The Fourth Brāhmana

SOURCE:The Thirteen Principal Upanishads. Translated from the Sanskrit with an outline of the philosophy of the Upanishads and an annotated bibliography by Robert Ernest Hume. With a list of recurrent and parallel passages by George C. O. Haas. 2d ed., rev. London: Oxford University Press, 1931, pp. 98–102.

The conversation of Yājñavalkya and Maitreyī concerning the pantheistic Soul

1. 'Maiteryī!' said Yājñavalkya , 'lo, verily, I am about to go forth from this state. Behold! let me make a final settlement for you and that Kātyāyanī,'

2. Then said Maiteryī: 'If now, sir, this whole earth filled with wealth were mine, would I be immortal thereby?'

'No,' said Yājñavalkya. 'As the life of the rich, even so would your life be. Of immortality, however, there is no hope through wealth.'

3. Then said Maiteryī: 'What should I do with that through which I may not be immortal? What you know, sir—that, indeed, tell me!'

4. Then said Yājñavalkya: 'Ah (bata)! Lo (are), dear ( priyā) as you are to us, dear is what you say! Come, sit down. I will explain to you. But while I am expounding, do you seek to ponder thereon.'

5. Then said he: 'Lo, verily, not for love of the husband is a husband dear, but for love of the Soul (Ātman) a husband is dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of the wife is a wife dear, but for love of the Soul a wife is dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of the sons are sons dear, but for love of the Soul sons are dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of the wealth is wealth dear, but for love of the Soul wealth is dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of Brahmanhood (brahma) is Brahmanhood dear, but for love of the Soul Brahmanhood is dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of Kshatrahood (ksatra) is Brahman dear, but for love of the Soul Kshatrahood is dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of the worlds are the worlds dear, but for love of the Soul the worlds are dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of the gods are the gods dear, but for love of the Soul the gods are dear.

Lo, verily, not for love of all is all dear, but for love of the Soul all is dear.

Lo, verily, it is the Soul (Ātman) that should be seen, that should be hearkened to, that should be thought on, that should be pondered on, O Maitreyī. Lo, verily, with the seeing of, with the hearkening of the Soul, this world-all is known.

6. Brahmanhood has deserted him who knows Brahmanhood in aught else than the Soul.

Kshatrahood has deserted him who knows Kshatrahood in aught else the Soul.

The Worlds have deserted him who knows the worlds in aught else than the Soul.

The gods have deserted him who knows the gods in aught else than the Soul.

Beings have deserted him who knows beings in aught else than the Soul.

Everything has deserted him who knows everything in aught else than the Soul.

This Brahmanhood, this Kshatrahood, these worlds, these gods, these beings, everything here is what this Soul is.

7. It is—as, when a drum is being beaten, one would not be able to grasp the external sounds, but by grasping the drum or the beater of the drum the sound is grasped.

8. It is—as, when a conch-shell is being blown, one would not be able to grasp the external sounds, but by grasping the conch-shell or the blower of the conch-shell the sound is grasped.

9. It is—as, when a lute is being played, one would not be able to grasp the external sounds, but by grasping the lute or the player of the lute the sound is grasped.

10. It is—as, from a fire laid with damp fuel, clouds of smoke separately issue forth, so, lo, verily, from this great Being (bhūta) has been breathed forth that which is Rig-Veda, Yarjur-Veda, Sāma-Veda, [Hymns] of the Atharvans and Aṇgirases, Legend (itihāsa), Ancient Lore (purāṇa), Sciences (vidyā), Mystic Doctrines (upanis .ad), Verses (śloka), Aphorisms (sūtra), Explanations (anuvyākhyāna), and Commentaries (vyākhyāna). From it, indeed, are all these breathed forth.

11. It is—as of all waters the uniting-point is the sea, so of all touches the uniting-point is the skin, so of all tastes the uniting-point is the tongue, so of all smells the uniting-point is the nostrils, so of all forms the uniting-point is the eye, so of all sounds the uniting-point is the ear, so of all intentions (saṃkalpa) the uniting-point is the mind (manas), so of all knowledges the uniting-point is the heart, so of all acts (karma) the uniting-point is the hands, so of all pleasures (ānanda) the uniting-point is the generative organ, so of all evacuations the uniting-point is the anus, so of all journeys the uniting-point is the feet, so of all Vedas the uniting-point is speech.

12. It is—as a lump of salt cast in water would dissolve right into the water; there would not be [any] of it to seize forth, as it were (iva), but wherever one may take, it is salty indeed—so, lo, verily, this great Being (bhūta), infinite, limitless, is just a mass of knowledge (vijñāna-ghana).

Arising out of these elements (bhūta), into them also one vanishes away. After death there is no consciousness (na pretya samjñā 'sti). Thus, lo, say I.' Thus spake Yājñavalkya.

13. Then spake Maitreyī: 'Herein, indeed, you have bewildered me, sir—in saying (iti): "After death there is no consciousness"!'

Then spake Yājñavalkya: 'Lo, verily, I speak not bewilderment (moha). Sufficient, lo, verily, is this for understanding.

14. For where this is a duality (dvaita), as it were (iva), there one sees another; there one smells another; there one hears another; there one speaks to another; there one thinks another; there one understands another. Where, verily, everything has become just one's own self, then whereby and whom would one smell? then whereby and whom would one see? then whereby and whom would one hear? then whereby and to whom would one speak? then whereby and on whom would one think? then whereby and whom would one understand? Whereby would one understand him by whom one understands this All? Lo, whereby would one understand the understander?'