Chāndogya Upaniṣad 4.3

4.3.1

vāyur vāva saṃvargaḥ \
yadā vā agnir udvāyati vāyum evāpyeti \
yadā sūryo 'stam eti vāyum evāpyeti \
yadā candro 'stam eti vāyum evāpyeti \\403.1\

1. ‘The Wind (Vāyu), verily, is a snatcher-unto-itself. Verily, when a fire blows out, it just goes to the Wind. When the sun sets, it just goes to the Wind. When the moon sets, it just goes to the Wind.

4.3.2

yadā apa ucchuṣyanti vāyum evāpiyanti \
vāyur hy evaitān sarvān saṃvṛṅkte \
ity adhidaivatam \\403.2\

2. When water dries, goes up, it just goes to the Wind. For the Wind, truly, snatches all here to itself.—Thus with reference to the divinities.

4.3.3

athādhyātmam \
prāṇo vāva samvargaḥ \
sa yadā svapiti prāṇam eva vāg apyeti \
prāṇaṃ cakṣuḥ \
prāṇaṃ śrotram \
prāṇaṃ manaḥ \
prāṇo hy evaitān sarvān saṃvṛṅkta iti \\403.3\

3. Now with reference to oneself.— Breath (prāṇa), verily, is a snatcher-unto-itself. When one sleeps, speech just goes to breath; the eye, to breath; the ear, to breath; the mind, to breath; for the breath, truly, snatches all here to itself.

4.3.4

tau vā etau dvau samvargau \
vāyur eva deveṣu prāṇaḥ prāṇeṣu \\403.4\

4. Verily, these are two snatchers-unto-themselves: the Wind among the gods, breath among the vital breaths.

4.3.5

atha ha śaunakaṃ ca kāpeyam abhipratāriṇaṃ ca kākṣaseniṃ pariviṣyamāṇau brahmacārī bibhikṣe \
tasmā u ha na dadatuḥ \\403.5\

5. Now, once upon a time when Śaunaka Kāpeya and Abhipratārin Kākshaseni were being served with food, a student of sacred knowledge begged of them. They did not give to him.

4.3.6

sa hovāca \
mahātmanaś caturo deva ekaḥ kaḥ sa jagāra bhuvanasya gopāḥ \
taṃ kāpeya nābhipaśyanti martyā abhipratārin bahudhā vasantam \
yasmai vā etad annaṃ tasmai etan na dattam iti \\403.6\

6. Then he said:— “One God (deva) has swallowed up four mighty beings (mahātman). Who is that world’s protector, O Kāpeya? Him mortal men perceive not, though abiding In manifolded forms, Abhipratārin. Verily, this food has not been offered to whom it belongs.”

4.3.7

tad u ha śaunakaḥ kāpeyaḥ pratimanvānaḥ pratyeyāya \
ātmā devānāṃ janitā prajānāṃ hiraṅyadaṃṣṭro babhaso 'nasūriḥ \
mahāntam asya mahimānam āhur anadyamāno yad anannam atti \
iti vai vayam brahmacārin nedam upāsmahe dattāsmai bhikṣām iti \\403.7\

7. Then Śaunaka Kāpeya, considering this, replied:— “The Self (ātman) of gods, of creatures Procreator, With golden teeth Devourer, truly Wise One— His mightiness they say is truly mighty; He eats what is not food, and is not eaten. Thus, verily, O student of sacred knowledge, do we reverence It.—Give ye him alms.”

4.3.8

tasmai u ha daduḥ \
te vā ete paṅcānye paṅcānye daśa santas tat kṛtam \
tasmāt sarvāsu dikṣv annam eva daśa kṛtam \
sa eṣā virāḍ annādī \
tayedaṃ sarvaṃ dṛṣṭam \
sarvam asya idaṃ dṛṣṭaṃ bhavaty annādo bhavati ya evaṃ veda ya evaṃ veda \\403.8\

8. Then they gave to him.

These five and the other five make ten, and that is the

highest throw in dice. Therefore in all regions ten, the highest throw, is food. That is Virāj and an eater of food. Through it this whole world came to light. This whole world comes to light for him, he becomes an eater of food, who knows this—yea, who knows this.’