Śāṅkhāyana (Kauṣītaki) Āraṇyaka 9.2

9.2

ŚĀ 9,2
yo ha vai jyeṣṭhaṃ ca śreṣṭhaṃ ca veda jyeṣṭhaś ca ha vai śreṣṭhaś ca svānāṃ bhavati | prāṇo vai jyeṣṭhaś ca śreṣṭhaś ca | yo ha vai vasiṣṭhāṃ veda vasiṣṭho ha svānāṃ bhavati vāg vai vasiṣṭhā | yo ha vai pratiṣṭhāṃ veda prati ha tiṣṭhaty asmiṃś ca loke 'muṣmiṃś ca cakṣur ha pratiṣṭhā | yo ha vai saṃpadaṃ veda saṃ hāsmai kāmāḥ saṃpadyante śrotraṃ ha vā u saṃpat | yo ha vā āyatanaṃ vedāyatano ha svānāṃ bhavati mano vā āyatanam | atha hemā devatāḥ prajāpatiṃ pitaram etyābruvan ko vai naḥ śreṣṭha iti | sa hovāca prajāpatir yasmin va utkrānte śarīraṃ pāpiṣṭham iva manyate sa vai śreṣṭha iti ||

ŚĀ 9.2: Whoever knows the eldest and best becomes the eldest and best among his own people. Breath indeed is the eldest and best. Whoever knows the richest becomes the richest among his own people; speech indeed is the richest. Whoever knows the foundation is established both in this world and in yonder world; sight indeed is the foundation. Whoever knows attainment, to him desires are attained; hearing indeed is attainment. Whoever knows the abode becomes an abode for his own people; the mind indeed is the abode. Then these deities went to Prajāpati, their father, and said: "Who of us is the best?" Prajāpati said: "He on whose departure the body is considered the most wretched, he is the best."