Śāṅkhāyana (Kauṣītaki) Āraṇyaka 4.1

4.1

ŚĀ 4.1 = KU 2.1
‘Breath is Brahman,’ Kauṣītaki used to say. Of this breath, which is Brahman, the mind is the messenger, the eye the guard, the ear the proclaimer, and speech the chambermaid. He who knows the mind as the messenger of this breath, which is Brahman, comes to have a messenger. He who [knows] the eye as the guard comes to have a guard. He who [knows] the ear as the proclaimer comes to have a proclaimer. He who [knows] speech as the chambermaid comes to have a chambermaid. To this Brahman, these deities bring tribute without his asking for it. Just so do all beings bring tribute without his asking for it to him who knows thus. Its secret teaching is: ‘He should not beg.’ Just as if someone, having begged in a village and received nothing, were to sit down [saying]: ‘I would not eat what is given from here!’—then those very people who previously refused him invite him. Such is the way of one who does not beg. But the givers of food do indeed invite him, [saying]: ‘Let us give to you!’