The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c11.78

c11.78

"Maitreyī," says he, "I shall now retire from the condition of householder, and as a preliminary divide my goods between thee and Kātyāyanī." Then spake Maitreyī: "If, O lord, this whole earth with all its wealth belonged to me, would I then become immortal, or not?" "By no means," replies Yājnavalkya. "Only like the life of the rich would thy life be; wealth does not carry with it the expectation of immortality." Then replied Maitreyī: "That through which I do not become immortal, what good is that to me? Expound to me rather thy knowledge." Then Yājnavalkya: "Truly thou wast previously dear to us, beloved lady, and now thou hast increased our love. Well then, I shall expound it to thee; attend then, to what I say: All things of the world, and every relation in the world are dear to us not because of their own value, but because of the *ātman*, their true essence. Wife, husband, sons, wealth; the high stations of priest and warrior; the worlds, the gods, the Veda, and the sacrifice are dear to us not because of their own value, but because of the *ātman*, their true essence. As one grasps the tones of an instrument with the instrument itself so are grasped all things when the *ātman* is grasped. Truly he that hath seen, heard, recognised, and understood the *ātman* he knows the whole world."¹