Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 6.1: M 2 / K 1

6.1.1

— | yo ha vai jyeṣṭhaṃ ca śreṣṭhaṃ ca veda jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavati prāṇo vai jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca jyeṣṭhaśca śreṣṭhaśca svānāṃ bhavatyapi ca yaiṣāṃ bubhūṣati ya evaṃ veda

Om. He who knows that which is the oldest and greatest, becomes the oldest and greatest among his relatives. The vital force is indeed the oldest and greatest. He who knows it to be such becomes the oldest and greatest among his relatives as well as among those of whom he wants to be such.

6.1.2

yo ha vai vasiṣṭhāṃ veda vasiṣṭhaḥ svānāṃ bhavati vāgvai vasiṣṭhā vasiṣṭhaḥsvānāṃ bhavasyapi ca yeṣāṃ bubhūṣati ya evaṃ veda

He who knows the Vasiṣṭha (that which best helps to dwell or cover) becomes the Vasiṣṭha among his relatives. The organ of speech is indeed the Vasiṣṭha. He who knows it as such becomes the Vasiṣṭha among his relatives as well as among those of whom he wants to be such.

6.1.3

yo ha vai pratiṣṭhāṃ veda pratitiṣṭhati same pratitiṣṭhati durge cakṣuvaiṃpratiṣṭhā cakṣuṣā hi same ca durge ca pratitiṣṭhati pratitiṣṭhati same pratitiṣṭhati durge ya evaṃ veda

He who knows Pratiṣṭhā (that which has steadiness) lives steadily in difficult as well as smooth places and times. The eye indeed is Pratiṣṭhā, for through the eye one lives steadily in difficult as well as smooth places and times. He who knows it as such lives steadily in difficult as well as smooth places and times.

6.1.4

yo ha vai saṃpadaṃ veda sam̐ hāsmai padyate yaṃ kāmaṃ kāmayate śrotraṃ vai saṃpacchrotre hīme sarvevedā abhisaṃpannāḥ sam̐hāsmai padyate yaṃ kāmaṃ kāmayate ya evaṃ veda

He who knows Sampad (prosperity) attains whatever object he desires. The ear indeed is Sampad, for all these Vedas are acquired when one has the ear (intact). He who knows it to be such attains whatever object he desires.

6.1.5

yo ha vā āyatanaṃ vedāyatanam̐ svānāṃ bhavatyāyatanaṃ janānāṃ mano vā āyatanamāyatanam̐ svānāṃ bhavatyāyatanaṃ janānāṃ ya evaṃ veda

He who knows the abode becomes the abode of his relatives as well as of (other) people. The Manas indeed is the abode. He who knows it to be such becomes the abode of his relatives as well as of (other) people.

6.1.6

yo ha vai prajātiṃ veda prajāyate ha prajayā paśubhī reto vai prajātiḥ prajāyate ha prajayā paśubhirya evaṃ veda

He who knows Prajâti (that which has the attribute of generation) is enriched with children and animals. The seed (organ) has this attribute. He who knows it to be such is enriched with children and animals.

6.1.7

te heme prāṇā aham̐śreyase vivadamānā brahma jagmu-staddhocuḥ ko no vasiṣṭha iti taddhovāca yasminva utkānta idam̐ śarīraṃ pāpīyo manyate sa vo vasiṣṭha iti

These organs, disputing over their respective greatness, went to Brahman and said to him, 'Which of us is the Vasiṣṭha?' He said, 'That one of you will be the Vasiṣṭha, who departing from among yourselves, people consider this body far more wretched.'

6.1.8

vāgghoccakrāma sā saṃvatsaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti te hocuryathā kalā avadanto vācāprāṇantaḥ prāṇena paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvām̐so manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti praviveśa ha vāk

The organ of speech went out. After staying a whole year out it came back and said, ‘How did you manage to live without me?’ They said, ‘We lived just as dumb people do, without speaking through the organ of speech, but living through the vital force, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear, knowing through the mind and having children through the organ of generation.’ So the organ of speech entered.

6.1.9

cakṣurhoccakrāma tatsaṃvatmaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti te hocuryathāndhā apaśyantaścakṣuṣā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvām̐so manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti praviveśa ha cakṣuḥ

The eye went out. After staying a whole year out it came back and said, 'How did you manage to live without me?' They said, 'We lived just as blind people do, without seeing through the eye, but living through the vital force, speaking through the organ of speech, hearing through the ear, knowing through the mind and having children through the organ of generation.' So the eye entered.

6.1.10

śrotra m̐ hoccakrāma tatsaṃvatsaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti te hocuryathābadhirā aśṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā vidvām̐so manasā prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti praviveśa ha śrotram

The ear went out. After staying a whole year out it came back and said, 'How did you manage to live without me?' They said, 'We lived just as deaf people do, without hearing through the ear, but living through the vital force, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, knowing through the mind and having children through the organ of generation.' So the ear entered.

6.1.11

mano hoccakrāma tatsaṃvatsaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti te hocuryathā mugdhā avidvām̐so manasā prāṇantaḥ prāṇena vadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa prajāyamānā retasaivamajīviṣmeti praviveśa ha manaḥ

The mind went out. After staying a whole year out it came back and said, ‘How did you manage to live without me?’ They said, ‘We lived just as idiots do, without knowing through the mind, but living through the vital force, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear and having children through the organ of generation.’ So the mind entered.

6.1.12

reto hoccakrāma tatsaṃvatsaraṃ proṣyāgatyovāca kathamaśakata madṛte jīvitumiti te hocuryathā klībā aprajāyamānā retasā prāṇantaḥ prāṇenavadanto vācā paśyantaścakṣuṣā śṛṇvantaḥ śrotreṇa vidvām̐so manasaivamajīviṣmeti praviveśa ha retaḥ

The organ of generation went out. After staying a whole year out it came back and said, ‘How did you manage to live without me?’ They said, ‘We lived just as eunuchs do, without having children through the organ of generation, but living through the vital force, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear and knowing through the mind.’ So the organ of generation entered.

6.1.13

atha ha prāṇa utkramiṣyanyathā mahāsuhayaḥsaindhavaḥ paḍvīśaśaṅkūnsaṃvṛhedevam̐ haivemānprāṇānsaṃvavarha te hocurmā bhagava utkramīrna vai śakṣyāmastvadṛte jīvitumiti tasyo me valiṃ kuruteti tatheti

Then as the vital force was about to go out, it uprooted those organs just as a great, fine horse from Sind pulls out the pegs to which his feet are tied. They said, 'Please do not go out, sir, we cannot live without you.' 'Then give me tribute.' 'All right.'

6.1.14

sā ha vāguvāca yadvā ahaṃ vasiṣṭhāsmi tvaṃ tadvasiṣṭho'sīti yadvā ahaṃ pratiṣṭhāsmi tvaṃ tatpratiṣṭho'sīti cakṣuryadvā aham̐ saṃpadasmi tvaṃ tatsaṃpadasīti śrotraṃ yadvā ahamāyatanamasmi tvaṃ tadāyatanamasīti mano yadvā ahaṃ prajātirasmi tvaṃ tatprajātirasīti retastasyo me kimannaṃ kiṃ vāsa iti yadidaṃ kiṃcā śvabhya ā kṛmibhya ā kīṭapataṅgebhyastatte'nnamāpo vāsa iti na ha vā asyānannaṃ jagdhaṃ bhavati nānannaṃ parigṛhītaṃ ya evametadanasyānnaṃ veda tadvidvām̐saḥ śrotriyā aśiṣyanta ācāmantyaśitvācāmantyetameva tadanamanagnaṃ kurvanto manyante

The organ of speech said, 'That attribute of the Vasiṣṭha which I have is yours.' The eye: 'That attribute of steadiness which I have is yours.' The ear: 'That attribute of prosperity which I have is yours.' The mind: 'That attribute of abode which I have is yours.' The organ of generation: 'That attribute of generation which I have is yours.' (The vital force said :) 'Then what will be my food and my dress?' (The organs said :) 'Whatever is (known as) food, including dogs, worms, insects and moths, is your food, and water your dress.' He who knows the food of the vital force to be such, never happens to eat anything that is not food, or to accept anything that is not food. Therefore wise men who are versed in the Vedas sip a little water just before and after eating. They regard it as removing the nakedness of the vital force.

6.1.14.p1

iti ṣaṣṭhādhyāye prathamaṃ brāhmaṇam