[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Religion and philosophy](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion) › [The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads)](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908) › c11.78 # The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c11.78 The Religion of the Veda: The Ancient Religion of India (from Rig-Veda to Upanishads) c11.78 - **Language:** English ### [c11.78](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.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 - [Previous: c11.77](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c11.77) - [Next: c11.79](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c11.79) - [Up: c11](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c11) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c11.78](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.religion.bloomfield-1908.c11.78) · Pramāṇa