Brahadaranyaka Upanishad - Part 4
 

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Part Four 

Chapter I—Partial Definitions of Brahman 

1.    Om. Janaka, Emperor of Videha, was seated to give audience  when Yajnavalkya arrived. The Emperor said to him:  "Yajnavalkya, for what purpose have you come here? With a  desire for cattle, or to hear some subtle questions asked?"  "For both, Your Majesty," said he.  

2.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you."  "Jitvan, the son of Silina, told me that the organ of speech (fire)  is Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the son of Silina  say that the organ of speech is Brahman; for what can be  attained by a person who cannot speak? But did he tell you  about its abode (body) and support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  “The physical organ of speech is its abode and the akasa is its  support. It should be mediated upon as intelligence.”  “What is intelligence, O Yajnavalkya?”  “It is the organ of speech, Your Majesty,” said Yajnavalkya.  “Through the organ of speech alone, O Emperor, are known the  Rig—Veda, the Yagur—Veda, the Sama—Veda, the  Atharvangirasa, history, ancient lore, the arts, the Upanishads,  verses, aphorisms, explanations, commentaries, the results of  sacrifices, the result of offering oblations in the fire, the results  of giving food and drink, this world, the next world and all  beings.  “The organ of speech, Your Majesty, is the Supreme Brahman.  The organ of speech never deserts him who, knowing this,  meditates upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a  god, he attains the gods.”  “I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant,” said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: “My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him.” 

3.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you."  "Udanka, the son of Sulba, told me that the vital breath (prana)  is Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the son of Sulba  say that the vital breath is Brahman; for what can be attained by  a person who does not live? But did he tell you about its abode  and support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  "The vital breath is its abode and the akasa is its support. It should be meditated upon as dear."  "What is that dearness, O Yajnavalkya?"  "It is the vital breath, Your Majesty," said Yajnavalkya. "For  the sake of that vital breath (life), O Emperor, one performs  sacrifices for him for whom they should not be performed and  accepts gifts from him from whom they should not be accepted;  nay, for the sake of the vital breath, O Emperor, one may go to  a quarter where one runs the risk of losing one’s life.  "The vital breath, O Emperor, is the Supreme Brahman. The  vital breath never deserts him who, knowing what has just been  said, meditates upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and  being a god, he attains the gods."  "I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant," said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: "My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him." 

4.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you.  "Barku, the son of Vrishna, told me that the eye is Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the son of Vrishna  say that the eye is Brahman; for what can be attained by a  person who cannot see? But did he tell you about its abode and  support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  "The eye is its abode and the akasa is its support. It should be  meditated upon as truth."  "What is truth, O Yajnavalkya?"  "It is the eye, Your Majesty," said Yajnavalkya. "Verily, Your  Majesty, if one asks a person who has seen with his eyes:  ‘Have you seen?’ and he answers: ‘Yes, I have,’ then it is true.  "The eye, Your Majesty, is the Supreme Brahman. The eye  never deserts him who, knowing what has just been said,  meditates upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a  god, he attains the gods."  "I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant," said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: "My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him."  

5.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you."  "Gardabhivipita, a descendant of Bharadvaja, told me that the  ear is Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the descendant of  Bharadvaja say that the ear is Brahman; for what can be  attained by a person who cannot hear? But did he tell you about  its abode and support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  "The ear is its abode and the akasa is its support. It should be  meditated upon as infinite."  "What is infinity, O Yajnavalkya?"  "It is the quarters, Your Majesty," said Yajnavalkya. "Verily,  Your Majesty, to whatever quarter (direction) one may go, one  never reaches its end. Hence the quarters are infinite. The  quarters, O Emperor, are the ear and the ear, O Emperor, is the  Supreme Brahman.  "The ear never deserts him who, knowing this, meditates upon  it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a god, he attains  the gods."  "I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant," said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: "My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him." 

6.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you."  "Satyakama, the son of Jabala, told me that the mind is  Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the son of Jaa say  that the mind is Brahman; for what can be attained by a person  who has no mind? But did he tell you about its abode and  support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  "The mind is its abode and the akasa is its support. It should be  meditated upon as bliss."  "What is bliss, O Yajnavalkya?"  "It is the mind, Your Majesty," said Yajnavdkya. "Verily, Your  Majesty, with the mind a man desires and woos a woman; then  160  a son resembling him is born of her and he is the cause of bliss.  The mind, O Emperor, is the Supreme Brahman.  "The mind never deserts him who, knowing this, meditates  upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a god, he  attains the gods."  "I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant," said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: "My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him." 

7.    Yajnavalkya said: "Let me hear what anyone among your  teachers may have told you."  "Vidaghdha, the son of Sakala, told me that the heart is  Brahman."  "As anyone who had the benefit of being taught by a good  mother, father and teacher should say, so did the son of Sakala  say that the heart is Brahman; for what can be attained by a  person who is without a heart? But did he tell you about its  abode and support?"  "No, he did not."  "This Brahman is only one—footed, Your Majesty."  "Then you tell us, O Yajnavalkya."  "The heart is its abode and the akasa is its support. It should be  meditated upon as stability."  "What is stability, O Yajnavalkya?"  "It is the heart," said Yajnavalkya. "Verily, Your Majesty, the  heart is the abode of all beings and the heart, Your Majesty, is  the support of all beings. The heart, O Emperor, is the Supreme  Brahman.  "The heart never deserts him who, knowing this, meditates  upon it; all beings eagerly approach him; and being a god, he  attains the gods."  "I give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an  elephant," said Emperor Janaka.  Yajnavalkya replied: "My father was of the opinion that one  should not accept gifts from a disciple without fully instructing  him." 

Chapter II—Concerning The Self 

1.    Janaka, Emperor of Videha, rose from his lounge, humbly  approached Yajnavalkya and said: "Salutation to you, O  Yajnavalkya. Please instruct me."  Yajnavalkya said: "Your Majesty, as one who wishes to go a  long distance would procure a chariot or a ship, even so you have fully equipped your mind with so many secret names of  Brahman. You are also honoured and wealthy; you have  studied the Vedas and heard the Upanishads. But do you know  where you will go when you are released from this body?"  "Venerable Sir, I do not know where I shall go."  "Then I will tell you where you will go."  "Tell me, venerable Sir." 

2.    "The person who is in the right eye is named Indha. Though he  is Indha, people call him by the indirect name Indra; for the  gods are fond of indirect names and hate to be addressed  directly. 

3.    "The person who is in the left eye is his wife, Viraj (matter).  The akasa that lies within the heart is their place of union. Their  food is the lump (pinda) of blood in the heart. Their wrap is the  net—like structure in the heart. The path on which they move  from sleep to waking is the nerve that goes upward from the  heart; it is like a hair split into a thousand

Parts. In the body  there are nerves called hita, which are placed in the heart.  Through these the essence of our food passes as it moves on.  Therefore the subtle body (Taijasa) receives finer food than the  gross body (Vaisvanara). 

4.    "Of the illumined sage who is identified with Prajna in deep  sleep the east is the eastern vital breath (prana), the south is the  southern vital breath, the west is the western vital breath, the  north is the northern vital breath, the upper direction is the  upper vital breath, the direction below is the nether vital breath  and all the directions are all the vital breaths.  "This self is That which has been described as ‘Not this, not  this.’ It is imperceptible, for It is never perceived; undecaying,  for It never decays; unattached, for It is never attached;  unfettered, for It never feels pain and never suffers injury.  "Verily, O Janaka, you have attained That which is free from  fear," said Yajnavalkya.  "Venerable Yajnavalkya," said Emperor Janaka, "may that  fearless Brahman be yours too, for you have made known to us  the fearless Brahman. Salutations to you! Here is the Empire of  Videha and also myself at your service." 

Chapter III—Investigation of the Three States 

1.    Yajnavalkya called on Janaka, Emperor of Videha. He said to  himself: "I will not say anything."  But once upon a time Janaka, Emperor of Videha and  Yajnavalkya had had a talk about the Agnihotra sacrifice and  Yajnavalkya had offered him a boon. Janaka had chosen the  right to ask him any questions he wished and Yajnavalkya had  granted him the boon.  So it was the Emperor who first questioned him. 

2.    "Yajnavalkya, what serves as light for a man?"  "The light of the sun, O Emperor," said Yajnavalkya, "for with  the sun as light he sits, goes out, works and returns."  "Just so, Yajnavalkya." 

3.    "When the sun has set, Yajnavalkya, what serves as light for a  man?"  "The moon serves as his light, for with the moon as light he  sits, goes out, works and returns."  "Just so, Yajnavalkya." 

4.    "When the sun has set and the moon has set, Yajnavalkya, what  serves as light for a man?"  "Fire serves as his light, for with fire as light he sits, goes out,  works and returns."  "Just so, Yajnavalkya." 

5.    "When the sun has set, Yajnavalkya and the moon has set and  the fire has gone out, what serves as light for a man?"  "Speech (sound) serves as his light, for with speech as light he  sits, goes out, works and returns. Therefore, Your Majesty,  when one cannot see even one’s own hand, yet when a sound is  uttered, one can go there."  "Just so, Yajnavalkya." 

6.    "When the sun has set, Yajnavalkya and the moon has set and  the fire has gone out and speech has stopped, what serves as  light for a man?"  "The self, indeed, is his light, for with the self as light he sits,  goes out, works and returns." 

7.    "Which is the self?"  "This purusha which is identified with the intellect  (vijnanamaya) and is in the midst of the orgams, the self—  indulgent light within the heart (intellect). Assuming the  likeness of the intellect, it wansers between the two worlds; it  thinks, as it were and moves, as it were being indetified with  dreasm, it trasncends this waking world, which represents the  forms of death (ignorance and its effects). 

8.    "That person (the individual self), when he is born, that is to  say, when he assumes a body, is joined with evils and when he  dies, that is to say, leaves the body, he discards those evils. 

9.    "And there are only two states for that person: the one here in  this world and the other in the next world. The third, the  intermediate, is the dream state. When he is in that intermediate  state, he surveys both states: the one here in this world and the  other in the next world. Now, whatever support he may have  for the next world, he provides himself with that and sees both  evils (sufferings) and joys.  "And when he dreams, he takes away a little of the impressions  of this all—embracing world (the waking state), himself makes  the body unconscious and creates a dream body in its place,  revealing his own brightness by his own light—and he dreams.  In this state the person becomes self—illumined. 

10.    "There are no real chariots in that state, nor animals to be yoked  to them, nor roads there, but he creates the chariots, animals  and roads. There are no pleasures in that state, no joys, no  rejoicings, but he creates the pleasures, joys and rejoicings.  There are no pools in that state, no reservoirs, no rivers, but he  creates the pools, reservoirs and rivers. He indeed is the agent. 

11.    "Regarding this there are the following verses:  ‘The effulgent infinite being (purusha), who travels alone,  makes the body insensible in sleep but himself remains awake and taking with him the luminous particles of the organs,  watches those which lie dormant. Again he comes to the  waking state. 

12.    ‘The effulgent infinite being (purusha), who is immortal and  travels alone, guards the unclean nest (body) with the help of  the vital breath (prana) and himself moves out of the nest. That  immortal entity wanders wherever he likes. 

13.    ‘In the dream world, the luminous one attains higher and lower  states and creates many forms—now, as it were, enjoying  himself in the company of women, now laughing, now even  beholding frightful sights. 

14.    ‘Everyone sees his sport but him no one sees.’ They say: ‘Do  not wake him suddenly.’ If he does not find the right organ, the  body becomes difficult to doctor. 

15.    Yajnavalkya said: "Tha entity (purusha), after enjoying himself  and raoming in the dream state and merely witnessing the  results of good and evil, remians in a state of profound sleep  and then hastens back in the reverse way to his former  condition, the dream state. He remains unaffected by whatever  he sees in that dream state, for this infinite being is unattached."  Janaka said: "Just so, Yajnavalkya. I give you, Sir, a thousand  cows.  Please instruct me further about Liberation itself. 

16.    "Yajnavalkya said: "That entity (purusha), after enjoying  himself and roaming in the dream state and merely witnessing  the results of good and evil, hastens back in the reverse way to  his former condition, the waking state. He remains unaffected  by whatever he sees in that state, for this infinite being is  unattached."  Janaka said: "Just so, Yajnavalkya. I give you, Sir, a thousand  cows.  Please instruct me further about Liberation itself."  

17.    Yajnavalkya said: "That entity (purusha), after enjoying  himself and roaming in the waking state and merely witnessing  the results of good and evil, hastens back in the reverse way to  its former condition, the dream state or that of dreamless sleep. 

18.    "As a large fish swims alternately to both banks of a river—the  east and the west—so does the infinite being move to both  these states: dreaming and waking. 

19.    "As a hawk or a falcon roaming in the sky becomes tired, folds  its wings and makes for its nest, so does this infinite entity  (purusha) hasten for this state, where, falling asleep, he  cherishes no more desires and dreams no more dreams. 

20.    "There are ni his body nerves (nadis) called hita, which are fine  as a hair divided into a thousand parts and are filled with white,  blue, brown, green and red fluids. Theyt are the seat of the  suble body, which is the storehouse of impressions. Now, when  he feels as if he were being killed or overpowered, or being  chased by an elephant, or falling into a pit, in short, when he  fancies at that time, thorough ignorance, whatever frightful  thing he has expericned in the waking state, that is the dream  state. So also, when he thinks he is a god, as it were, or a king,  as it were, or thinks: "This universe is myself and I am all,: that  is his highest state. 

21.    "That indeed is his form—free from desires, free from evils,  free from fear. As a man fully embraced by his beloved wife  knows nothing that is without, nothing that is within, so does  this infinite being (the self), when fully embraced by the  Supreme Self, know nothing that is without, nothing that is  within.  "That indeed is his form, in which all his desires are fulfilled, in  which all desires become the self and which is free from desires  and devoid of grief. 

22.    "In this state a father is no more a father, a mother is no more a  mother, the worlds are no more the worlds, the gods are no  more the gods, the Vedas are no more the Vedas. In this state a  thief is no more a thief, the killer of a noble brahmin is no more  a killer, a chandala is no more a chandala, a paulkasa is no  more a paulkasa, a monk is no more a monk, an ascetic is no  more an ascetic.  "This form of his is untouched by good deeds and untouched by  evil deeds, for he is then beyond all the woes of his heart. 

23.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not see, yet it is  seeing though it does not see; for there is no cessation of the  vision of the seer, because the seer is imperishable. There is  then, however, no second thing separate from the seer that it  could see. 

24.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not smell, yet it  is smelling though it does not smell; for there is no cessation of  the smelling of the smeller, because the smeller is imperishable.  There is then, however, no second thing separate from the  smeller that it could smell. 

25.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not taste, yet it  is tasting though it does not taste; for there is no cessation of  the tasting of the taster, because the taster is imperishable.  There is then, however, no second thing separate from the taster  that it could taste. 

26.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not speak, yet it  is speaking though it does not speak; for there is no cessation of  the speaking of the speaker, because the speaker is  imperishable. There is then, however, no second thing separate  from the speaker that it could speak about. 

27.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not hear, yet it  is hearing though it does not hear; for there is no cessation of  the hearing of the hearer, because the hearer is imperishable.  There is then, however, no second thing separate from the  hearer that it could hear.  

28.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not think, yet it  is thinking though it does not think; for there is no cessation of  the thinking of the thinker, because the thinker is imperishable.  There is then, however, no second thing separate from the  thinker that it could think of. 

29.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not touch, yet it  is touching though it does not touch; for there is no cessation of  the touching of the toucher, because the toucher is  imperishable. There is then, however, no second thing separate  from the toucher that it could touch. 

30.    "And when it appears that in deep sleep it does not know, yet it  is knowing though it does not know; for there is no cessation of  the knowing of the knower, because the knower is  imperishable. There is then, however, no second thing separate  from the knower that it could know. 

31.    "When in the waking and dream states there is, as it were,  another, then one can see the other, then one can smell the  other, then one can speak to the other, then one can hear the  other, then one can think of the other, then one can touch the  other, then one can know the other. 

32.    "In deep sleep it becomes transparent like water, the witness,  one and without a second. This is the World of Brahman, Your  Majesty. This is its supreme attainment, this is its supreme  glory, this it its highest world, this is its supreme bliss. On a particle of this bliss other creatures live."  Thus did Yajnavalkya teach Janaka. 

33.    "If a person is perfect of body and is prosperous, lord of others  and most lavishly supplied with all human enjoyments, he  represents the highest blessing among men. This human bliss  multiplied a hundred times makes one measure of the bliss of  the Manes who have won their own world. The bliss of these  Manes who have won their world, multiplied a hundred times,  makes one measure of bliss in the world of the gandharvas. The bliss of the gandharvas, multiplied a hundred times, makes one  measure of the bliss of the gods by action (those who attain  godhood through sacrificial rites). The bliss of the gods by  action, multiplied a hundred times, makes one measure of the  bliss of the gods by birth, as also of one who is versed in the  Vedas, sinless and free from desire. The bliss of the gods by  birth, multiplied a hundred times, makes one measure of bliss  in the World of Prajapan (Viraj), as also of one who is versed in  the Vedas, sinless and free from desire. The bliss in the World  of Prajapati, multiplied a hundred times, makes one measure of  bliss in the World of Brahma (Hiranyagarbha), as also O? one  who is versed in the Vedas, sinless and free from desire. This,  indeed, is the supreme bliss. This is the state of Brahman, O  Emperor," said Yajnavalkya.  Janaka said: I give you a thousand cows, venerable Sir. Please  instruct me further about Liberation itself."  At this Yajnavalkya was afraid that the intelligent emperor was  driving him to give the solution of all his questions. 

34.    "That entity (the self), after enjoying himself and roaming in  the dream state and merely witnessing the results of merits and  demerits, hastens back in the reverse way to its former  condition, the waking state. 

35.    "Just as a heavily loaded cart moves along, creaking, even so  the self identified with the body, being presided over by the  Self which is all consciousness (the Supreme Self), moves  along, groaning, when breathing becomes difficult at the  approach of death. 

36.    "When this body grows thin—becomes emaciated or disease—  then, as a mango or a fig or a fruit of the peepul tree becomes  detached from its stalk, so does this infinite being completdy  detaching himself from the parts of the body, again move on, in  the same way that he came, to another body for the  remanisfestation of his vital breath (prana). 

37.    "Just as, when a king comes, the ugras appointed to deal with  crimes; the sutas and the leaders of the village await him with  food and drink and lodgings ready, saying: ‘Here he comes,  here he comes,’ even so, for the person who knows about the fruits of his own work, there wait all the elements, saying:  ‘Here comes Brahman, here he comes.’ 

38    "Just as, when the king wishes to depart, the ugras appointed to  deal with crimes, the sutas and the leaders of the village gather  around him, even so do all the organs gather around the self, at  the time of death, when it struggles for breath." 

Chapter IV—Death and the Hereafter 

1.    Yajnavalkya continued: "Now, when that self becomes weak  and unconscious, as it were, the organs gather around it.  Having wholly seized these particles of light, the self comes to  the heart. When the presiding deity of the eye turns back from  all sides, the dying man fails to notice colour. 

2.    "The eye becomes united with the subtle body; then people say:  ‘He does not see.’ The nose becomes united with the subtle  body; then they say: ‘He does not smell.’ The tongue becomes  united with the subtle body; then they say: ‘He does not taste.’  The vocal organ becomes united with the subtle body; then they  say: ‘He does not speak.’ The ear becomes united with the  subtle body; then they say: ‘He does not hear.’ The mind  becomes united with the subtle body; then they say: ‘He does  not think.’ The skin becomes united with the subtle body; then  they say: ‘He does not touch.’ The intellect becomes united  with the subtle body; then they say: ‘He does not know.’  "The upper end of the heart lights up and by that light the self  departs, either through the eye or through the head or through  any other part (aperture) of the body.  "And when the self departs, the vital breath follows and when  the vital breath departs, all the organs follow.  "Then the self becomes endowed with a particular  consciousness and passes on to the body to be attained by that  consciousness.  "Knowledge, work and past experience follow the self. 

3.    "And just as a leech moving on a blade of grass reaches its end,  takes hold of another and draws itself together towards it, so  does the self, after throwing off this body, that is to say, after  making it unconscious, take hold of another support and draw  itself together towards it.  

4.    "And just as a goldsmith takes a small quantity of gold and  fashions out of it another—a newer and better—form, so does  the self, after throwing off this body, that is to say, after making  it unconscious, fashion another—a newer and better—form,  suited to the Manes, or the gandharvas, or the gods, or Viraj, or  Hiranyagarbha, or other beings. 

5.    "That self is indeed Brahman; it is also identified with the  intellect, the mind and the vital breath, with the eyes and ears,  with earth, water, air and akasa, with fire and with what is other  than fire, with desire and with absence of desire, with anger and  with absence of anger, with righteousness and unrighteousness,  with all—it is identified, as is well known, with this (i.e. what  is perceived) and with that (i.e. what is inferred). According as  it acts and according as it behaves, so it becomes: by doing  good it becomes good and by doing evil it becomes evil. It  becomes virtuous through virtuous action and evil through evil  action.  "Others, however, say that the self is identified with desire  alone. As is its desire, so is its resolution; and as is its  resolution, so is its deed; and whatever deed it does, that it  reaps. 

6.    "Regarding this there is the following verse:  "Because of attachment, the transmigrating self, together with  its work, attains that result to which its subtle body or mind  clings. Having exhausted in the other world the results of  whatever work it did in this life, it returns from that world to  this world for fresh work.’  "Thus does the man who desires transmigrate. But as to the  man who does not desire—who is without desire, who is freed  from desire, whose desire is satisfied, whose only object of  desire is the Self—his organs do not depart. Being Brahman, he  merges in Brahman. 

7.    "Regarding this there are the following verses:  "When all the desires that dwell in his heart are got rid of, then  does the mortal man become immortal and attain Brahman in  this very body.’  "Just as the slough of a snake lies, dead and cast away, on an  ant—hill, even so lies this body. Then the self becomes  disembodied and immortal Spirit, the Supreme Self (Prana),  Brahman, the Light."  Janaka, Emperor of Videha, said: "I give you, venerable Sir, a  thousand cows." 

8.    "Regarding this there are the following verses:  ‘The subtle, ancient path stretching far away has been touched  (reached) by me; nay, I have realized it myself. By this path the  wise, the knowers of Brahman, move on to the celestial sphere  (Liberation) after the fall of this body, having been freed even  while living.’ 

9.    ‘Some speak of it as white, others as blue, grey, green, or red.  This path is realized by a knower of Brahman and is trod by  whoever knows Brahman, has done good deeds and is  identified with the Supreme Light.’ 

10.    ‘Into blinding darkness enter those who worship ignorance; into  a greater darkness than that, as it were, enter those who are  devoted to knowledge.’ 

11.    ‘Cheerless indeed are those worlds covered with blinding  darkness. To them after death go those people who are ignorant  and unwise.’ 

12.    ‘If a man knows the Self as I am this, then desiring what and  for whose sake will he suffer in the wake of the body?’ 

13.    ‘Whoever has realized and intimately known the Self, Which  has entered this perilous and perplexing place (the body), is the  maker of the universe; for he is the maker of all. All is his Self  and he, again, is indeed the Self of all.’ 

14.    ‘Dwelling in this very body, we have somehow realized  Brahman; otherwise we should have remained ignorant and  great destruction would have overtaken us. Those who know  Brahman become immortal, while others only suffer misery.’  

15.    ‘When a person following the instructions of a teacher directly  beholds the effulgent Self, the Lord of all that has been and will  be, he no longer wishes to hide himself from It.’ 

16.    ‘That under which the year with its days rolls on—upon that  immortal Light of l lights the gods meditate as longevity.’ 

17.    ‘That in which the five groups of five and the akasa rest, that  very Atman I regard as the Immortal Brahman. Knowing that  Brahman, I am immortal.’ 

18.    ‘They who know the Vital Breath (Prana) of the vital breath  (prana), the Eye of the eye, the Ear of the ear, the Mind of the  mind, have realized the ancient, primordial Brahman.’ 

19.    ‘Through the mind alone is Brahman to be realized. There is in  It no diversity. He goes from death to death who sees in It, as it  were, diversity.’ 

20.    ‘Unknowable and constant, It should be realized in one form  only. The Self is free from taint, beyond the akasa, birthless,  infinite and unchanging.’ 

21.    ‘The intelligent seeker of Brahman, learning about the Self  alone, should practise wisdom (prajna). Let him not think of too  many words, for that is exhausting to the organ of speech.’ 

22.    "That great, unborn Self, which is identified with the intellect  (vijnanamaya) and which dwells in the midst of the organs, lies  in the akasa within the heart. It is the controller of all, the lord  of all, the ruler of all. It does not become greater through good  deeds or smaller through evil deeds. It is the lord of all, the  ruler of all beings, the protector of all beings. It is the dam that  serves as the boundary to keep the different worlds apart. The brahmins seek to realize It through the study of the Vedas,  through sacrifices, through gifts and through austerity which  does not lead to annihilation. Knowing It alone one becomes a  sage (muni). Wishing for this World (i.e. the Self) alone, monks  renounce their homes.  "The knowers of Brahman of olden times, it is said, did not  wish for offspring because they thought: ‘What shall we do  with offspring—we who have attained this Self, this World?’  They gave up, it is said, their desire for sons, for wealth and for  the worlds and led the life of religious mendicants. That which  is the desire for sons is the desire for wealth and that which is  the desire for wealth is the desire for the worlds; for both these,  indeed, are but desires.  ‘This Self is That which has been described as Not this, not  this. It is imperceptible, for It is not perceived; undecaying, for  It never decays; unattached, for It is never attached; unfettered,  for It never feels pain and never suffers injury.  ‘Him who knows this these two thoughts do not overcome: For  this I did an evil deed and For this I did a good deed. He  overcomes both. Things done or not done do not afflict him.’ 

23.    "This has been expressed by the following Rig verse:  ‘This is the eternal glory of Brahman: It neither increases nor  decreases through work. Therefore one should know the nature  of That alone. Knowing It one is not touched by evil action.’  "Therefore he who knows It as such becomes self—controlled,  calm, withdrawn into himself, patient and collected; he sees the  Self in his own self (body); he sees all as the Self. Evil does not  overcome him, but he overcomes all evil. Evil does not afflict  him, but he consumes all evil. He becomes sinless, taintless,  free from doubts and a true Brahmana (knower of Brahman).  This is the World of Brahman, O Emperor and you have  attained It." Thus said Yajnavalkya.  Janaka said: ‘Venerable Sir, I give you the empire of Videha  and myself, too, with it, to wait upon you. 

24.    That great, unborn Self is the eater of food and the giver of  wealth. He who knows this obtains wealth. 

25.    That great, unborn Self is undecaying, immortal, undying,  fearless; It is Brahman (infinite). Brahman is indeed fearless.  He who knows It as such becomes the fearless Brahman. 

Chapter V—Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi (II) 

1.    Yajnavalkya had two wives: Maitreyi and Katyayani. Of these,  Maitreyi was conversant with the Knowledge of Brahman,  while Katyayani had an essentially feminine outlook. One day  Yajnavalkya, when he wished to embrace another mode of life, 

2.    Said: "Maitreyi, my dear, I am going to renounce this life to  become a monk. Let me make a final settlement between you  and Katyayani." 

3.    Maitreyi said: "Venerable Sir, if indeed the whole earth full of  wealth belonged to me, would I be immortal through that or  not?" "No," replied Yajnavalkya, "your life would be just like  that of people who have plenty. Of Immortality, however, there  is no hope through wealth." 

4.    Then Maitreyi said: "What should I do with that which would  not make me immortal? Tell me, venerable Sir, of that alone  which you know to be the only means of attaining  Immortality." 

5.    Yajnavalkya replied: "My dear, you have been my beloved  even before and now you have resolved to know what is after  my heart. If you wish, my dear, I shall explain it to you. As I  explain it, meditate on what I say." 

6.    And he said: "Verily, not for the sake of the husband, my dear,  is the husband loved, but he is loved for the sake of the self  which, in its true nature, is one with the Supreme Self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the wife, my dear, is the wife loved,  but she is loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the sons, my dear, are the sons  loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of wealth, my dear, is wealth loved,  but it is loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the animals, my dear, are the  animals loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the brahmin, my dear, is the  brahmin loved, but he is loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the kshatriya, my dear, is the  kshatriya loved, but he is loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the worlds, my dear, are the worlds  loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the gods, my dear, are the gods  loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the Vedas, my dear, are the Vedas  loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the beings, my dear, are the beings  loved, but they are loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, not for the sake of the All, my dear, is the All loved,  but it is loved for the sake of the self.  "Verily, my dear Maitreyi, it is the Self that should be  realized—should be heard of, reflected on and meditated upon.  By the realisation of the Self, my dear, through hearing,  reflection and meditation, all this is known. 

7.    "The brahmin rejects one who knows him as different from the  Self. The kshatriya rejects one who knows him as different  from the Self. The worlds reject one who knows them as  different from the Self. The gods reject one who knows them as  different from the Self. The Vedas reject one who knows them  as different from the Self. The beings reject one who knows  them as different from the Self. The All rejects one who knows  it as different from the Self. This brahmin, this kshatriya, these  worlds, these gods, these Vedas, these beings and this All—are  that Self.  

8—10.    "As the various particular kinds of notes of a drum, when it is  beaten, cannot be grasped by themselves, but are grasped only  when the general note of the drum or the general sound  produced by different kinds of strokes is grasped;  "And as the various particular notes of a conch, when it is  blown, cannot be grasped by themselves, but are grasped only  when the general note of the conch or the general sound  produced by different kinds of blowing is grasped;  "And as the various particular notes of a vina, when it is  played, cannot be grasped by themselves, but are grasped only  when the general note of the vina or the general sound  produced by the different kinds of playing is grasped;  

11.    "As from a fire kindled with wet fuel various kinds of smoke  issue forth, even so, my dear, the Rig—Veda, the Yajur—Veda,  the Sama—Veda, the Atharvangirasa, history (itihasa),  mythology (purana), the arts (vidya), Upanishads, verses  (slokas), aphorisms (sutras), elucidations (anuvyakhyanas),  explanations (vyakhyanas), sacrifices, oblations in the fire,  food, drink, this world, the next world and all beings are all like  the breath of this infinite Reality. From this Supreme Self are  all these, indeed, breathed forth. 

12.    "As the ocean is the one goal of all waters (the place where  they merge), so the skin is the one goal of all kinds of touch,  the nostrils are the one goal of all smells, the tongue is the one  goal of all savours, the ear is the one goal of all sounds, the  mind is the one goal of all deliberations, the intellect is the one  goal of all forms of knowledge, the hands are the one goal of all  actions, the organ of generation is the one goal of all kinds of  enjoyment, the excretory organ is the one goal of all excretions,  the feet are the one goal of all kinds of walking, the organ of  speech is the one goal of all the Vedas. 

13.    "As a lump of salt has neither inside nor outside and is  altogether a homogeneous mass of taste, even so this Self, my  dear, has neither inside nor outside and is altogether a  homogeneous mass of Intelligence. This Self comes out as a  separate entity from the elements and with their destruction this  separate existence is also destroyed. After attaining this  oneness it has no more consciousness. This is what I say, my  dear."  So said Yajnavalkya. 

14.    Then Maitreyi said: "Just here you have completely bewildered  me, venerable Sir. Indeed, I do not at all understand this."  He replied: "Certainly I am not saying anything bewildering,  my dear. Verily, this Self is immutable and indestructible. 

15.    "For when there is duality, as it were, then one sees another,  one smells another, one tastes another, one speaks to another,  one hears another, one thinks of another, one touches another,  one knows another. But when to the knower of Brahman everything has become the Self, then what should he see and  through what, what should he smell and through what, what  should he taste and through what, what should he speak and  through what, what should he hear and through what, what  should he think and through what, what should he touch and  through what, what should he know and through what?  Through what should one know That Owing to which all this is  known?  "This Self is That which has been described as ‘Not this, not  this.’ It is imperceptible, for It is never perceived; undecaying,  for It never decays; unattached, for It never attaches Itself;  unfettered, for It never feels pain and never suffers injury.  Through what, O Maitreyi, should one know the Knower?  "Thus you have the instruction given to you. This much,  indeed, is the means to Immortality."  Having said this, Yajnavalkya renounced home. 

Chapter VI—The Line of Teachers 

1.    Now the line of teachers:  We received the knowledge from Pautimashya. Pautimashya  received it from Gaupavana. Gaupavana from another  Pautimashya. This Pautimashya from another Gaupavana. This  Gaupavana from Kausika. Kausika from Kaundinya.  Kaundinya from Sandilya. Sandilya from Kausika and  Gautama. Gautama 

2.    From Agnivesya. Agnivesya from Gargya. Gargya from  another Gargya. This Gargya from Gautama. Gautama from  Saitava. Saitava from Pirasaryayana. Parasarayayana from  Gargyayana. Gargyayana from Uddalakayana. Uddalakayana  from Jabalayana. Jabalayana from Madhyandinayana.  Madhyandinayana from Saukarayana. Saukarayana from  Kashayana. Kashayana from Sayakayana. Sayakayana from  Kausikayani. Kausikayani 

3.    From Ghritakausika. Ghritakausika from Parasaryayana.  Parasaryayana from Parasarya. Parasarya from Jatukarnya.  Jatukarnya from Asurayana and Yiska. Asurayana from  Traivani. Traivani from Aupajandhani. Aupajandhani from  Asuri. Asuri from Bharadvaja. Bharadvaja from Atreya. Atreya  from Manti. Manti from Gautama. Gautama from another  Gautama. This Gautama from Vatsya. Vatsya from SandiIya.  Sandilya from Kaisorya Kapya. Kaisorya Kapya from  Kumaraharita. Kumaraharita from Galava. Galava from  Vidarbhikaundinya. Vidarbhikaundinya from Vatsanapat  Babhrava. Vatsanapat Babhrava from Pathin Saubhara. Pathin  Saubhara from Ayasya Angirasa. Ayasya Angirasa from Abhuti  Tvashtra. Abhuti Tvashtra from Visvarupa Tvashtra. Visvarupa  Tvashtra from the two Asvins. The two Asvins from Dadhyach  Atharvana. Dadhyach Atharvana from Atharvana Daiva.  Atharvana Daiva from Mrityu Pradhvamsana. Mrityu  Pradhvamsana from Pradhvamsana. Pradhvamsana from  Ekarshi. Ekarshi from Viprachitti. Viprachitti from Vyashti.  Vyashti from Sanaru. Sanaru from Sanitana. Sanitana from  Sanaga. Sanaga from Parameshthin (Viraj). Parameshthin from  Brahman (Hiranyagarbha). Brahman is self—born (eternal).  Salutation to Brahman. 
 

Part One | Part Two | Part Three | Part Four | Part Five | Part Six

 

 

 

 

 
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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