Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad ("Great Forest Teaching") 4.1

4.1.1

— janako ha vaideha āsāṃ cakre'tha ha yājñavalkya āvavrāja | tam̐ hovāca yājñavalkya kimarthamacārīḥ paśūnicchannaṇvantāniti | ubhayameva samrāḍiti hovāca

When Ganaka Vaideha was sitting (to give audience), Yâgñavalkya approached, and Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Yâgñavalkya, for what object did you come, wishing for cattle, or for subtle questions?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'For both, Your Majesty;

4.1.2

yatte kaścidabravīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnme jitvā śailinirvāgvai brahmeti yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāttathā tacchailinirabravīdvāgvai brahmetyavadato hi kim̐ syādityabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ na me'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya | vāgevāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhā prajñetyenadupāsīta | kā prajñatā yājñavalkya vāgeva samrāḍiti hovāca | vācā vai samrāḍvandhuḥ prajñāyata gvedo yajurvedaḥ sāmavedo'tharvāṅgirasa itihāsaḥ purāṇaṃvidyā upaniṣadaḥ ślokāḥ sūtrā-ṇyanuvyākhyānāni vyākhyānāniṣṭam̐ hutamāśitaṃpāyitamayaṃ ca lokaḥ paraśca lokaḥ sarvāṇi ca bhūtāni vācaiva samrāprajñāyante vāgvai samrāṭparamaṃ brahma nainaṃ vāgjahāti sarvāṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣarantidevo bhūtvā devānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste | hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ | sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ pitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣya hareteti

'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Gitvan Sailini told me that speech (vâk) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Sailini tell you, that speech is Brahman; for what is the use of a dumb person? But did he tell you the body (âyatana) and the resting-place (pratishthâ) of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'The tongue is its body, ether its place, and one should worship it as knowledge.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that knowledge?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, speech itself (is knowledge). For through speech, Your Majesty, a friend is known (to be a friend), and likewise the Rig-Veda, Yagur-veda, Sâma-veda, the Atharvâṅgirasas, the Itihâsa (tradition), Purâna-vidyâ (knowledge of the past), the Upanishads, Slokas (verses), Sûtras (rules), Anuvyâkhyânas and Vyâkhyânas (commentaries, &c.); what is sacrificed, what is poured out, what is (to be) eaten and drunk, this world and the other world, and all creatures. By speech alone, Your Majesty, Brahman is known, speech indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Speech does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.3

yadeva te kaścidabrabīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnma udaṅkaḥ śaulbāyanaḥprāṇo vai brahmeti yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāttathā tacchaulbāyano'bravītprāṇo vai brahmetya-prāṇato hi kim̐ syādityabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ name'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya prāṇa evāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhā priyamityenadupāsīta kā priyatā yājñavalkya prāṇa eva samrāḍiti hovāca prāṇasya vai samrāṭkāmāyāyājyaṃ yājayatyapratigṛhyasyapratigṛhṇātyapi tatra vadhā-śaṅke bhavati yāṃ diśameti prāṇasyaiva samrāṭkāmāya prāṇo vai samrāṭparamaṃ brahma nainaṃ prāṇo jahāti sarvāṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣaranti devo bhūtvā devānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ pitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣya hareteti

Yâgñavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Udaṅka Saulbâyana told me that life (prâna) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Udaṅka Saulbâyana tell you that life is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without life? But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Breath is its body, ether its place, and one should worship it as what is dear.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is dear?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, life itself (is that which is dear);' because for the sake of life, Your Majesty, a man sacrifices even for him who is unworthy of sacrifice, he accepts presents from him who is not worthy to bestow presents, nay, he goes to a country, even when there is fear of being hurt, for the sake of life. Life, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Life does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.4

yadeva te kaścida-bravīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnme barkurvārṣṇaścakṣurvai brahmetiyathā mātṛmānpitṛmā-nācāryavānbrūyāttathā tadvārṣṇo'bravīccakṣurvai brahmetyapaśyato hi kim̐ syādi-tyabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhaṃ na me'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya cakṣurevāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhā satyamityenadupāsīta kā satyatā yājñavalkya cakṣureva samrāḍiti hovāca cakṣuṣā vai samrāṭpaśya-ntamāhuradrākṣīriti sa āhādrākṣamiti tatsatyaṃ bhavati cakṣurvaisamrāṭparamaṃ brahma nainaṃ cakṣurjahāti sarvāṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣaranti devo bhūtvādevānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ pitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣyahareteti

Yâgñavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Barku Vârshna told me that sight (kakshus) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Barku Vârshna tell you that sight is Brahman; for what is the use of a person who cannot see? But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'The eye is its body, ether its place, and one should worship it as what is true.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is true?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, sight itself (is that which is true); for if they say to a man who sees with his eye, "Didst thou see?" and he says, "I saw," then it is true. Sight, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Sight does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.5

yadeva te kaścida-bravīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnme gardabhīvipīto bhāradvājaḥ śrotraṃ vai brahmeti yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāttathā tadbhāradvājo'bravīcchrotraṃ vai brahmetyaśṛṇvato hi kim̐ syādityabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ na me'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya śrotramevāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhānanta ityenadupāsīta kānantatā yājñavalkya diśa eva samrāḍitihovāca tasmādvai samrāḍapi yāṃ kāṃ ca diśaṃ gacchati naivāsyā antaṃ gacchatyanantā hi diśo diśo vai samrāṭśrotram̐ śrotraṃ vai samrāṭparamaṃ brahma nainam̐ śrotraṃ jahāni sarvāṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣaranti devo bhūtvā devānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ pitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣya hareteti

Yâgñavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Gardabhîvibhîta Bhâradvâga told me that hearing (sruta) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Gardabhîvibhîta Bhâradvâga tell you that hearing is Brahman; for what is the use of a person who cannot hear? But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'The ear is its body, ether its place, and we should worship it as what is endless.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of that which is endless?'
Yâgñavalkya, replied: 'Your Majesty, space (disah) itself (is that which is endless), and therefore to whatever space (quarter) he goes, he never comes to the end of it. For space is endless. Space indeed, O King, is hearing, and hearing indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Hearing does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.6

yadeva tekaścidabravīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnme satyakāmo jābālo mano vai brahmeti yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāttathā tajjābālo'bravīnmano vai brahmetyamana so hi kim̐ syādityabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ na me'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya mana evāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhānanda ityenadupāsīta kānandatā yājñavalkya mana eva samrāḍiti hovāca manasā vai samrāṭstriyamabhihāryate tasyāṃ pratirūpaḥ putro jāyate sa ānandomano vai samrāṭ paramaṃ brahma nainaṃ mano jahāti sarvaṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣaranti devo bhūtvā devānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ sa hovāca yājñavalkyaḥ pitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣya haretetiṃ

Yâgñavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Satyakâma Gâbâla told me that mind (manas) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Satyakâma Gâbâla tell you that mind is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without mind? But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Mind itself is its body, ether its place, and we should worship it as bliss.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of bliss?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, mind itself; for with the mind does a man desire a woman, and a like son is born of her, and he is bliss. Mind indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. Mind does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.7

yadeva te kaścidabravīttacchṛṇavāmetyabravīnme vidagdhaḥśākalyo hṛdayaṃ vai brahmeti yathā mātṛmānpitṛmānācāryavānbrūyāttathā tacchākalyo'bravīddhṛdayaṃ vai brahmetyahṛdaya-sya hi kim̐ syādityabravīttu te tasyāyatanaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ na me'bravīdityekapādvā etatsamrāḍiti sa vai no brūhi yājñavalkya hṛdayamevāyatanamākāśaḥ pratiṣṭhā sthitirityenadupāsīta kā sthitatā yājñavalkya hṛdayameva samrāḍiti hovāca hṛdayaṃ vai samrāṭsarveṣāṃ bhūtānāmāyatanam̐ hṛdayaṃ vai samrāṭsarveṣāṃ bhūtānāṃ pratiṣṭhā hṛdaye hyeva samrāṭsarvāṇibhūtāni pratiṣṭhitāni bhavanti hṛdayaṃ vai samrāṭparamaṃ brahma nainam̐ hṛdayaṃ jahāti sarvāṇyenaṃ bhūtānyabhikṣaranti devo bhūtvā devānapyeti ya evaṃ vidvānetadupāste hastyṛṣabham̐ sahasraṃ dadāmīti hovāca janako vaidehaḥ sa hovāca yājñavaklyaḥpitā me'manyata nānanuśiṣya hareteti

Yâgñavalkya said: 'Let us hear what anybody may have told you.'
Ganaka Vaideha replied: 'Vidagdha Sâkalya told me that the heart (hridaya) is Brahman.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'As one who had (the benefit of a good) father, mother, and teacher might tell, so did Vidagdha Sâkalya tell you that the heart is Brahman; for what is the use of a person without a heart? But did he tell you the body and the resting-place of that Brahman?'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'He did not tell me.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'Your Majesty, this (Brahman) stands on one leg only.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'Then tell me, Yâgñavalkya.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'The heart itself is its body, ether its place, and we should worship it as certainty (sthiti).'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'What is the nature of certainty?'
Yâgñavalkya replied: 'Your Majesty, the heart itself; for the heart indeed, O King, is the body of all things, the heart is the resting-place of all things, for in the heart, O King, all things rest. The heart indeed, O King, is the Highest Brahman. The heart does not desert him who worships that (Brahman) with such knowledge, all creatures approach him, and having become a god, he goes to the gods.'
Ganaka Vaideha said: 'I shall give you (for this) a thousand cows with a bull as big as an elephant.'
Yâgñavalkya said: 'My father was of opinion that one should not accept a reward without having fully instructed a pupil.'

4.1.7.p1

iti caturthādhyāye prathamaṃ brāhmaṇam