History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c95.281

v7.c95.281

Now the examples on which Deussen (Ph. Up. pp. 17-19) bases his conclusions must be cited and examined. Chān. Up. (V. 11. 1) tells the story of five (named) wealthy householders and great students of Veda who came together and discussed the question 'what is our ātman, what is brahma'. They proposed to go to Uddālaka Āruṇi who knew the self called Vaiśvānara. Uddālaka thought that he would not be able to explain all and therefore told them that Aśvapati Kaikeya (king of Kekaya country) at that time knew the self called Vaiśvānara and all five together with Uddālaka went to that king, who said he would give an answer the next day. The next day those six went to him with fuel in hand (i. e. as pupils) and the king without performing further preparatory rites asked each of them what they meditated upon. When each replied as to what he meditated upon, such as heaven, Āditya, air, ether, water and earth (this last by Uddālaka Āruṇi), he told them that all these are parts of Vaiśvānara and he explained to them how the proper Agnihotra is to be performed.