He who
thus knows the Vairaga, as interwoven in the seasons, shines (viragati)
through children, cattle, and glory of countenance. He reaches the full
life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by
fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the seasons.'
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is the earth, the prastava the sky, the udgitha heaven, the
pratihara the regions, the nidhana the sea. These are the Sakvari Samans,
as interwoven in the worlds'.
2. He who
thus knows the Sakvaris, as interwoven in the worlds, becomes possessed of
the worlds, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with
children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of the
worlds.'
EIGHTEENTH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is goats, the prastava sheep, the udgitha cows, the pratihara
horses, the nidhana man. These are the Revati Samans, as interwoven in
animals.
2. He who
thus knows these Revatis, as interwoven in animals, becomes rich in
animals, he reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with
children and cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Never complain of
animals.'
NINETEENTH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is hair, the prastiva skin, the udgitha flesh, the pratihara bone,
the nidhana marrow. That is the Yagnayagniya Saman, as interwoven in the
members of the body.
2. He who
thus knows the Yagnayagniya, as interwoven in the members of the body,
becomes possessed of strong limbs, he is not crippled in any limb, he
reaches the full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and
cattle, great by fame. His rule is, 'Do not eat marrow for a year,' or 'Do
not eat marrow at all.'
TWENTIETH
KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is fire, the prastiva air, the udgitha the sun, the pratihira the
stars, the nidhana the moon. That is the Ragana Saman, as interwoven in
the deities.
2. He who
thus knows the Ragana, as interwoven in the deities, obtains the same
world, the same happiness, the same company as the gods, he reaches the
full life, he lives long, becomes great with children and cattle, great by
fame. His rule is, 'Do not speak evil of the Brahmanas.'
TWENTY-FIRST KHANDA
1. The
hinkara is the threefold knowledge, the prastava these three worlds, the
udgitha Agni (fire), Vayu (air), and Aditya (sun), the pratihara the
stars, the birds, and the rays, the nidhana the serpents, Gandharvas, and
fathers. That is the Saman, as interwoven in everything.
2. He who
thus knows this Saman, as interwoven in everything, he becomes everything.
3. And thus
it is said in the following verse: 'There are the fivefold three (the
three kinds of sacrificial knowledge, the three worlds &c. in their
fivefold form, i.e. as identified with the hinkara, the prastiva, &c.),
and the other forms of the Saman. Greater than these there is nothing else
besides.'
4. He who
knows this, knows everything. All regions offer him gifts. His rule is,
'Let him meditate (on the Saman), knowing that he is everything, yea, that
he is everything.'
TWENTY-SECOND KHANDA
1. The
udgitha, of which a poet said, I choose the deep sounding note of the
Saman as good for cattle, belongs to Agni; the indefinite note belongs to
Pragapati, the definite note to Soma, the soft and smooth note to Vayu,
the smooth and strong note to Indra, the heron-like note to Brihaspati,
the dull note to Varuna. Let a man cultivate all of these, avoiding,
however, that of Varuna.
2. Let a man
sing, wishing to obtain by his song immortality for the Devas. 'May I
obtain by my song ablations (svadha) for the fathers, hope for men, fodder
and water for animals, heaven for the sacrificer, food for myself,' thus
reflecting on these in his mind, let a man (Udgatri priest) sing praises,
without making mistakes in pronunciation, &c.
3. All vowels
(svara) belong to Indra, all sibilants (ushman) to Pragapati, all
consonants (sparsa) to Mrityu (death). If somebody should reprove him for
his vowels, let him say, 'I went to Indra as my refuge (when pronouncing
my vowels): he will answer thee.'
4. And if
somebody should reprove him for his sibilants, let him say, 'I went to
Pragipati as my refuge: he will smash thee.' And if somebody should
reprove him for his consonants, let him say, 'I went to Mrityu as my
refuge: he will reduce thee to ashes.'
5. All vowels
are to be pronounced with voice (ghosha) and strength (bala), so that the
Udgatri may give strength to Indra. All sibilants are to be pronounced,
neither as if swallowed (agrasta), nor as if thrown out (nirasta), but
well opened (vivrita), so that the Udgatri may give himself to Pragapati.
All consonants are to be pronounced slowly, and without crowding them
together, so that the Udgatri may withdraw himself from Mrityu.
TWENTY-THIRD KHANDA
1. There are
three branches of the law. Sacrifice, study, and charity are the first,
2. Austerity
the second, and to dwell as a Brahmakarin in the house of a tutor, always
mortifying the body in the house of a tutor, is the third. All these
obtain the worlds of the blessed; but the Brahmasamstha alone (he who is
firmly grounded in Brahman) obtains immortality.
3. Pragapati
brooded on the worlds. From them, thus brooded on, the threefold knowledge
(sacrifice) issued forth. He brooded on it, and from it, thus brooded on,
issued the three syllables, Bhuh, Bhuvah, Svah.
4. He brooded
on them, and from them, thus brooded on, issued the Om. As all leaves are
attached to a stalk, so is all speech (all words) attached to the Om
(Brahman). Om is all this, yea, Om is all this.
TWENTY-FOURTH KHANDA
1. The
teachers of Brahman (Veda) declare, as the Pratah-savana
(morning-oblation) belongs to the Vasus, the Madhyandina-savana
(noon-libation) to the Rudras, the third Savana (evening-libation) to the
Adityas and the Visve Devas,
2. Where then
is the world of the sacrificer? He who does not know this, how can he
perform the sacrifice? He only who knows, should perform it.
3. Before the
beginning of the Prataranuvaka (matin-chant), the sacrificer, sitting down
behind the household altar (garhapatya), and looking towards the north,
sings the Saman, addressed to the Vasus:
4. 'Open the
door of the world (the earth), let us see thee, that we may rule (on
earth).'
5. Then he
sacrifices, saying: 'Adoration to Agni, who dwells on the earth, who
dwells in the world! Obtain that world for me, the sacrificer! That is the
world for the sacrificer!'
6. 'I (the
sacrificer) shall go thither, when this life is over. Take this! (he says,
in offering the libation.) Cast back the bolt!' Having said this, he
rises. For him the Vasus fulfil the morning oblation.
7. Before the
beginning of the Madhyandina-savana, the noon-oblation, the sacrificer,
sitting down behind the Agnidhriya altar, and looking towards the north,
sings the Saman, addressed to the Rudras:
8. 'Open the
door of the world (the sky), let us see thee, that we may rule wide (in
the sky).'
9. Then he
sacrifices, saying: 'Adoration to Vayu (air), who dwells in the sky, who
dwells in the world. Obtain that world for me, the sacrificer! That is the
world for the sacrificer!'
10. 'I (the
sacrificer) shall go thither, when this life is over. Take this! Cast back
the bolt!' Having said this, he rises. For him the Rudras fulfil the
noon-oblation.
11. Before
the beginning of the third oblation, the sacrificer, sitting down behind
the Ahavantya altar, and looking towards the north, sings the Saman,
addressed to the Adityas and Visve Devas:
12. 'Open the
door of the world (the heaven), let us see thee, that we may rule supreme
(in heaven).' This is addressed to the Adityas.
13. Next the
Saman addressed to the Visve Devas: 'Open the door of the world (heaven),
let us see thee, that we may rule supreme (in heaven).'
14. Then he
sacrifices, saying: 'Adoration to the Adityas and to the Visve Devas, who
dwell in heaven, who dwell in the world. Obtain that world for me, the
sacrificer!'
15. 'That is
the world for the sacrificer! I (the sacrificer) shall go thither, when
this life is over. Take this! Cast back the bolt!' Having said this, he
rises.
16. For him
the Adityas and the Visve Devas fulfil the third oblation. He who knows
this, knows the full measure of the sacrifice, yea, he knows it.
THIRD
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. The sun is
indeed the honey of the Devas. The heaven is the cross-beam (from which)
the sky (hangs as) a hive, and the bright vapours are the eggs of the
bees.
2. The
eastern rays of the sun are the honey-cells in front. The Rik verses are
the bees, the Rig-veda (sacrifice) is the flower, the water (of the
sacrificial libations) is the nectar (of the flower).
3. Those very
Rik verses then (as bees) brooded over the Rig-veda sacrifice (the
flower); and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence,
fame, glory of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
4. That
(essence) flowed forth and went towards the sun. And that forms what we
call the red (rohita) light of the rising sun.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. The
southern rays of the sun are the honeycells on the right. The Yagus verses
are the bees, the Yagur-veda sacrifice is the flower, the water (of the
sacrificial libations) is the nectar (of the flower).
2. Those very
Yagus verses (as bees) brooded over the Yagur-veda sacrifice (the flower);
and from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory
of countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
3. That
flowed forth and went towards the sun. And that forms what we call the
white (sukla) light of the sun.
THIRD KHANDA
1. The
western rays of the sun are the honeycells behind. The Saman verses are
the bees, the Sama-veda sacrifice is the flower, the water is the nectar.
2. Those very
Saman verses (as bees) brooded over the Sama-veda sacrifice; and from it,
thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of
countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
3. That
flowed forth and went towards the sun. And that forms what we call the
dark (krishna)
light of the
sun.
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. The
northern rays of the sun are the honeycells on the left. The (hymns of
the) Atharvangiras are the bees, the Itihasa-purana (the reading of the
old stories) is the flower, the water is the nectar.
2. Those very
hymns of the Atharvahgiras (as bees) brooded over the Itihasa-purana; and
from it, thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of
countenance, vigour, strength, and health.
3. That
flowed forth, and went towards the sun. And that forms what we call the
extreme dark (parah krishnam) light of the sun.
FIFTH KHANDA
1. The upward
rays of the sun are the honeycells above. The secret doctrines are the
bees, Brahman (the Om) is the flower, the water is the nectar.
2. Those
secret doctrines (as bees) brooded over Brahman (the Om); and from it,
thus brooded on, sprang as its (nectar) essence, fame, glory of
countenance, brightness, vigour, strength, and health.
3. That
flowed forth, and went towards the sun. And that forms what seems to stir
in the centre of the sun.
4. These (the
different colours in the sun) are the essences of the essences. For the
Vedas are essences (the best things in the world); and of them (after they
have assumed the form of sacrifice) these (the colours rising to the sun)
are again the essences. They are the nectar of the nectar. For the Vedas
are nectar (immortal), and of them these are the nectar.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. On the
first of these nectars (the red light, which represents fame, glory of
countenance, vigour, strength, health) the Vasus live, with Agni at their
head. True, the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the
nectar.
2. They enter
into that (red) colour, and they rise from that colour.
3. He who
thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Vasus, with Agni at their head,
he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, too, having entered that colour,
rises again from that colour.
4. So long as
the sun rises in the east and sets in the weSt2, so long does he follow
the sovereign supremacy of the Vasus.
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. On the
second of these nectars the Rudras live, with Indra at their head. True,
the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the nectar.
2. They enter
into that white colour, and they rise from that colour.
3. He who
thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Rudras, with Indra at their
head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour,
rises again from that colour.
4. So long as
the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, twice as long does it rise
in the south and set in the north ; and so long does he follow the
sovereign supremacy of the Rudras.
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. On the
third of these nectars the Adityas live, with Varuna at their head. True,
the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the nectar.
2. They enter
into that (dark) colour, and they rise from that colour.
3. He who
thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Adityas, with Varuna at their
head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour,
rises again from that colour.
4. So long as
the sun rises in the south and sets in the north, twice as long does it
rise in the west and set in the east; and so long does he follow the
sovereign supremacy of the Adityas.
NINTH
KHANDA
1. On the
fourth of these nectars the Maruts live, with Soma at their head. True,
the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the nectar.
2. They enter
in that (very dark) colour, and they rise from that colour.
3. He who
thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Maruts, with Soma at their
head, he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour,
rises again from that colour.
4. So long as
the sun rises in the west and sets in the east, twice as long does it rise
in the north and set in the south; and so long does he follow the
sovereign supremacy of the Maruts.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. On the
fifth of these nectars the Sadhyas live, with Brahman at their head. True,
the Devas do not eat or drink, but they enjoy by seeing the nectar.
2. They enter
into that colour, and they rise from that colour.
3. He who
thus knows this nectar, becomes one of the Sadhyas, with Brahman at their
head; he sees the nectar and rejoices. And he, having entered that colour,
rises again from that colour.
4. So long as
the sun rises in the north and sets in the south, twice as long does it
rise above, and set below; and so long does he follow the sovereign power
of the Sadhyas.
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. When from
thence he has risen upwards, he neither rises nor sets. He is alone,
standing in the centre. And on this there is this verse:
2. 'Yonder he
neither rises nor sets at any time. If this is not true, ye gods, may I
lose Brahman.'
3. And indeed
to him who thus knows this Brahma-upanishad (the secret doctrine of the
Veda) the sun does not rise and does not set. For him there is day, once
and for all.
4. This
doctrine (beginning with III, I, 1) Brahman (m. Hiranyagarbha) told to
Pragapati (Virig), Pragipati to Manu, Manu to his offspring (Ikshvaku,
&c.) And the father told that (doctrine of) Brahman (n.) to Uddalaka Aruni.
5. A father
may therefore tell that doctrine of Brahman to his eldest son, or to a
worthy pupil.
But no one
should tell it to anybody else, even if he gave him the whole sea-girt
earth, full of treasure, for this doctrine is worth more than that, yea,
it is worth more.
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. The
Gayatri (verse) is everything whatsoever here exists. Gayatri indeed is
speech, for speech sings forth (gaya-ti) and protects (traya-te)
everything that here exists.
2. That
Gayatri is also the earth, for everything that here exists rests on the
earth, and does not go beyond.
3. That earth
again is the body in man, for in it the vital airs (pranas, which are
everything) rest, and do not go beyond.
4. That body
again in man is the heart within man, for in it the pranas (which are
everything) rest, and do not go beyond.
5. That
Gayatri has four feet and is sixfold. And this is also declared by a Rik
verse (Rig-veda X, 90, 3) :-
6. 'Such is
the greatness of it (of Brahman, under the disguise of Gayatri); greater
than it is the Person, (purusha). His feet are all things. The immortal
with three feet is in heaven (i.e. in himself).'
7. The
Brahman which has been thus described (as immortal with three feet in
heaven, and as Gayatri) is the same as the ether which is around us;
8. And the
ether which is around us, is the same as the ether which is within us. And
the ether which is within us,
9. That is
the ether within the heart. That ether in the heart (as Brahman) is
omnipresent and unchanging. He who knows this obtains omnipresent and
unchangeable happiness.
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. For that
heart there are five gates belonging to the Devas (the senses). The
eastern gate is the Prana (up-breathing), that is the eye, that is Aditya
(the sun). Let a man meditate on that as brightness (glory of countenance)
and health. He who knows this, becomes bright and healthy.
2. The
southern gate is the Vyana (backbreathing), that is the ear, that is the
moon. Let a man meditate on that as happiness and fame. He who knows this,
becomes happy and famous.
3. The
western gate is the Apana (downbreathing), that is speech, that is Agni
(fire). Let a man meditate on that as glory of countenance and health. He
who knows this, becomes glorious and healthy.
4. The
northern gate is the Samana (on-breathing), that is mind, that is Parganya
(rain). Let a man meditate on that as celebrity and beauty.
He who knows
this, becomes celebrated and beautiful.
5. The upper
gate is the Udana (out-breathing), that is air, that is ether. Let a man
meditate on
that as
strength and greatness. He who knows this, becomes strong and great.
6. These are
the five men of Brahman, the door-keepers of the Svarga (heaven) world. He
who knows these five men of Brahman, the door-keepers of the Svarga world,
in his family a strong son is born. He who thus knows these five men of
Brahman, as the door-keepers of the Svarga world, enters himself the
Svarga world.
7. Now that
light which shines above this heaven, higher than all, higher than
everything, in the highest world, beyond which there are no other worlds,
that is the same light which is within man. And of this we have this
visible proof:
8. Namely,
when we thus perceive by touch the warmth here in the body. And of it we
have this audible proof: Namely, when we thus, after stopping our ears,
listen to what is like the rolling of a carriage, or the bellowing of an
ox, or the sound of a burning fire (within the ears). Let a man meditate
on this as the (Brahman) which is seen and heard. He who knows this,
becomes conspicuous and celebrated, yea, he becomes celebrated.
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. All this
is Brahman (n.) Let a man meditate on that (visible world) as beginning,
ending, and breathing in it (the Brahman).
Now man is a
creature of will. According to what his will is in this world, so will he
be when he has departed this life. Let him therefore have this will and
belief:
2. The
intelligent, whose body is spirit, whose form is light, whose thoughts are
true, whose nature is like ether (omnipresent and invisible), from whom
all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed; he who
embraces all this, who never speaks, and is never surprised,
3. He is my
self within the heart, smaller than a corn of rice, smaller than a corn of
barley, smaller than a mustard seed, smaller than a canary seed or the
kernel of a canary seed. He also is my self within the heart, greater than
the earth, greater than the sky, greater than heaven, greater than all
these worlds.
4. He from
whom all works, all desires, all sweet odours and tastes proceed, who
embraces all this, who never speaks and who is never surprised, he, my
self within the heart, is that Brahman (n.) When I shall have departed
from hence, I shall obtain him (that Self). He who has this faith has no
doubt; thus said Sandilya, yea, thus he said.
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. The chest
which has the sky for its circumference and the earth for its bottom, does
not decay, for the quarters are its sides, and heaven its lid above. That
chest is a treasury, and all things are within it.
2. Its
eastern quarter is called Guhu, its southern Sahamana, its western Ragni,
its northern Subhuita. The child of those quarters is Vayu, the air, and
he who knows that the air is indeed the child of the quarters, never weeps
for his sons. 'I know the wind to be the child of the quarters, may I
never weep for my sons.'
3. 'I turn to
the imperishable chest with such and such and such.' 'I turn to the Prana
(life) with such and such and such.' 'I turn to Bhuh with such and such
and such.' 'I turn to Bhuvah with such and such and such.' 'I turn to Svah
with such and such and such.'
4. 'When I
said, I turn to Prana, then Prana means all whatever exists here-to that I
turn.'
5. 'When I
said, I turn to Bhuh, what I said is, I turn to the earth, the sky, and
heaven.'
6. 'When I
said, I turn to Bhuvah, what I said is, I turn to Agni (fire), V'ayu
(air), Aditya (sun).'
7. 'When I
said, I turn to Svah, what I said is, I turn to the Rig-veda, Yag-ur-veda,
and Sama-veda. That is what I said, yea, that is what I said.'
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Man is
sacrifice. His (first) twenty-four years are the morning-libation. The
Gayatri has twenty-four syllables, the morning-libation is offered with
Gayatri hymns. The Vasus are connected with that part of the sacrifice.
The Pranas (the five senses) are the Vasus, for they make all this to
abide (vasayanti).
2. If
anything ails him in that (early) age, let him say: 'Ye Pranas, ye Vasus,
extend this my morning-libation unto the midday-libation, that I, the
sacrificer, may not perish in the midst of the Pranas or Vasus.' Thus he
recovers from his illness, and becomes whole.
3. The next
forty-four years are the midday-libation. The Trishtubh has forty-four
syllables, the midday-libation is offered with Trishtubh hymns. The Rudras
are connected with that part of it. The Pranas are the Rudras, for they
make all this to cry (rodayanti).
4. If
anything ails him in that (second) age, let him say: 'Ye Pranas, ye Rudras,
extend this my midday-libation unto the third libation, that I, the
sacrificer, may not perish in the midst of the Pranas or Rudras.' Thus he
recovers from his illness, and becomes whole.
5. The next
forty-eight years are the third libation. The Gagati has forty-eight
syllables, the third libation is offered with Gagati hymns. The Adityas
are connected with that part of it. The Pranas are the Adityas, for they
take up all this (adadate).
6. If
anything ails him in that (third) age, let him say: 'Ye Pranas, ye Adityas,
extend this my third libation unto the full age, that I, the sacrificer,
may not perish in the midst of the Pranas or Adityas.' Thus he recovers
from his illness, and becomes whole.
7. Mahidasa
Aitareya (the son of Itari), who knew this, said (addressing a disease):
'Why dost thou afflict me, as I shall not die by it ?' He lived a hundred
and sixteen years (i.e. 24 + 44 + 48). He, too, who knows this lives on to
a hundred and sixteen years.
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. When a man
(who is the sacrificer) hungers, thirsts, and abstains from pleasures,
that is the Diksha (initiatory rite).
2. When a
sacrificer eats, drinks, and enjoys pleasures, he does it with the
Upasadas (the sacrificial days on which he’s allowed to partake of food).
3. When a man
laughs, eats, and delights himself, he does it with the Stuta-sastras
(hymns sung
and recited
at the sacrifices).
4. Penance,
liberality, righteousness, kindness, truthfulness, these form his
Dakshinas (gifts bestowed on priests, &c.)
5. Therefore
when they say, 'There will be a birth,' and 'there has been a birth'
(words used at the Soma-sacrifice, and really meaning, 'He will pour out
the Soma-juice,' and 'he has poured out the Soma-juice'), that is his new
birth. His death is the Avabhritha ceremony (when the sacrificial vessels
are carried away to be cleansed).
6. Ghora
Angirasa, after having communicated this (view of the sacrifice) to
Krishna, the son of Devaki -and he never thirsted again (after other
knowledge)-said: 'Let a man, when his end approaches, take refuge with
this Triad: "Thou art the imperishable," "Thou art the unchangeable,"
"Thou art the edge of Prana."' On this subject there are two Rik verses
(Rig-veda VIII, 6, 30) :-
7. 'Then they
see (within themselves) the ever-present light of the old seed (of the
world, the Sat), the highest, which is lighted in the brilliant
(Brahman).' Rig-veda I, 50, 10:-
'Perceiving
above the darkness (of ignorance) the higher light (in the sun), as the
higher light within the heart, the bright source (of light and life) among
the gods, we have reached the highest light, yea, the highest light.'
EIGHTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Let a man
meditate on mind as Brahman (n.), this is said with reference to the body.
Let a man meditate on the ether as Brahman (n.), this is said with
reference to the Devas. Thus both the meditation which has reference to
the body, and the meditation which has reference to the Devas, has been
taught.
2. That
Brahman (mind) has four feet (quarters). Speech is one foot, breath is one
foot, the eye is one foot, the ear is one foot-so much with reference to
the body. Then with reference to the gods, Agni (fire) is one foot, Vayu
(air) is one foot, Aditya (sun) is one foot, the quarters are one foot.
Thus both the worship which has reference to the body, and the worship
which has reference to the Devas, has been taught.
3. Speech is
indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Agni (fire) as
its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his
celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
4. Breath is
indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Vayu (air) as its
light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his
celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
5. The eye is
indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with Aditya (sun) as
its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his
celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
6. The ear is
indeed the fourth foot of Brahman. That foot shines with the quarters as
its light, and warms. He who knows this, shines and warms through his
celebrity, fame, and glory of countenance.
NINETEENTH
KHANDA
1. Aditya
(the sun) is Brahman, this is the doctrine, and this is the fuller account
of it:-
In the
beginning this was non-existent. It became existent, it grew. It turned
into an egg. The egg lay for the time of a year. The egg broke open. The
two halves were one of silver, the other of gold.
2. The silver
one became this earth, the golden one the sky, the thick membrane (of the
white) the mountains, the thin membrane (of the yoke) the mist with the
clouds, the small veins the rivers, the fluid the sea.
3. And what
was born from it that was Aditya, the sun. When he was born shouts of
hurrah arose, and all beings arose, and all things which they desired.
Therefore whenever the sun rises and sets, shouts of hurrah arise, and all
beings arise, and all things which they desire.
4. If any one
knowing this meditates on the sun as Brahman, pleasant shouts will
approach him and will continue, yea, they will continue.
FOURTH
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. There
lived once upon a time Ganasruti Pautrayana (the great-grandson of
Ganasruta), who was a pious giver, bestowing much wealth upon the people,
and always keeping open house. He built places of refuge everywhere,
wishing that people should everywhere eat of his food.
2. Once in
the night some Hamsas (flamingoes) flew over his house, and one flamingo
said to another: 'Hey, Bhallaksha, Bhallaksha (short-sighted friend). The
light (glory) of Ganasruti Pautrayana has spread like the sky. Do not go
near, that it may not burn thee.'
3. The other
answered him: 'How can you speak of him, being what he is (a raganya,
noble), as if he were like Raikva with the car?'
4. The first
replied: 'How is it with this Raikva with the car of whom thou speakest?'
The other
answered: 'As (in a game of dice) all the lower casts belong to him who
has conquered with the Krita cast, so whatever good deeds other people
perform, belong to that Raikva. He who knows what he knows, he is thus
spoken of by me.'
5. Ganasruti
Pautrayana overheard this conversation, and as soon as he had risen in the
morning, he said to his door-.keeper (kshattri): 'Friend, dost thou speak
of (me, as if I were) Raikva with the car?'
He replied:
'How is it with this Raikva with the car?'
6. The king
said: 'As (in a game of dice), all the lower casts belong to him who has
conquered with the Krita cast, so whatever good deeds other people
perform, belong to that Raikva. He who knows what he knows, he is thus
spoken of by me.'
7. The
door-keeper went to look for Raikva, but returned saying, 'I found him
not.' Then the king said: 'Alas! where a Brahmana should be searched for
(in the solitude of the forest), there go for him.'
8. The
door-keeper came to a man who was lying beneath a car and scratching his
sores. He addressed him, and said: 'Sir, are you Raikva with the car ?'
He answered:
' Here I am.'
Then the
door-keeper returned, and said: 'I have found him.'
SECOND
KHANDA
1. Then
Ganasruti Pautrayana took six hundred cows, a necklace, and a carriage
with mules, went to Raikva and said:
2. 'Raikva,
here are six hundred cows, a necklace, and a carriage with mules; teach me
the deity
which you
worship.'
3. The other
replied: 'Fie, necklace and carriage be thine, O Sudra, together with the
cows.'
Then
Ganasruti Pautrayana took again a thousand cows, a necklace, a carriage
with mules, and his own daughter, and went to him.
4. He said to
him: 'Raikva, there are a thousand cows, a necklace, a carriage with
mules, this wife, and this village in which thou dwellest. Sir, teach me!'
5. He,
opening her mouth, said: 'You have brought these (cows and other
presents), O Sudra, but only by that mouth did you make me speak.' These
are the Raikva-parna villages in the country of the Mahavrishas (mahapunyas)
where Raikva dwelt under him. And he said to him:
THIRD
KHANDA
1. Air (vayu)
is indeed the end of all . For when fire goes out, it goes into air. When
the sun
goes down, it
goes into air. When the moon goes down, it goes into air.
2. 'When
water dries up, it goes into air. Air indeed consumes them all. So much
with reference to the Devas.
3. 'Now with
reference to the body. Breath (prana) is indeed the end of all. When a man
sleeps, speech goes into breath, so do sight, hearing, and mind. Breath
indeed consumes them all.
4. 'These are
the two ends, air among the Devas, breath among the senses (pranah).'
5. Once while
Saunaka Kapeya and Abhipratarin Kakshaseni were being waited on at their
meal, a religious student begged of them. They gave him nothing.
6. He said:
'One god -who is he?- swallowed the four great ones, he, the guardian of
the world. O Kapeya, mortals see him not, O Abhipratarin, though he dwells
in many places. He to whom this food belongs, to him it has not been given
.'
7. Saunaka
Kapeya, pondering on that speech, went to the student and said : 'He is
the self of the Devas, the creator of all beings, with golden tusks, the
eater, not without intelligence. His greatness is said to be great indeed,
because, without being eaten, he eats even what is not food. Thus do we, O
Brahmakarin, meditate on that Being.' Then he said: 'Give him food.'
8. They gave
him food. Now these five (the eater Vayu (air), and his food, Agni (fire),
Aditya (sun), Kandramas (moon), Ap (water)) and the other five (the eater
Prana (breath), and his food, speech, sight, hearing, mind) make ten, and
that is the Krita (the highest) cast (representing the ten, the eaters and
the food). Therefore in all quarters those ten are food (and) Krita (the
highest cast). These are again the Virag (of ten syllables) which eats the
food. Through this aH this becomes seen. He who knows this sees all this
and becomes an eater of food, yea, he becomes an eater of food.
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. Satyakama,
the son of Gabala, addressed his mother and said: 'I wish to become a
Brahmakarin (religious student), mother. Of what family am I?'
2. She said
to him: 'I do not know, my child, of what family thou art. In my youth
when I had to move about much as a servant (waiting on the guests in my
father's house), I conceived thee. I do not know of what family thou art.
I am Gabali by name, thou art Satyakama (Philalethes). Say that thou art
Satyakama Gabala.'
3. He going
to Gautama Haridrumata said to him, 'I wish to become a Brahmakarin with
you,
Sir. May I
come to you, Sir?'
4. He said to
him: 'Of what family are you, my friend ?' He replied: 'I do not know,
Sir, of what family I am. I asked my mother, and she answered: "In my
youth when I had to move about much as a servant, I conceived thee. I do
not know of what family thou art. I am Gabala by name, thou art Satyakama,"
I am therefore Satyakama Gabala, Sir.'
5. He said to
him: 'No one but a true Brahmana would thus speak out. Go and fetch fuel,
friend, I shall initiate you. You have not swerved from the truth.'
Having
initiated him, he chose four hundred lean and weak cows, and said: 'Tend
these, friend.' He drove them out and said to himself, 'I shall not return
unless I bring back a thousand.' He dwelt a number of years (in the
forest), and when the cows had become a thousand,
FIFTH
KHANDA
1. The bull
of the herd (meant for Vayu) said to him: 'Satyakama!' He replied: 'Sir!'
The bull said: 'We have become a thousand, lead us to the house of the
teacher;
2. 'And I
will declare to you one foot of Brahman.'
'Declare it,
Sir,' he replied.
He said to
him: 'The eastern region is one quarter, the western region is one
quarter, the southern region is one quarter, the northern region is one
quarter. This is a foot of Brahman, consisting of the four quarters, and
called Prakasavat (endowed with splendour).
3. 'He who
knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman, consisting of four
quarters, by the name of Prakasavat, becomes endowed with splendour in
this world. He conquers the resplendent worlds, whoever knows this and
meditates on the foot of Brahman, consisting of the four quarters, by the
name of Prakasavat.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. 'Agni will
declare to you another foot of Brahman.'
(After these
words of the bull), Satyakama, on the morrow, drove the cows (toward the
house of the teacher). And when they came towards the evening, he lighted
a fire, penned the cows, laid wood on the fire, and sat down behind the
fire, looking to the east.
2. Then Agni
(the fire) said to him: 'Satyakama!' He replied: 'Sir.'
3. Agni said:
'Friend, I will declare unto you one foot of Brahman.'
'Declare it,
Sir,' he replied.
He said to
him: 'The earth is one quarter, the sky is one quarter, the heaven is one
quarter, the ocean is one quarter. This is a foot of Brahman, consisting
of four quarters, and called Anantavat (endless).'
4. 'He who
knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman, consisting of four
quarters, by the name of Anantavat, becomes endless in this world. He
conquers the endless worlds, whoever knows this and meditates on the foot
of Brahman, consisting of four quarters, by the name of Anantavat.
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'A Hamsa
(flamingo, meant for the sun) will declare to you another foot of
Brahman.'
(After these
words of Agni), Satyakama, on the morrow, drove the cows onward. And when
they came towards the evening, he lighted a fire, penned the cows, laid
wood on the fire, and sat down behind the fire, looking toward the east.
2. Then a
Hamsa flew near and said to him: 'Satyakama.' He replied: 'Sir.'
3. The Hamsa
said: 'Friend, I will declare unto you one foot of Brahman.'
'Declare it,
Sir,' he replied.
He said to
him: 'Fire is one quarter, the sun is one quarter, the moon is one
quarter, lightning is one quarter. This is a foot of Brahman, consisting
of four quarters, and called Gyotishmat (full of light).
4. 'He who
knows this and meditates on the foot of Brahman, consisting of four
quarters, by the name of Gyotishmat, becomes full of light in this world.
He conquers the worlds which are full of light, whoever knows this and
meditates on the foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters, by the name
of Gyotishmat.
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. 'A
diver-bird (Madgu, meant for Prana) will declare to you another foot of
Brahman.'
(After these
words of the Hamsa), Satyakima, on the morrow, drove the cows onward. And
when they came towards the evening, he lighted a fire, penned the cows,
laid wood on the fire, and sat down behind the fire, looking toward the
east.
2. Then a
diver flew near and said to him: 'Satyakima.' He replied: 'Sir.'
3. The diver
said: 'Friend, I will declare unto you one foot of Brahman.'
'Declare it,
Sir,' he replied.
He said to
him: 'Breath is one quarter, the eye is one quarter, the ear is one
quarter, the mind is one quarter. This is a foot of Brahman, consisting of
four quarters, and called Ayatanavat (having a home).
'He who knows
this and meditates on the foot ,of Brahman, consisting of four quarters,
by the name of Ayatanavat, becomes possessed of a home in this world. He
conquers the worlds which offer a home, whoever knows this and meditates
on the foot of Brahman, consisting of four quarters, by the name of
Ayatanavat.'
NINTH
KHANDA
1. Thus he
reached the house of his teacher. The teacher said to him : 'Satyakama.'
He replied: 'Sir.'
2. The
teacher said: 'Friend, you shine like one who knows Brahman. Who then has
taught you'?' He replied: 'Not men. But you only, Sir, I wish, should
teach me;
3. 'For I
have heard from men like you, Sir, that only knowledge which is learnt
from a teacher (Akarya), leads to real good.' Then he taught him the same
knowledge. Nothing was left out, yea, nothing was left out.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. Upakosala
Kamaliyana dwelt as a Brahmakarin (religious student) in the house of
Satyakama Gabala. He tended his fires for twelve years. But the teacher,
though he allowed other pupils (after they had learnt the sacred books) to
depart to their own homes, did not allow Upakosala to depart.
2. Then his
wife said to him: 'This student, who is quite exhausted (with
austerities), has carefully tended your fires. Let not the fires
themselves blame you, but teach him.' The teacher, however, went away on a
journey without having taught him.
3. The
student from sorrow was not able to eat. Then the wife of the teacher said
to him: 'Student, eat! Why do you not eat?' He said: 'There are many
desires in this man here, which lose themselves in different directions. I
am full of sorrows, and shall take no food.'
4. Thereupon
the fires said among themselves 'This student, who is quite exhausted, has
carefully tended us. Well, let us teach him.' They said to him:
5. 'Breath is
Brahman, Ka (pleasure) is Brahman, Kha (ether) is Brahman.'
He said: 'I
understand that breath is Brahman, but I do not understand Ka or Kha.'
They said:
'What is Ka is Kha, what is Kha is Ka.' They therefore taught him Brahman
as breath, and as the ether (in the heart).
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. After that
the Garhapatya fire taught him: 'Earth, fire, food, and the sun (these are
my forms, or forms of Brahman). The person that is seen in the sun, I am
he, I am he indeed.
9. 'He who
knowing this meditates on him, destroys sin, obtains the world (of Agni
Garhapatya), reaches his full age, and lives long; his descendants do not
perish. We guard him in this world and in the other, whosoever knowing
this meditates on him.'
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. Then the
Anvaharya fire taught him: 'Water, the quarters, the stars, the moon
(these are my forms). The person that is seen in the moon, I am he, I am
he indeed.
2. 'He who
knowing this meditates on him, destroys sin, obtains the world (of Agni
Anvaharya), reaches his full age, and lives long; his descendants do not
perish. We guard him in this world and in the other, whosoever knowing
this meditates on him.'
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then the
Ahavanaya fire taught him: 'Breath, ether, heaven, and lightning (these
are my forms). The person that is seen in the lightning, I am he, I am he
indeed.
2. 'He who
knowing this meditates on him, destroys sin, obtains the world (of Agni
Ahavaniya), reaches his full age, and lives long; his descendants do not
perish. We guard him in this world and in the other, whosoever knowing
this meditates on him.'
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then they
all said: 'Upakosala, this is our knowledge, our friend, and the knowledge
of the Self, but the teacher will tell you the way (to another life).'
2. In time
his teacher came back, and said to him: 'Upakosala.' He answered: 'Sir.'
The teacher said: ' Friend, your face shines like that of one who knows
Brahman. Who has taught you?' 'Who should teach me, Sir?' he said. He
denies, as it were. And he said (pointing) to the fires 'Are these fires
other than fires?'
The teacher
said: 'What, my friend, have these fires told you?'
3. He
answered: 'This' (repeating some of what they had told him).
The teacher
said : 'My friend, they have taught you about the worlds, but I shall tell
you this; and as water does not cling to a lotus leaf, so no evil deed
clings to one who knows it.' He said: 'Sir, tell it me.'
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. He said:
'The person that is seen in the eye, that is the Self. This is the
immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman'. Even though they drop melted
butter or water on him, it runs away on both sides.
2. 'They call
him Samyadvama, for all blessings (vama) go towards him (samyanti). All
blessings go towards him who knows this.
3. 'He is
also Vamani, for he leads (nayati) all blessin-s (vama). He leads all
blessings who knows this.
4. 'He is
also Bhamani, for he shines (bhati) in all worlds. He who knows this,
shines in all worlds.
5. 'Now (if
one who knows this, dies), whether people perform obsequies for him or no,
he goes to light (arkis), from light to day, from day to the light half of
the moon, from the light half of the moon to the six months during which
the sun goes to the north, from the months to the year, from the year to
the sun, from the sun to the moon, from the moon to the lightning. There
is a person not human,
6. 'He leads
them to Brahman. This is the path of the Devas, the path that leads to
Brahman. Those who proceed on that path, do not return to the life of man,
yea, they do not return.'
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Verily, he
who purifies (Vayu) is the sacrifice, for he (the air) moving along,
purifies everything.
Because
moving along he purifies everything, therefore he is the sacrifice. Of
that sacrifice there are two ways, by mind and by speech.
2. The
Brahman priest performs one of them in his mind, the Hotri, Adhvaryu, and
Udgatri priests perform the other by words. When the Brahman priest, after
the Pritaranuvaka ceremony has begun, but before the recitation of the
Paridhaniya hymn, has (to break his silence and) to speak,
3. He
performs perfectly the one way only (that by words), but the other is
injured. As a man walking on one foot, or a carriage going on one wheel,
is injured, his sacrifice is injured, and with the injured sacrifice the
sacrificer is injured ; yes, having sacrificed, he becomes worse.
4. But when
after the Pritaranuvaka ceremony has begun, and before the recitation of
the Paridhaniya hymn, the Brahman priest has not (to break his silence
and) to speak, they perform both ways perfectly, and neither of them is
injured.
5. As a man
walking on two legs and a carriage going on two wheels gets on, so his
sacrifice gets on, and with the successful sacrifice the sacrificer gets
on; yes, having sacrificed, he becomes better.
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. Pragapati
brooded over the worlds, and from them thus brooded on he squeezed out the
essences, Agni (fire) from the earth, Vayu (air) from the sky, Aditya (the
sun) from heaven.
2. He brooded
over these three deities, and from them thus brooded on he squeezed out
the essences, the Rik verses from Agni, the Yagus verses from Vayu, the
Saman verses from Aditya.
3. He brooded
over the threefold knowledge (the three Vedas), and from it thus brooded
on he squeezed out the essences, the sacred interjection Bhus from the Rik
verses, the sacred interjection Bhuvas from the Yagus verses, the sacred
interjection Svar from the Saman verses.
4. If the
sacrifice is injured from the Rig-veda side, let him offer a libation in
the Garhapatya fire, saying, Bhuh, Svaha! Thus does he bind together and
heal, by means of the essence and the power of the Rik verses themselves,
whatever break the Rik sacrifice may have suffered.
5. If the
sacrifice is injured from the Yagur-veda side, let him offer a libation in
the Dakshina fire, saying, Bhuvah, Svaha! Thus does he bind together and
heal, by means of the essence and the power of the Yagus verses
themselves, whatever break the Yagus sacrifice may have suffered.
6. If the
sacrifice is injured by the Sama-veda side, let him offer a libation in
the Ahavaniya fire, saying, Svah, Svaha! Thus does he bind together and
heal, by means of the essence and the power of the Saman verses
themselves, whatever break the Saman sacrifice may have suffered.
7. As one
binds (softens) gold by means of lavana (borax), and silver by means of
gold, and tin by means of silver, and lead by means of tin, and iron (loha)
by means of lead, and wood by
means of
iron, or also by means of leather,
8. Thus does
one bind together and heal any break in the sacrifice by means of (the
Vyahritis or sacrificial interjections which are) the essence and strength
of the three worlds, of the deities, and of the threefold knowledge. That
sacrifice is healed in which there is a Brahman priest who knows this.
9. That
sacrifice is inclined towards the north (in the right way) in which there
is a Brahman priest who knows this. And with regard to such a Brahman
priest there is the following Gatha: 'Whereever it falls back, thither the
man goes,' --viz. the Brahman only, as one of the.Ritvig priests. 'He
saves the Kurus as a mare' (viz. a Brahman priest who knows this, saves
the sacrifice, the sacrificer, and all the other priests). Therefore let a
man make him who knows this his Brahman priest, not one who does not know
it, who does not know it.
FIFTH
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. He who
knows the oldest and the best becomes himself the oldest and the best.
Breath indeed is the oldest and the best.
2. He who
knows the richest, becomes himself the richest. Speech indeed is the
richest.
3. He who
knows the firm rest, becomes himself firm in this world and in the next.
The eye indeed is the firm rest.
4. He who
knows success, his wishes succeed, both his divine and human wishes. The
ear indeed is success.
5. He who
knows the home, becomes a home of his people. The mind indeed is the home.
6. The five
senses quarrelled together, who was the best, saying, I am better, I am
better.
7. They went
to their father Pragapati and said: 'Sir, who is the best of us?' He
replied: ' He by
whose
departure the body seems worse than worst, he is the best of you.'
8. The tongue
(speech) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and
said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like
mute people, not speaking, but breathing with the breath, seeing with the
eye, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. 'thus we lived.' Then
speech went back.
9. The eye
(sight) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and
said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like
blind people, not seeing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the
tongue, hearing with the ear, thinking with the mind. Thus we lived.' Then
the eye went back.
10. The ear
(hearing) departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and
said: 'How have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like
deaf people, not hearing, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the
tongue, thinking with the mind. Thus we lived.' Then the ear went back.
11. The mind
departed, and having been absent for a year, it came round and said: 'How
have you been able to live without me?' They replied: 'Like children whose
mind is not yet formed, but breathing with the breath, speaking with the
tongue, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear. Thus we lived.' Then
the mind went back.
12. The
breath, when on the point of departing, tore up the other senses, as a
horse, going to start, might tear up the pegs to which he is tethered'.
They came to him and said: 'Sir, be thou (our lord); thou art the best
among us. Do not depart from us!'
13. Then the
tongue said to him: 'If I am the richest, thou art the richest.' The eye
said to him If I am the firm rest, thou art the firm rest.'
14. The ear
said to him: 'If I am success, thou art success.' The mind said to him:
'If I am the home, thou art the home.'
15. And
people do not call them, the tongues, the eyes, the ears, the minds, but
the breaths (prana, the senses). For breath are all these.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. Breath
said: 'What shall be my food?.' They answered: 'Whatever there is, even
unto dogs and birds.' Therefore this is food for Ana (the breather). His
name is clearly Ana. To him who knows this there is nothing that is not
(proper) food.
2. He said:
'What shall be my dress?' They answered: 'Water.' Therefore wise people,
when they are going to eat food, surround their food before and after with
water.' He (prana) thus gains a dress, and is no longer naked.
3. Satyakama
Gabala, after he had communicated this to Gosruti Vaiyaghrapadya, said to
him: 'If you were to tell this to a dry stick, branches would grow, and
leaves spring from it.'
4. If a man
wishes to reach greatness, let him perform the Diksha (a preparatory rite)
on the day of the new moon, and then, on the night of the full moon, let
him stir a mash of all kinds of herbs with curds and honey, and let him
pour ghee on the fire (avasathya laukika), saying; 'Svaha to the oldest
and the best.' After that let him throw all that remains (of the ghee)
into the mash.
5. In the
same manner let him pour ghee on. the fire, saying, 'Svaha to the
richest.' After that let him throw all that remains together into the
mash.
In the same
manner let him pour ghee on the fire, saying, 'Svaha to the firm rest.'
After that let him throw all that remains together into the mash.
In the same
manner let him pour ghee on the fire, saying, 'Svaha to success.' After
that let him throw all that remains together into the mash.
6. Then going
forward and placing the mash in his hands, he recites: 'Thou (Prana) art
Ama by name, for all this together exists in thee. He is the oldest and
best, the king, the sovereign. May he make me the oldest, the best, the
king, the sovereign. May I be all this.'
7. Then he
eats with the following Rik verse at every foot: 'We choose that food'--
here he swallows -- 'Of the divine Savitri (prana)' -- here he swallows --
'The best and all-supporting food' -- here he swallows -- 'We meditate on
the speed of Bhaga (Savitri, prana)'-here he drinks all.
8. Having
cleansed the vessel, whether it be a kamsa or a kamasa, he sits down
behind the fire on a skin or on the bare ground, without speaking or
making any other effort. If in his dream he sees a woman, let him know
this to be a sign that his sacrifice has succeeded.
9. On this
there is a Sloka: 'If during sacrifices which are to fulfil certain wishes
he sees in his dreams a woman, let him know success from this vision in a
dream, yea, from this vision in a dream.'
THIRD
KHANDA
1. Svetaketu
Aruneya went to an assembly of the Pankalas. Pravahana Gaivali said to
him: 'Boy, has your father instructed you?' Yes, Sir,' he replied.
2. 'Do you
know to what place men go from here?' 'No Sir' he replied.
'Do you know
how they return again? No Sir,' he replied.
'Do you know
where the path of Devas and the path of the fathers diverge? No, Sir,' he
replied.
3. 'Do you
know why that world' never becomes full?' 'No, Sir,' he replied.
'Do you know
why in the fifth libation water is called Man?' 'No, Sir,' he replied.
4. 'Then why
did you say (you had been) instructed? How could anybody who did not know
these things say that he had been instructed?' Then the boy went back
sorrowful to the place of his father, and said: 'Though you had not
instructed me, Sir, you said you had instructed me.
5. 'That
fellow of a Raganya asked me five questions, and I could not answer one of
them.' The father said: 'As you have told me these questions of his, I do
not know any one of them. If I knew these questions, how should I not have
told you?.
6. Then
Gautama went to the king's place, and when he had come to him, the king
offered him proper respect. In the morning the king went out on his way to
the assembly. The king said to him:
'Sir, Gautama,
ask a boon of such things as men possess.' He replied: 'Such things as men
possess may remain with you. Tell me the speech which you addressed to the
boy.'
7. The king
was perplexed, and commanded him, saying: 'Stay with me some time.' Then
he said: 'As (to what) you have said to me, Gautama, this knowledge did
not go to any Brahmana before you, and therefore this teaching belonged in
all the worlds to the Kshatra class alone. Then he began:
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. 'The altar
(on which the sacrifice is supposed to be offered) is that world (heaven),
O Gautama; its fuel is the sun itself, the smoke his rays, the light the
day, the coals the moon, the sparks the stars.
2. 'On that
altar the Devas (or pranas, represented by Agni, &c.) offer the sraddhi
libation (consisting of water). From that oblation rises Soma, the king
(the moon).
FIFTH
KHANDA
1. 'The altar
is Parganya (the god of rain), O Gautama; its fuel is the air itself, the
smoke the cloud, the light the lightning, the coals. the thunderbolt, the
sparks the thunderings.
2. 'On that
altar the Devas offer Soma, the king (the moon). From that oblation rises
rain.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. 'The altar
is the earth, O Gautama; its fuel is the year itself, the smoke the ether,
the light the night, the coals the quarters, the sparks the intermediate
quarters.
2. 'On that
altar the Devas (pranas) offer rain. From that oblation rises food (corn,
&c.)
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'The altar
is man, O Gautama; its fuel speech itself, the smoke the breath, the light
the tongue, the coals the eye, the sparks the ear.
2. 'On that
altar the Devas (pranas) offer food. From that oblation rises seed.
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. 'The altar
is woman, O Gautama.
2. 'On that
altar the Devas (pranas) offer seed. From that oblation rises the germ.
NINTH
KHANDA
1. 'For this
reason is water in the fifth oblation called Man. This germ, covered in
the womb, having dwelt there ten months, or more or less, is born.
2. 'When
born, he lives whatever the length of his life may be. When he has
departed, his friends carry him, as appointed, to the fire (of the funeral
pile) from whence he came, from whence he sprang.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Those who
know this (even though they still be grihasthas, householders) and those
who in the forest follow faith and austerities (the vanaprasthas, and of
the parivragakas those who do not yet know the Highest Brahman) go to
light (arkis), from light to day, from day to the light half of the moon,
from the light half of the moon to the six months when the sun goes to the
north, from the six months when the sun goes to the north to the year,
from the year to the sun, from the sun to the moon, from the moon to the
lightning. There is a person not human, --
2. 'He leads
them to Brahman (the conditioned Brahman). This is the path of the Devas.
3. 'But they
who living in a village practice (a life of) sacrifices, works of public
utility, and alms, they go to the smoke, from smoke to night, from night
to the dark half of the moon, from the dark half of the moon to the six
months when the sun goes to the south. But they do not reach the year.
4. 'From the
months they go to the world of the fathers, from the world of the fathers
to the ether, from the ether to the moon. That is Soma, the king. Here
they are loved (eaten) by the Devas, yes, the Devas love (eat) them.
5. 'Having
dwelt there, till their (good) works are consumed, they return again that
way as they came', to the ether, from the ether to the air. Then the
sacrificer, having become air, becomes smoke, having become smoke, he
becomes mist,
6. 'Having
become mist, he becomes a cloud, having become a cloud, he rains down.
Then he is born as rice and corn, herbs and trees, sesamum and beans. From
thence the escape is beset with most difficulties. For whoever the persons
may be that eat the food, and beget offspring, he henceforth becomes like
unto them.
7. 'Those
whose conduct has been good, will quickly attain some good birth, the
birth of a Brahmana, or a Kshatriya, or a Vaisya. But those whose conduct
has been evil, will quickly attain an evil birth, the birth of a dog, or a
hog, or a Kandala.
8. 'On
neither of these two ways those small creatures (flies, worms, &c.) are
continually returning of whom it may be said, Live and die. Theirs is a
third place.
'Therefore
that world never becomes full' (cf.V, 3, 2). 'Hence let a man take care to
himself! And thus it is said in the following Sloka:-
9. 'A man who
steals gold, who drinks spirits, who dishonours his Guru's bed, who kills
a Brahman, these four fall, and as a fifth he who associates with them.
10. 'But he
who thus knows the five fires is not defiled by sin even though he
associates with them. He who knows this, is pure, clean, and obtains the
world of the blessed, yea, he obtains the world of the blessed.'
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. Pranasala
Aupamanyava, Satyayagna Paulushi, Indradyumna Bhallaveya, Gana
Sarkarakshya, and Budila Asvatarasvi, these five great householders and
great theologians came once together and held a discussion as to What is
our Self, and what is Brahman.
2. They
reflected and said: 'Sirs, there is that Uddalaka Aruni, who knows at
present that Self, called Vaisvanara. Well, let us go to him.' They went
to him.
3. But he
reflected: 'Those great householders and great theologians will examine
me, and I shall not be able to tell them all; therefore I shall recommend
another teacher to them.'
4. He said to
them: 'Sirs, Asvapati Kaikeya knows at present that Self, called
Vaisvanara. Well, let us go to him.' They went to him.
5. When they
arrived (the king) ordered proper presents to be made separately to each
of them. And rising the next morning' he said: 'In my kingdom there is no
thief, no miser, no drunkard, no man without an altar in his house, no
ignorant person, no adulterer, much less an adulteress. I am going to
perform a sacrifice, Sirs, and as much wealth as I give to each Ritvig
priest, I shall give to you, Sirs. Please to stay here.'
6. They
replied: 'Every man ought to say for what purpose he comes. You know at
present that Vaisvanara Self, tell us that.'
7. He said:
'To-morrow I shall give you an answer.' Therefore on the next morning they
approached him, carrying fuel in their hands (like students), and he,
without first demanding any preparatory rites, said to them:
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. 'Aupamanyava,
whom do you meditate on as the Self?' He replied: 'Heaven only, venerable
king.' He said: 'The Self which you meditate on is the Vaisvanara Self,
called Sutegas (having good light). Therefore every kind of Soma libation
is seen in your house'.
2. 'You eat
food, and see your desire (a son, &c.), and whoever thus meditates on that
Vaisvanara Self, eats food, sees his desire, and has Vedic glory (arising
from study and sacrifice) in his house. That, however, is but the head of
the Self, and thus your head would have fallen (in a discussion), if you
had not come to me.'
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then he
said to Satyayagna Paulushi: 'O Prakinayogya, whom do you meditate on as
the Self?' He replied: 'The sun only, venerable king.' He said: 'The Self
which you meditate on is the Vaisvanara Self, called Visvartupa
(multiform). Therefore much and manifold wealth is seen in your house.
2. 'There is
a car with mules, full of slaves and jewels. You eat food and see your
desire, and whoever thus meditates on that Vaisvanara Self, eats food and
sees his desire, and has Vedic glory in his house.
'That,
however, is but the eye of the Self, and you would have become blind, if
you had not come to me.'
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then he
said to Indradyumna Bhallaveya: 'O Vaiyaghrapadya, whom do you meditate on
as the Self?' He replied: 'Air only, venerable king.' He said: 'The Self
which you meditate on is the Vaisvinara Self, called Prithagvartman
(having various courses). Therefore offerings come to you in various ways,
and rows of cars follow you in various ways.
2. 'You eat
food and see your desire, and whoever thus meditates on that Vaisvanara
Self, eats food and sees his desire, and has Vedic glory in his house.
'That,
however, is but the breath of the Self, and your breath would have left
you, if you had not come to me.'
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then he
said to Gana Sarkarakshya: 'Whom do you meditate on as the Self?' He
replied: 'Ether only, venerable king.' He said: 'The Self which you
meditate on is the Vaisvanara Self, called Bahula (full). Therefore you
are full of offspring and wealth.
2. 'You eat
food and see your desire, and whoever thus meditates on that Vaisvanara
Self, eats food and sees his desire, and has Vedic glory in his house.
'That,
however, is but the trunk of the Self, and your trunk would have perished,
if you had not come to me.'
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then he
said to Budila Asvatarasvi, 'O Vaiyaghrapadya, whom do you meditate on as
the Self?' He replied: 'Water only, venerable king.' He said;
'The Self
which you meditate on is the Vaisvanara Self, called Rayi (wealth).
Therefore are you wealthy and flourishing.
2. 'You eat
food and see your desire, and whoever thus meditates on that Vaisvanara
Self, eats food and sees his desire, and has Vedic glory in his house.
'That,
however, is but the bladder of the Self, and your bladder would have
burst, if you had not come to me.'
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. Then he
said to Auddalaka Aruni: O Gautama, whom do you meditate on as the Self?'
He replied: 'The earth only, venerable king.' He said: 'The Self which you
meditate on is the Vaisvanara Self, called Pratishtha. (firm rest).
Therefore you stand firm with offspring and cattle.
2. 'You eat
food and see your desire, and whoever thus meditates on that Vaisvgnara
Self, eats food and sees his desire, and has Vedic glory in his house.
'That,
however, are but the feet of the Self, and your feet would have given way,
if you had not come to me.'
EIGHTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Then he
said to them all: 'You eat your food, knowing that Vaisvanara Self as if
it were many. But he who worships the Vaisvanara Self as a span long, and
as' identical with himself, he eats food in all worlds, in all beings, in
all Selfs.
2. 'Of that
Vaisvanara Self the head is Sutegas (having good light), the eye
Visvariupa (multiform), the breath Prithagvartman (having various
courses), the trunk Bahula (full), the bladder Rayi (wealth), the feet the
earth, the chest the altar, the hairs the grass on the altar, the heart
the Garhapatya fire, the mind the Anvaharya fire, the mouth the Ahavaniya
fire.
NINETEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Therefore
the first food which a man may take, is in the place of Homa. And he who
offers that first oblation, should offer it to Prana (up-breathing),
saying Svaha,. Then Prana (up-breathing) is satisfied,
2. 'If Prana
is satisfied, the eye is satisfied, if the eye is satisfied, the sun is
satisfied, if the sun is satisfied, heaven is satisfied, if heaven is
satisfied, whatever is under heaven and under the sun is satisfied.. And
through their satisfaction he (the sacrificer or eater) himself is
satisfied with offspring, cattle, health, brightness, and Vedic splendour.
TWENTIETH
KHANDA
1. 'And he
who offers the second oblation, should offer it to Vyana (back-breathing),
saying Svaha. Then Vyana is satisfied,
2. 'If Vyana
is satisfied, the ear is satisfied, if the ear is satisfied, the moon is
satisfied, if the moon is satisfied, the quarters are satisfied, if the
quarters are satisfied, whatever is under the quarters and under the moon
is satisfied. And through their satisfaction he (the sacrificer or eater)
himself is satisfied with offspring,. cattle, health, brightness, and
Vedic splendour.
TWENTY-FIRST KHANDA
1. 'And he
who offers the third oblation, should offer it to Apana (down-breathing),
saying Svaha. Then Apana is satisfied. If Apana is satisfied, the tongue
is satisfied, if the tongue is satisfied, Agni (fire) is satisfied, if
Agni is satisfied, the earth is satisfied, if the earth is satisfied,
whatever is under the earth and under fire is satisfied.
2. 'And
through their satisfaction he (the sacrificer or eater) himself is
satisfied with offspring, cattle, health, brightness, and Vedic splendour.
TWENTY-SECOND KHANDA
1. 'And he
who offers the fourth oblation, should offer it to Samana (on-breathing),
saying Svaha. Then Samana is satisfied,
2. 'If Samana
is satisfied, the mind is satisfied, if the mind is satisfied, Parganya
(god of rain) is satisfied, if Parganya is satisfied, lightning is
satisfied, if lightning is satisfied, whatever is under Parganya and under
lightning is satisfied. And through their satisfaction he (the sacrificer
or eater) himself is satisfied with offspring, cattle, health, brightness,
and Vedic splendour.
TWENTY-THIRD KHANDA
1. 'And he
who offers the fifth oblation, should offer it to Udana (out-breathing),
saying Svaha. Then Udana is satisfied,
2. 'If Udana
is satisfied, Vayu (air) is satisfied, if Vayu is satisfied, ether is
satisfied, if ether is satisfied, whatever is under Vayu and under the
ether is satisfied. And through their satisfaction he (the sacrificer or
eater) himself is satisfied with offspring, cattle, health, brightness,
and Vedic splendour.
TWENTY-FOURTH KHANDA
1. 'If,
without knowing this, one offers an Agnihotra, it would be as if a man
were to remove the live coals and pour his libation on dead ashes.
2. 'But he
who offers this Agnihotra with a full knowledge of its true purport, he
offers it (i.e. he eats food)' in all worlds, in all beings, in all Selfs.
3. 'As the
soft fibres of the Ishika. reed, when thrown into the fire, are burnt,
thus all his sins are burnt whoever offers this Agnihotra with a full
knowledge of its true purport.
4. 'Even if
he gives what is left of his food to a Kandala, it would be offered in his
(the Kandala's) Vaisvanara Self. And so it is said in this Sloka: --
'As hungry
children here on earth sit (expectantly) round their mother, so. do all
beings sit round the Agnihotra, yea, round the Agnihotra.'
SIXTH
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. Harih, Om.
There lived once Svetaketu Aruneya (the grandson of Aruna). To him his
father (Uddilaka, the son of Aruna) said: 'Svetaketu, go to school; for
there is none belonging to our race, darling, who, not having studied (the
Veda), is, as it were, a Brahmana by birth only.'
2. Having
begun his apprenticeship (with a teacher) when he was twelve years of age,
Svetaketu returned to his father, when he was twenty-four, having then
studied all the Vedas, -- conceited, considering himself well-read, and
stern.
3. His father
said to him: 'Svetaketu, as you are so conceited, considering yourself so
well-read, and so stern, my dear, have you ever asked for that instruction
by which we hear what cannot be heard, by which we perceive what cannot be
perceived, by which we know what cannot be known?'
4. 'What is
that instruction, Sir?' he asked. The father replied: 'My dear, as by one
clod of clay all that is made of clay is known, the difference being only
a name, arising from speech, but the truth being that all is clay;
5. 'And as,
my dear, by one nugget of gold all that is made of gold is known, the
difference being only a name, arising from speech, but the truth being
that all is gold?
6. 'And as,
my dear, by one pair of nail-scissors all that is made of iron (karshnayasam)
is known, the difference being only a name, arising from speech, but the
truth being that all is iron,-thus, my dear, is that instruction.'
7. The son
said: 'Surely those venerable men (my teachers) did not know that. For if
they had known it, why should they not have told it me? Do you, Sir,
therefore tell me that.' 'Be it so,' said the father.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. 'In the
beginning,' my dear, 'there was that only which is, one only, without a
second. Others say, in the beginning there was that only which is not, one
only, without a second; and from that which is not, that which is was
born.
2. 'But how
could it be thus, my dear?' the father continued. 'How could that which
is, be born of that which is not? No, my dear, only that which is, was in
the beginning, one only, without a second.
3. 'It
thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth fire.
'That fire
thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth water.
'And
therefore whenever anybody anywhere is hot and perspires, water is
produced on him from fire alone.
4. 'Water
thought, may I be many, may I grow forth. It sent forth earth (food).
'Therefore
whenever it rains anywhere, most food is then produced. From water alone
is eatable food produced.
THIRD
KHANDA
1. 'Of all
living things there are indeed three origins only, that which springs from
an egg (oviparous), that which springs from a living being (viviparous),
and that which springs from a germ.
2. 'That
Being, (i. e. that which had produced fire, water, and earth) thought, let
me now enter those three beings, (fire, water, earth) with this living
Self (giva atma)', and let me then reveal (develop) names and forms.
3. 'Then that
Being having said, Let me make each of these three tripartite (so that
fire, water, and earth should each have itself for its principal
ingredient, besides an admixture of the other two) entered into those
three beings (devata) with this living self only, and revealed names and
forms.
4. 'He made
each of these tripartite; and how these three beings become each of them
tripartite, that learn from me now, my friend!
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. 'The red
colour of burning fire (agni) is the colour of fire, the white colour of
fire is the colour of water, the black colour of fire the colour of earth.
Thus vanishes what we call fire, as a mere variety, being a name, arising
from speech. What is true (satya) are the three colours (or forms).
2. 'The red
colour of the sun (aditya) is the colour of fire, the white of water, the
black of earth. Thus vanishes what we call the sun, as a mere variety,
being a name, arising from speech. What is true are the three colours.
3. 'The red
colour of the moon is the colour of fire, the white of water, the black of
earth. Thus vanishes what we call the moon, as a mere variety, being a
name, arising from speech. What is true are the three colours.
4. 'The red
colour of the lightning is the colour of fire, the white of water, the
black of earth. Thus vanishes what we call the lightning, as a mere
variety, being a name, arising from speech. What is true are the three
colours.
5. 'Great
householders and great theologians of olden times who knew this, have
declared the same, saying, " No one can henceforth mention to us anything
which we have not heard, perceived, or known'." Out of these (three
colours or forms) they knew all.
6. 'Whatever
they thought looked red, they knew was the colour of fire. Whatever they
thought looked white, they knew was the colour of water. Whatever they
thought looked black, they knew was the colour of earth.
7. 'Whatever
they thought was altogether unknown, they knew was some combination of
those three beings (devata).
'Now learn
from me, my friend, how those three beings, when they reach man, become
each of them tripartite.
FIFTH
KHANDA
1. 'The earth
(food) when eaten becomes threefold; its grossest portion becomes feces,
its middle portion flesh, its subtilest portion mind.
2. 'Water
when drunk becomes threefold; its grossest portion becomes water, its
middle portion blood, its subtilest portion breath.
3. 'Fire
(i.e. in oil, butter, &c.) when eaten becomes threefold; its grossest
portion becomes bone, its middle portion marrow, its subtilest portion
speech.
4. 'For
truly, my child, mind comes of earth, breath of water, speech of fire.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. 'That
which is the subtile portion of curds, when churned, rises upwards, and
becomes butter.
2. 'In the
same manner, my child, the subtile portion of earth (food), when eaten,
rises upwards, and becomes mind.
3. 'That
which is the subtile portion of water, when drunk, rises upwards, and
becomes breath.
4. 'That
which is the subtile portion of fire, when consumed, rises upwards, and
becomes speech. 5. 'For mind, my child, comes of earth, breath of water,
speech of fire.'
' Please,
Sir, inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Man (purusha),
my son, consists of sixteen parts. Abstain from food for fifteen days, but
drink as much water as you like, for breath comes from water, and will not
be cut off, if you drink water.'
2. Svetaketu
abstained from food for fifteen days. Then he came to his father and said:
'What shall I say?' The father said: 'Repeat the Rik, Yagus, and Saman
verses.' He replied: 'They do not occur to me, Sir.'
3. The father
said to him: 'As of a great lighted fire one coal only of the size of a
firefly may be left, which would not burn much more than this (i. e. very
little), thus, my dear son, one part only of the sixteen parts (of you) is
left, and therefore with that one part you do not remember the Vedas. Go
and eat!
4. 'Then wilt
thou understand me.' Then Svetaketu ate, and afterwards approached his
father. And whatever his father asked him, he knew it all by heart. Then
his father said to him:
5. 'As of a
great lighted fire one coal of the size of a firefly, if left, may be made
to blaze up again by putting grass upon it, and will thus burn more than
this,
6. 'Thus, my
dear son, there was one part of the sixteen parts left to you, and that,
lighted up with food, burnt up, and by it you remember now the Vedas.'
After that, he understood what his father meant when he said: 'Mind, my
son, comes from food, breath from water, speech from fire.' He understood
what he said, yea, he understood it'.
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. Uddalaka
Aruni said to his son Svetaketu: 'Learn from me the true nature of sleep (svapna).
When a man
sleeps here, then, my dear son, he becomes united with the True, he is
gone to his own (Self). Therefore they say, svapiti, he sleeps, because he
is gone (apita) to his own (sva).
2. 'As a bird
when tied by a string flies first in every direction, and finding no rest
anywhere, settles down at last on the very place where it is fastened,
exactly in the same manner, my son, that mind (the giva, or living Self in
the mind, see VI, 3, 2), after flying in every direction, and finding- no
rest anywhere, settles down on breath; for indeed, my son, mind is
fastened to breath.
3. 'Learn
from me, my son, what are hunger and thirst. When a man is thus said to be
hungry, water is carrying away (digests) what has been eaten by him.
Therefore as they speak of a cow-leader (go-naya), a horse-leader (asva-naya),
a man-leader (purusha-naya), so they call water (which digests food and
causes hunger) food-leader (asa-naya). Thus (by food digested &c.), my
son, know this offshoot (the body) to be brought forth, for this (body)
could not be without a root (cause).
4. 'And where
could its root be except in food (earth)? And in the same manner, my son,
as food (earth) too is an offshoot, seek after its root, viz. water. And
as water too is an offshoot, seek after its root, viz. fire. And as fire
too is an offshoot, seek after its root, viz. the True. Yes, all these
creatures, my son, have their root in the True, they dwell in the True,
they rest in the True.
5. 'When a
man is thus said to be thirsty, fire carries away what has been drunk by
him. Therefore as they speak of a cow-leader (go-naya), of a horse-leader
(asva-naya), of a man-leader (purusha-naya), so they call fire udanyi,
thirst, i. e. water-leader. Thus (by water digested &c.), my son, know
this offshoot (the.body) to be brought forth: this (body) could not be
without a root (cause).
6. 'And where
could its root be except in water? As water is an offshoot, seek after its
root, viz. fire. As fire is an offshoot, seek after its root, viz. the
True. Yes, all these creatures, O son, have their root in the True, they
dwell in the True, they rest in the True.
'And how
these three beings (devata), fire, water, earth, O son, when they reach
man, become each of them tripartite, has been said before (VI, 4, 7). When
a man departs from hence, his speech is merged in his mind, his mind in
his breath, his breath in heat (fire), heat in the Highest Being.
7. 'Now that
which is that subtile essence (the root of all), in it all that exists has
its self. It is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir, inform me still more,' said the son.
Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
NINTH
KHANDA
1. 'As the
bees, my son, make honey by collecting the juices of distant trees, and
reduce the juice into one form,
2. 'And as
these juices have no discrimination, so that they might say, I am the
juice of this tree or that, in the same manner, my son, all these
creatures, when they have become merged in the True (either in deep sleep
or in death), know not that they are merged in the True.
3. 'Whatever
these creatures are here, whether a lion, or a wolf, or a boar, or a worm,
or a midge, or a gnat, or a mosquito, that they become again and again.
4. 'Now '
that which is that subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It
is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
' Be it so,
my child,' the father replied.
TENTH
KHANDA
1. 'These
rivers, my son, run, the eastern (like the Ganga) toward the east, the
western (like the Sindhu) toward the west. They go from sea to sea (i. e.
the clouds lift up the water from the sea to the sky, and send it back as
rain to the sea). They become indeed sea. And as those rivers, when they
are in the sea, do not know, I am this or that river,
2. In the
same manner, my son, all these creatures, when they have come back from
the True, know not that they have come back from the True. Whatever these
creatures are here, whether a lion, or a wolf, or a boar, or a worm, or a
mid-e, or a gnat, or a mosquito, that they become again and again.
3. 'That
which is that subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is
the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'If some
one were to strike at the root of this large tree here, it would bleed,
but live. If he were to strike at its stem, it would bleed, but live. If
he were to strike at its top, it would bleed, but live. Pervaded by the
living Self that tree stands firm, drinking in its nourishment and
rejoicing;
2. 'But if
the life (the living Self) leaves one of its branches, that branch
withers; if it leaves a second, that branch withers; if it leaves a third,
that branch withers. If it leaves the whole tree, the whole tree withers.
In exactly the same manner, my son, know this.' Thus he spoke:
3- 'This
(body) indeed withers and dies when the living Self has left it; the
living Self dies not.
'That which
is that subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is the
True. It is the Self, and thou, Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. 'Fetch me
from thence a fruit of the Nyagrodha tree.'
Here is one,
Sir.'
Break it.'
'It is
broken, Sir.'
'What do you
see there?'
'These seeds,
almost infinitesimal.'
'Break one of
them.'
'It is
broken, Sir.'
'What do you
see there?'
'Not
anything, Sir.'
2. The father
said: 'My son, that subtile essence which you do not perceive there, of
that very essence this great Nyagrodha tree exists.
3. 'Believe
it, my son. That which is the subtile essence, in it all that exists has
its self. It is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Place
this salt in water, and then wait on me in the morning.'
The son did
as he was commanded.
The father
said to him: 'Bring me the salt, which you placed in the water last
night.'
The son
having looked for it, found it not, for, of course, it was melted.
2. The father
said: 'Taste it from the surface of the water. How is it?'
The son
replied: 'It is salt.'
'Taste it
from the middle. How is it?'
The son
replied: ' It is salt.'
'Taste it
from the bottom. How is it?'
The son
replied: 'It is salt.'
The father
said: 'Throw it away' and then wait on me.
He did so;
but salt exists for ever.
Then the
father said: 'Here also, in this body, forsooth, you do not perceive the
True (Sat), my son; but there indeed it is.
3- 'That
which is the subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is
the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'As one
might lead a person with his eyes covered away from the Gandharas, and
leave him then in a place where there are no human beings; and as that
person would turn towards the east, or the north, or the west, and shout,
"I have been brought here with my eyes covered, I have been left here with
my eyes covered,"
2. 'And as
thereupon some one might loose his bandage and say to him, "Go in that
direction, it is Gandhara, go in that direction;" and as thereupon, having
been informed and being able to judge for himself, he would by asking his
way from village to village arrive at last at Gandhara, -- in exactly the
same manner does a man, who meets with a teacher to inform him, obtain the
true knowlede. For him there is only delay so long as he is not delivered
(from the body); then he will be perfect.
3. 'That
which is the subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is
the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
' Please,
Sir, inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'If a man
is ill, his relatives assemble round him and ask: " Dost thou know me?
Dost thou know me?" Now as long as his speech is not merged in his mind,
his mind in breath, breath in heat (fire), heat in the Highest Being (devati),
he knows them.
2. 'But when
his speech is merged in his mind, his mind in breath, breath in heat
(fire), heat in the Highest Being, then he knows them not.
'That which
is the subtile essence, in it all that exists has its self. It is the
True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.'
'Please, Sir,
inform me still more,' said the son.
'Be it so, my
child,' the father replied.
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'My child,
they bring a man hither whom they have taken by the hand, and they say:
"He has taken something, he has committed a theft." (When he denies, they
say), "Heat the hatchet for him." If he committed the theft, then he makes
himself to be what he is not. Then the false-minded, having covered his
true Self by a falsehood, grasps the heated hatchet-he is burnt, and he is
killed.
2. 'But if he
did not commit the theft, then he makes himself to be what he is. Then the
true minded, having covered his true Self by truth, grasps the heated
hatchet-he is not burnt, and he is delivered.
'As that
(truthful) man is not burnt, thus has all that exists its self in That. It
is the True. It is the Self, and thou, O Svetaketu, art it.' He understood
what he said, yea, he understood it.
SEVENTH
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. Narada
approached Sanatkumara and said, 'Teach me, Sir!' Sanatkumara said to him:
'Please to tell me what you know; afterward I shall tell you what is
beyond.'
2. Narada
said: 'I know the Rig-veda, Sir, the Yagur-veda, the Sama-veda, as the
fourth the Atharvana, as the fifth the Itihasa-purana (the Bharata); the
Veda of the Vedas (grammar); the Pitrya (the rules for the sacrifices for
the ancestors); the Rasi (the science of numbers); the Daiva (the science
of portents); the Nidhi (the science of time); the Vakovikya (logic); the
Ekayana (ethics); the Devavidya (etymology); the Brahma-vidya
(pronunciation, siksha, ceremonial, kalpa, prosody, khandas); the
Bhuta-vidya (the science of demons); the Kshatra-vidya (the science of
weapons); the Nakshatra-vidya (astronomy); the Sarpa and Devagana-vidya
(the science of serpents or poisons, and the sciences of the genii, such
as the making of perfumes, dancing, singing, playing, and other fine
arts). All this I know, Sir.
3. 'But, Sir,
with all this I know the Mantras only, the sacred books, I do not know the
Self. I have heard from men like you, that he who knows the Self overcomes
grief. I am in grief. Do, Sir, help me over this grief of mine.'
Sanatkumira
said to him: 'Whatever you have read, is only a name.
4. 'A name is
the.Rig-veda, Yagur-veda, Samaveda, and as the fourth the Atharvana, as
the fifth the Itihasa-purana, the Veda of the Vedas, the Pitrya, the Rasi,
the Daiva, the Nidhi, the Vakovakya, the Ekiyana, the Deva-vidya, the
Brahma-vidya, the Bhuta-vidya, the Kshatra-vidya, the Nakshatra-vidya, the
Sarpa and Devagana-vidya. All these are a name only. Meditate on the name.
5. 'He who
meditates on the name as Brahman, is, as it were, lord and master as far
as the name reaches-he who meditates on the name as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than a name?'
'Yes, there
is something better than a name.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
SECOND
KHANDA
1. 'Speech is
better than a name. Speech makes us understand the Rig-veda, Yag-ur-veda,
Sama-veda, and as the fourth the Atharvana, as the fifth the
Itihasa-purana, the Veda of the Vedas, the Pitrya, the Rasi, the Daiva,
the Nidhi, the Vakovakya, the Ekayana, the Deva-vidya, the Brahma-vidya,
the Kshatra-vidya, the Nakshatra-vidya, the Sarpa and Devagana-vidya;
heaven, earth, air, ether, water, fire, gods, men, cattle, birds, herbs,
trees, all beasts down to worms, midges, and ants; what is right and what
is wrong; what is true and what is false; what is good and what is bad;
what is pleasing and what is not pleasing. For if there were no speech,
neither right nor wrong would be known, neither the true nor the false,
neither the good nor the bad, neither the pleasant nor the unpleasant.
Speech makes us understand all this. Meditate on speech.
2. 'He who
meditates on speech as Brahman, is, as it were, lord and master as far as
speech reaches he who meditates on speech as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than speech?'
'Yes, there
is something better than speech.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
THIRD
KHANDA
1. 'Mind (manas)
is better than speech. For as the closed fist holds two amalaka or two
kola or two aksha fruits, thus does mind hold speech and name. For if a
man is minded in his mind to read the sacred hymns, he reads them; if he
is minded in his mind to perform any actions, he performs them; if he is
minded to wish for sons and cattle, he wishes for them; if he is minded to
wish for this world and the other, he wishes for them. For mind is indeed
the self , mind is the world, mind is Brahman. Meditate on the mind.
2. 'He who
meditates on the mind as Brahman, is, as it were, lord and master as far
as the mind reaches-he who meditates on the mind as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than mind?'
'Yes, there
is something better than mind.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. 'Will (sankalpa)
is better than mind. For when a man wills, then he thinks in his mind,
then he sends forth speech, and he sends it forth in a name. In a name the
sacred hymns are contained, in the sacred hymns all sacrifices.
2. 'All these
therefore (beginning with mind and ending in sacrifice) centre in will,
consist of will, abide in will. Heaven and earth willed, air and ether
willed, water and fire willed. Through the will of heaven and earth &c.
rain wills; through the will of rain food wills; through the will of food
the vital airs will; through the will of the vital airs the sacred hymns
will; through the will of the sacred hymns the sacrifices will; through
the will of the sacrifices the world (as their reward) wills; through the
will of the world everything wills. This is will. Meditate on will.
3. 'He who
meditates on will as Brahman, he, being himself safe, firm, and
undistressed, obtains the safe, firm, and undistressed worlds which he has
willed; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as will reaches-he who
meditates on will as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than will?'
' Yes, there
is something better than will.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
FIFTH
KHANDA
1.
'Consideration (kitta) is better than will. For when a man considers, then
he wills, then he thinks in his mind, then he sends forth speech, and he
sends it forth in a name. In a name the sacred hymns are contained, in the
sacred hymns all sacrifices.
2. 'All these
(beginning with mind and ending in sacrifice) centre in consideration,
consist of consideration, abide in consideration. Therefore if a man is
inconsiderate, even if he possesses much learning, people say of him, he
is nothing, whatever he may know; for, if he were learned, he would not be
so inconsiderate. But if a man is considerate, even though he knows but
little, to him indeed do people listen gladly. Consideration is the
centre, consideration is the self, consideration is the support of all
these. Meditate on consideration.
3. 'He who
meditates on consideration as Brahman, he, being himself safe, firm, and
undistressed, obtains the safe, firm, and undistressed worlds which he has
considered; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as consideration
reaches-he who meditates on consideration as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than consideration?'
'Yes, there
is something better than consideration.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
SIXTH
KHANDA
1.
'Reflection (dhyana) is better than consideration. The earth reflects, as
it were, and thus does the sky, the heaven, the water, the mountains, gods
and men. Therefore those who among men obtain greatness here on earth,
seem to have obtained a part of the object of reflection (because they
show a certain repose of manner). Thus while small and vulgar people are
always quarrelling, abusive, and slandering, great men seem to have
obtained a part of the reward of reflection. Meditate on reflection.
2. 'He who
meditates on reflection as Brahman, is lord and master, as it were, as far
as reflection reaches-he who meditates on reflection as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than reflection?'
'Yes, there
is something better than reflection.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1.
'Understanding (vignana) is better than reflection. Through understanding
we understand the .Rig-veda, the Yagur-veda, the Sama-veda, and as the
fourth the Atharvana, as the fifth the Itihasa-purana, the Veda of the
Vedas, the Pitrya, the Rasi, the Daiva, the Nidhi, the Vakovakya, the
Ekayana, the Deva-vidya, the Brahma-vidya, the Bhuta-vidya, the
Kshatra-vidya, the Nakshatra-vidya, the Sarpa and Devagana-vidya, heaven,
earth, air, ether, water, fire, gods, men, cattle, birds, herbs, trees,
all beasts down to worms, midges, and ants; what is right and what is
wrong; what is true and what is false; what is good and what is bad; what
is pleasing and what is not pleasing; food and savour, this world and
that, all this we understand through understanding. Meditate on
understanding.
2. 'He who
meditates on understanding as Brahman, reaches the worlds where there is
understanding and knowledge; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as
understanding reaches-he who meditates on understanding as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than understanding?'
'Yes, there
is something better than understanding.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
EIGHTH
KHANDA
Power (bala)
is better than understanding. One powerful man shakes a hundred men of
understanding. If a man is powerful, he becomes a rising man. If he rises,
he becomes a man who visits wise people. If he visits, he becomes a
follower of wise people. If he follows them, he becomes a seeing, a
hearing, a perceiving, a knowing, a doing, an understanding man. By power
the earth stands firm, and the sky, and the heaven, and the mountains,
gods and men, cattle, birds, herbs, trees, all beasts down to worms,
midges, and ants; by power the world stands firm. Meditate on power.
2. 'He who
meditates on power as Brahman, is, as it were, lord and master as far as
power reaches-he who meditates on power as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than power?'
'Yes, there
is something better than power.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
NINTH
KHANDA
1. 'Food (anna)
is better than power. Therefore if a man abstain from food for ten days,
though he live, he would be unable to see, hear, perceive, think, act, and
understand. But when he obtains food, he is able to see, hear, perceive,
think, act, and understand. Meditate on food.
2. 'He who
meditates on food as Brahman, obtains the worlds rich in food and drink;
he is, as it were, lord and master as far as food reaches he who meditates
on food as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than food?'
'Yes, there
is something better than food.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
TENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Water (ap)
is better than food. Therefore if there is not sufficient rain, the vital
spirits fail from fear that there will be less food. But if there is
sufficient rain, the vital spirits rejoice, because there will be much
food. This water, on assuming different forms, becomes this earth, this
sky, this heaven, the mountains, gods and men, cattle, birds, herbs and
trees, all beasts down to worms, midges, and ants. Water indeed assumes
all these forms. Meditate on water.
2. 'He who
meditates on water as Brahman, obtains all wishes, he becomes satisfied;
he is, as it were, lord and master as far as water reaches he who
meditates on water as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than water?'
'Yes, there
is something better than water.'
Sir, tell it
me.'
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Fire (tegas)
is better than water. For fire united with air, warms the ether. Then
people say, It is hot, it burns, it will rain. Thus does fire, after
;showing this sign (,itself) first, create water. And thus again
thunderclaps come with lightnings, flashing upwards and across the sky.
Then people say, There is lightning and thunder, it will rain. Then also
does fire, after showing this sign first, create water. Meditate on fire.
2. 'He who
meditates on fire as Brahman, obtains, resplendent himself, resplendent
worlds, full of light and free of darkness; he is, as it were, lord and
master as far as fire reaches-he who meditates on fire as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than fire?'
'Yes, there
is something better than fire.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. 'Ether (or
space) is better than fire. For in the ether exist both sun and moon, the
lightning, stars, and fire (agni). Through the ether we call, through the
ether we hear, through the ether we answer. In the ether or space we
rejoice (when we are together), and rejoice not (when we are separated).
In the ether everything is born, and towards the ether everything tends
when it is born. Meditate on ether.
2. 'He who
meditates on ether as Brahman, obtains the worlds of ether and of light,
which are free from pressure and pain, wide and spacious; he is, as it
were, lord and master as far as ether reaches-he who meditates on ether as
Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than ether?'
'Yes, there
is something better than ether.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Memory, (smara)
is better than ether. Therefore where many are assembled together, if they
have no memory, they would hear no one, they would not perceive, they
would not understand. Through memory we know our sons, through memory our
cattle. Meditate on memory.
2. 'He who
meditates on memory as Brahman, is, as it were, lord and master as far as
memory reaches -he who meditates on memory as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than memory?'
'Yes, there
is something better than memory.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Hope (asa)
is better than memory. Fired by hope does memory read the sacred hymns,
perform sacrifices, desire sons and cattle, desire this world and the
other. Meditate on hope.
2. 'He who
meditates on hope as Brahman, all his desires are fulfilled by hope, his
prayers are not in vain; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as hope
reaches-he who meditates on hope as Brahman.'
'Sir, is
there something better than hope?'
'Yes, there
is something better than hope.'
'Sir, tell it
me.'
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'Spirit (prana)
is better than hope. As the spokes of a wheel hold to the nave, so does
all this (beginning with names and ending in hope) hold to spirit. That
spirit moves by the spirit, it gives spirit to the spirit. Father means
spirit, mother is spirit, brother is spirit, sister is spirit, tutor is
spirit, Brahmana is spirit.
2. 'For if
one says anything unbecoming to a father, mother, brother, sister, tutor
or Brahmana, then people say, Shame on thee! thou hast offended thy
father, mother, brother, sister, tutor, or a Brahmana.
3. But, if
after the spirit has departed from them, one shoves them together with a
poker, and burns them to pieces, no one would say, Thou offendest thy
father, mother, brother, sister, tutor or a Brahmana.
4. 'Spirit
then is all this. He who sees this, perceives this, and understands this,
becomes an ativadin. If people say to such a man, Thou art an ativadin, he
may say, I am an ativadin; he need not deny it.'
SIXTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'But in
reality he is an ativadin who declares the Highest Being to be the True (Satya).'
'Sir, may I
become an ativadin by the True?'
'But we must
desire to know the True.'
'Sir, I
desire to know the True.'
SEVENTEENTH KHANDA
1. 'When one
understands the True, then one declares the True. One who does not
understand it, does not declare the True. Only he who understands it,
declares the True. This understanding, however, we must desire to
understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
EIGHTEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'When one
perceives, then one understands. One who does not perceive, does not
understand. Only he who perceives, understands. This perception, however,
we must desire to understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
NINETEENTH
KHANDA
1. 'When one
believes, then one perceives. One who does not believe, does not perceive.
Only he who believes, perceives. This belief, however, we must desire to
understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
TWENTIETH
KHANDA
1. 'When one
attends on a tutor (spiritual guide), then one believes. One who does not
attend on a tutor, does not believe. Only be who attends, believes. This
attention on a tutor, however, we must desire to understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
TWENTY-FIRST KHANDA
1. 'When one
performs all sacred duties, then one attends really on a tutor. One who
does not perform his duties, does not really attend on a tutor. Only he
who performs his duties, attends on his tutor. This performance of duties,
however, we must desire to understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
TWENTY-SECOND KHANDA
1. 'When one
obtains bliss (in oneself), then one performs duties. One who does not
obtain bliss, does not perform duties. Only he who obtains bliss, performs
duties. This bliss, however, we must desire to understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
TWENTY-THIRD KHANDA
1. 'The
Infinite (bhuman) is bliss. There is no bliss in anything finite. Infinity
only is bliss. This Infinity, however, we must desire to understand.'
'Sir, I
desire to understand it.'
TWENTY-FOURTH KHANDA
1. 'Where one
sees nothing else, hears nothing else, understands nothing else, that is
the Infinite. Where one sees something -else, hears something else,
understands something else, that is the finite. The Infinite is immortal,
the finite is mortal.' 'Sir, in what does the Infinite rest?'
'In its own
greatness-or not even in greatness.'
'In the world
they call cows and horses, elephants and gold, slaves, wives, fields and
houses greatness. I do not mean this,' thus he spoke; 'for in that case
one being (the possessor) rests in something else, (but the Infinite
cannot rest in something different from itself)
TWENTY-FIFTH KHANDA
1. 'The
Infinite indeed is below, above, behind, before, right and left-it is
indeed all this.
'Now follows
the explanation of the Infinite as the I: I am below, I am above, I am
behind, before, right and left-I am all this.
2. 'Next
follows the explanation of the Infinite as the Self: Self is below, above,
behind, before, right and left-Self is all this.
'He who sees,
perceives, and understands this, loves the Self, delights in the Self,
revels in the Self, rejoices in the Self-he becomes a Svarag, (an autocrat
or self-ruler); he is lord and master in all the worlds.
'But those
who think differently from this, live in perishable worlds, and have other
beings for their rulers.
TWENTY-SIXTH KHANDA
1. 'To him
who sees, perceives, and understands this, the spirit (prana) springs from
the Self, hope springs from the Self, memory springs from the Self; so do
ether, fire, water, appearance and disappearance, food, power,
understanding, reflection, consideration, will, mind, speech, names,
sacred hymns, and sacrifices-aye, all this springs from the Self.
2. 'There is
this verse, "He who sees this, does not see death, nor illness, nor pain;
he who sees this, sees everything, and obtains everything everywhere.
'"He is one
(before creation), he becomes three (fire, water, earth), he becomes five,
he becomes seven, he becomes nine; then again he is called the eleventh,
and hundred and ten and one thousand and twenty."
'When the
intellectual aliment has been purified, the whole nature becomes purified.
When the whole nature has been purified, the memory becomes firm. And when
the memory (of the Highest Self) remains firm, then all the ties (which
bind us to a belief in anything but the Selo are loosened.
'The
venerable Sanatkumara showed to Narada, after his faults had been rubbed
out, the other side of darkness. They call Sanatkumara Skanda, yea, Skanda
they call him.'
EIGHTH
PRAPATHAKA
FIRST
KHANDA
1. Harih, Om.
There is this city of Brahman (the body), and in it the palace, the small
lotus (of the heart), and in it that small ether. Now what exists within
that small ether, that is to be sought for, that is to be understood.
2. And if
they should say to him: 'Now with regard to that city of Brahman, and the
palace in it, i.e. the small lotus of the heart, and the small ether
within the heart, what is there within it that deserves to be sought for,
or that is to be understood.
3. Then he
should say: 'As large as this ether (all space) is, so large is that ether
within the heart. Both heaven and earth are contained within it, both fire
and air, both sun and moon, both lightning and stars; and whatever there
is of him (the Self) here in the world, and whatever is not (i.e. whatever
has been or will be), all that is contained within it.'
4. And if
they should say to him: 'If everything that exists is contained in that
city of Brahman, all beings and all desires (whatever can be imagined or
desired), then what is left of it, when old age reaches it and scatters
it, or when it falls to pieces?' Then he should say: 'By the old age of
the body, that (the ether, or Brahman within it) does not age; by the
death of the body, that (the ether, or Brahman within it is not killed.
That the Brahman) is the true Brahma-city (not the body). In it all
desires are contained. It is the Self, free from sin, free from old age,
from death and grief, from hunger and thirst, which desires nothing but
what it ought to desire, and imagines nothing but what it ought to
imagine. Now as here on earth people follow as they are commanded, and
depend on the object which they are attached to, be it a country or a
piece of land,
6. 'And as
here on earth, whatever has been acquired by exertion, perishes, so
perishes whatever is acquired for the next world by sacrifices and other
good actions performed on earth. Those who depart from hence without
having discovered the Self and those true desires, for them there is no
freedom in all the worlds. But those who depart from hence, after having
discovered the Self and those true desires, for them there is freedom in
all the worlds.
SECOND
KHANDA
1. 'Thus he
who desires the world of the fathers, by his mere will the fathers come to
receive him, and having obtained the world of the fathers, he is happy.
2. 'And he
who desires the world of the mothers, by his mere will the mothers come to
receive him, and having obtained the world of the mothers, he is happy.
3. 'And he
who desires the world of the brothers, by his mere will the brothers come
to receive him, and having obtained the world of the brothers, he is
happy.
4. 'And he
who desires the world of the sisters, by his mere will the sisters come to
receive him, and having obtained the world of the sisters, he is happy.
5. 'And he
who desires the world of the friends, by his mere will the friends come to
receive him, and having obtained the world of the friends, he is happy.
6. 'And he
who desires the world of perfumes and garlands (gandhamalya), by his mere
will perfumes and garlands come to him, and having obtained the world of
perfumes and garlands, he is happy.
7. 'And he
who desires the world of food and drink, by his mere will food and drink
come to him, and having obtained the world of food and drink, he is happy.
8. 'And he
who desires the world of song and music, by his mere will song and music
come to him, and having obtained the world of song and music, he is happy.
9. 'And he
who desires the world of women, by his mere will women come to receive
him, and having obtained the world of women, he is happy.
'Whatever
object he is attached to, whatever object he desires, by his mere will it
comes to him, and having obtained it, he is happy.
THIRD
KHANDA
1. 'These
true desires, however, are hidden by what is false; though the desires be
true, they have a covering which is false. Thus, whoever belonging to us
has departed this life, him we cannot gain back, so that we should see him
with our eyes.
2. 'Those who
belong to us, whether living or departed, and whatever else there is which
we wish for and do not obtain, all that we find there (if we descend into
our heart, where Brahman dwells, in the ether of the heart), There are all
our true desires, but hidden by what is false. As people who do not know
the country, walk again and again over a gold treasure that has been
hidden somewhere in the earth and do not discover it, thus do all these
creatures day after day go into the Brahma-world (they are merged in
Brahman, while asleep), and yet do not discover it, because they are
carried away by untruth (they do not come to themselves, i.e. they do not
discover the true Self in Brahman, dwelling in the heart).
3. 'That Self
abides in the heart. And this is the etymological explanation. The heart
is called hrid-ayam, instead of hridy-ayam, i.e. He who is in the heart.
He who knows this, that He is in the heart, goes day by day (when in
sushupti, deep sleep) into heaven (svarga), 1.e. into the Brahman of the
heart.
4. 'Now that
serene being which, after having risen from out this earthly body, and
having reached the highest light (self-knowledge), appears in its true
form, that is the Self,' thus he spoke (when asked by his pupils). This is
the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman. And of that Brahman the name
is the True, Satyam,
5. This name
Sattyam consists of three syllables, sat-ti-yam. Sat signifies the
immortal, t, the mortal, and with yam he binds both. Because he binds
both, the immortal and the mortal, therefore it is yam. He who knows this
goes day by day into heaven (svarga).
FOURTH
KHANDA
1. That Self
is a bank, a boundary, so that these worlds may not be confounded. Day and
night do not pass that bank, nor old age, death, and grief; neither good
nor evil deeds. All evil-doers turn back from it, for the world of Brahman
is free from all evil.
2. Therefore
he who has crossed that bank, if blind, ceases to be blind; if wounded,
ceases to be wounded; if afflicted, ceases to be afflicted. Therefore when
that bank has been crossed, night becomes day indeed, for the world of
Brahman is lighted up once for all.
3. And that
world of Brahman belongs to those only who find it by abstinence -- for
them there is freedom in all the worlds.
FIFTH
KHANDA
1. What
people call sacrifice (yagna), that is really abstinence (brahmakarya).
For he who knows, obtains that (world of Brahman, which others obtain by
sacrifice), by means of abstinence.
What people
call sacrifice (ishta), that is really abstinence, for by abstinence,
having searched (ishtva), he obtains the Self.
2. What
people call sacrifice (sattrayana), that is really abstinence, for by
abstinence he obtains from the Sat (the true), the safety (trana) of the
Self.
What people
call the vow of silence (mauna), that is really abstinence, for he who by
abstinence has found out the Self, meditates (manute).
3. What
people call fasting (anasakayana), that is really abstinence, for that
Self does not perish (na nasyati), which we find out by abstinence.
What people
call a hermit's life (aranyayana), that is really abstinence. Ara and Nya
are two lakes in the world of Brahman, in the third heaven from hence; and
there is the lake Airanimadiya, and the Asvattha tree, showering down
Soma, and the city of Brahman (Hiranyagarbha) Aparagita, and the golden
Prabhuvimita (the hall built by Prabhu, Brahman).
Now that
world of Brahman belongs to those who find the lakes Ara and Nya in the
world of Brahman by means of abstinence; for them there is freedom in all
the worlds.
SIXTH
KHANDA
1. Now those
arteries of the heart consist of a brown substance, of a white, blue,
yellow, and red substance, and so is the sun brown, white, blue, yellow,
and red.
2. As a very
long highway goes to two places, to one at the beginning, and to another
at the end, so do the rays of the sun go to both worlds, to this one and
to the other. They start from the sun, and enter into those arteries; they
start from those arteries, and enter into the sun.
3. And when a
man is asleep, reposing, and at perfect rest, so that he sees no dream,
then he has entered into those arteries. Then no evil touches him, for he
has obtained the light (of the sun).
4. And when a
man falls ill, then those who sit round him, say, 'Do you know me? Do you
know me?' As long as he has not departed from this body, he knows them.
5. But when
he departs from this body, then he departs upwards by those very rays
(towards the worlds which he has gained by merit, not by knowledge); or he
goes out while meditating on Om (and thus securing an entrance into the
Brahma-loka). And while his mind is failing, he is going to the sun. For
the sun is the door of the world (of Brahman). Those who know, walk in;
those who do not know, are shut out. There is this verse: 'There are a
hundred and one arteries of the heart; one of them penetrates the crown of
the head; moving upwards by it a man reaches the immortal; the others
serve for departing in different directions, yea, in different
directions.'
SEVENTH
KHANDA
1. Pragapati
said: 'The Self which is free from sin, free from old age, from death and
grief, from hunger and thirst, which desires nothing but what it ought to
desire, and imagines nothing but what it ought to imagine, that it is
which we must search out, that it is which we must try to understand. He
who has searched out that Self and understands it, obtains all worlds and
all desires.'
2. The Devas
(gods) and Asuras (demons) both heard these words, and said : 'Well, let
us search for that Self by which, if one has searched it out, all worlds
and all desires are obtained.'
Thus saying
Indra went from the Devas, Virokana from the Asuras, and both, without
having communicated with each other, approached Pragapati, holding fuel in
their hands, as is the custom for pupils approaching their master.
3. They dwelt
there as pupils for thirty-two years. Then Pragapati asked them: 'For what
purpose have you both dwelt here?'
They replied:
'A saying of yours is being repeated, viz. "the Self which is free from
sin, free from old age, from death and grief, from hunger and thirst,
which desires nothing but what it ought to desire, and imagines nothing
but what it ought to imagine, that it is which we must search out, that it
is which we must try to understand. He who has searched out that Self and
understands it, obtains all worlds and all desires." Now we both have
dwelt here because we wish for that Self.'
Pragapati
said to them: 'The person that is seen in the eye, that is the Self. This
is what I have said. This is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman.'
They asked:
'Sir, he who is perceived in the water, and he who is perceived in a
mirror, who is he?'
He replied:
'He himself indeed is seen in all these .'
EIGHTH
KHANDA
1. 'Look at
your Self in a pan of water, and whatever you do not understand of your
Self, come and tell me.'
They looked
in the water-pan. Then Pragapati said to them: 'What do you see?'
They said:
'We both see the self thus altogether, a picture even to the very hairs
and nails.'
2. Pragapati
said to them: 'After you have adorned yourselves, have put on your best
clothes and cleaned yourselves, look again into the water-pan.
They, after
having adorned themselves, having put on their best clothes and cleaned
themselves, looked into the water-pan.
Pragapati
said: 'What do you see?'
3. They said:
'Just as we are, well adorned, with our best clothes and clean, thus we
are both there, Sir, well adorned, with our best clothes and clean.'
Pragapati
said: 'That is the Self, this is the immortal, the fearless, this is
Brahman.'
Then both
went away satisfied in their hearts.
4. And
Pragapati, looking after them, said: 'They both go away without having
perceived and without having known the Self, and whoever of these two,
whether Devas or Asuras, will follow this doctrine (upanishad), will
perish.'
Now Virokana,
satisfied in his heart, went to the Asuras and preached that doctrine to
them, that the self (the body) alone is to be worshipped, that the self
(the body) alone is to be served, and that he who worships the self and
serves the self, gains both worlds, this and the next.
5. Therefore
they call even now a man who does not give alms here, who has no faith,
and offers no sacrifices, an Asura, for this is the doctrine (upanishad)
of the Asuras. They deck out the body of the dead with perfumes, flowers,
and fine raiment by way of ornament, and think they will thus conquer that
world.
NINTH
KHANDA
1. But Indra,
before he had returned to the Devas, saw this difficulty. As this self
(the shadow in the water) is well adorned, when the body is well adorned,
well dressed, when the body is well dressed, well cleaned, if the body is
well cleaned, that self will also be blind, if the body is blind, lame, if
the body is lame, crippled, if the body is crippled, and will perish in
fact as soon as the body perishes. Therefore I see no good in this
(doctrine).
2. Taking
fuel in his hand he came again as a pupil to Pragapati. Pragapati said to
him: 'Maghavat (Indra), as you went away with Virokana, satisfied in your
heart, for what purpose did you come back?'
He said :
'Sir, as this self (the shadow) is well adorned, when the body is well
adorned, well dressed, when the body is well dressed, well cleaned, if the
body is well cleaned, that self will also be blind, if the body is blind,
lame, if the body is lame, crippled, if the body is crippled, and will
perish in fact as soon as the body perishes. Therefore I see no good in
this (doctrine).'
3. 'So it is
indeed, Maghavat,' replied Pragapati; 'but I shall explain him (the true
Self) further to
you. Live
with me another thirty-two years.'
He lived with
him another thirty-two years, and then Pragapati said:
TENTH
KHANDA
1. 'He who
moves about happy in dreams, he is the Self, this is the immortal, the
fearless, this is Brahman.'
Then Indra
went away satisfied in his heart. But before he had returned to the Devas,
he saw this difficulty. Although it is true that that self is not blind,
even if the body is blind, nor lame, if the body is lame, though it is
true that that self is not rendered faulty by the faults of it (the body),
2. Nor struck
when it (the body) is struck, nor lamed when it is lamed, yet it is as if
they struck him (the self) in dreams, as if they chased him'. He becomes
even conscious, as it were, of pain, and sheds tears. Therefore I see no
good in this.
3. Taking
fuel in his hands, he went again as a pupil to Prag-Apat1. Pragapati said
to him: 'Maghavat, as you went away satisfied in your heart, for what
purpose did you come back?'
He said:
'Sir, although it is true that that self is not blind even if the body is
blind, nor lame, if the body is lame, though it is true that that self is
not rendered faulty by the faults of it (the body),
4. Nor struck
when it (the body) is struck, nor lamed when it is lamed, yet it is as if
they struck him (the self) in dreams, as if they chased him. He becomes
even conscious, as it were, of pain, and sheds tears. Therefore I see no
good in this.'
'So it is
indeed, Maghavat,' replied Pragapati; 'but I shall explain him (the true
Self) further to you. Live with me another thirty-two years.' He lived
with him another thirty-two years. Then Pragapati said:
ELEVENTH
KHANDA
1. 'When a
man being asleep, reposing, and at perfect rest', sees no dreams, that is
the Self, this is the immortal, the fearless, this is Brahman.'
Then Indra
went away satisfied.in his heart. But before he had returned to the Devas,
he saw this difficulty. In truth he thus does not know himself (his self)
that he is I, nor does he know anything that exists. He is gone to utter
annihilation. I see no good in this.
2. Taking
fuel in his hand he went again as a pupil to Pragapati. Pragapati said to
him: 'Maghavat, as you went away satisfied in your heart, for what purpose
did you come back?'
He said:
'Sir, in that way he does not know himself (his self ) that he is I, nor
does he know anything that exists. He is gone to utter annihilation. I see
no good in this.'
3. 'So it is
indeed, Maghavat,' replied Pragapati 'but I shall explain him (the true
Self) further to
you, and
nothing more than this . Live here otherfive years.'
He lived
there other five years. This made in all one hundred and one years, and
therefore it is said that Indra Maghavat lived one hundred and one years
as a pupil with Pragapati. Pragapati said to him:
TWELFTH
KHANDA
1. 'Maghavat,
this body is mortal and always held by death. It is the abode of that Self
which is immortal and without body. When in the body (by thinking this
body is I and I am this body) the Self is held by pleasure and pain. So
long as he is in the body, he cannot get free from pleasure and pain. But
when he is free of the body (when he knows himself different from the
body), then neither pleasure nor pain touches him'.
2. 'The wind
is without body, the cloud, lightning, and thunder are without body
(without hands, feet, &c.) Now as these, arising from this heavenly ether
(space), appear in their own form, as soon as they have approached the
highest light,
3. 'Thus does
that serene being, arising from this body, appear in its own form, as soon
as it has approached the highest light (the knowledge of Self) . He (in
that state) is the highest person (uttama purusha). He moves about there
laughing (or eating), playing, and rejoicing (in his mind), be it with
women, carriages, or relatives, never minding that body into which he was
born.
'Like as a
horse attached to a cart, so is the spirit (prana, pragnatman) attached to
this body.
4. 'Now where
the sight has entered into the void (the open space, the black pupil of
the eye), there is the person of the eye, the eye itself is the instrument
of seeing. He who knows, let me smell this, he is the Self, the nose is
the instrument of smelling. He who knows, let me say this, he is the Self,
the tongue is the instrument of saying. He who knows, let me hear this, he
is the Self, the ear is the instrument of hearing.
5. 'He who
knows, let me think this, he is the Self, the mind is his divine eye . He,
the Self, seeing these pleasures (which to others are hidden like a buried
treasure of gold) through his divine eye, i. e. the mind, rejoices.
'The Devas
who are in the world of Brahman meditate on that Self (as taught by
Pragapati to Indra, and by Indra to the Devas). Therefore all worlds
belong to them, and all desires. He who knows that Self and understands
it, obtains all worlds and all desires.' Thus said Pragapati, yea, thus
said Pragapati.
THIRTEENTH
KHANDA
1. From the
dark (the Brahman of the heart) I come to the nebulous (the world of
Brahman), from the nebulous to the dark, shaking off all evil, as a horse
shakes his hairs, and as the moon frees herself from the mouth of Rahu.
Having shaken off the body, I obtain, self made and satisfied, the
uncreated world of Brahman, yea, I obtain it.
FOURTEENTH
KHANDA
1. He who is
called ether (akasa) is the revealer of all forms and names. That within
which these forms and names are contained is the Brahman, the Immortal,
the Self
I come to the
hall of Pragapati, to the house; I am the glorious among Brahmans,
glorious among princes, glorious among men. I obtained that glory, I am
glorious among the glorious. May I never go to the white, toothless, yet
devouring, white abode; may I never go to it.
FIFTEENTH
KHANDA
1. Brahma
(Hiranyagarbha or Paramesvara) told this to Pragapati (Kasyapa), Pragapati
to Manu (his son), Manu to mankind. He who has learnt the Veda from a
family of teachers, according to the sacred rule, in the leisure time left
from the duties to be performed for the Guru, who, after receiving his
discharge, has settled in his own house, keeping up the memory of what he
has learnt by repeating it regularly in some sacred spot, who has begotten
virtuous sons, and concentrated all his senses on the Self, never giving
pain to any creature, except at the tirthas (sacrifices, &c.), he who
behaves thus all his life, reaches the world of Brahman, and does not
return, yea, he does not return. |