Section 3.7

3.7.1 Then Uddalaka Aruni questioned him. "Yajnavalkya," he said,"we lived among the Madras in the house of Patanchala Kapya, studying the sacrifice.He had a wife who was possessed by a Gandharva.We asked him, 'Who are you?'He replied, 'Kabandha Atharvana.'He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, 'Kapya, do you know the thread upon which this world, the world beyond, and all beings are strung together?'Patanchala Kapya replied, 'Sir, I do not know it.'He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice,'Kapya, do you know the inner ruler who governs this world, the world beyond, and all beings from within?'Patanchala Kapya replied, 'Sir, I do not know him.'He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice,'Kapya, whoever knows that thread and that inner ruler knows Brahman, knows the worlds, knows the gods, knows the Vedas, knows the Self, knows everything.'That is what he told them.I know this.If you, Yajnavalkya, drive away the cows belonging to the knower of Brahman without knowing that thread and that inner ruler, your head will fall off.""Gautama, I do know that thread and that inner ruler.""Anyone can say, 'I know, I know.' Tell it as you know it."

3.7.2 He said, "Wind, Gautama, is that thread.Upon wind as their thread, Gautama, this world, the world beyond, and all beings are strung together.That is why, Gautama, people say of a dead man, 'His limbs have come apart.'For wind is the thread upon which they are strung together.""Just so, Yajnavalkya.Speak of the inner ruler."

3.7.3 "He who dwells in earth, who is within earth, whom earth does not know, whose body is earth, who governs earth from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.4 "He who dwells in the waters, who is within the waters, whom the waters do not know, whose body is the waters, who governs the waters from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.5 "He who dwells in fire, who is within fire, whom fire does not know, whose body is fire, who governs fire from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.6 "He who dwells in the space between heaven and earth, who is within that space, whom that space does not know, whose body is that space, who governs that space from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.7 "He who dwells in wind, who is within wind, whom wind does not know, whose body is wind, who governs wind from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.8 "He who dwells in heaven, who is within heaven, whom heaven does not know, whose body is heaven, who governs heaven from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.9 "He who dwells in the sun, who is within the sun, whom the sun does not know, whose body is the sun, who governs the sun from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.10 "He who dwells in the directions, who is within the directions, whom the directions do not know, whose body is the directions, who governs the directions from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.11 "He who dwells in the moon and stars, who is within the moon and stars, whom the moon and stars do not know, whose body is the moon and stars, who governs the moon and stars from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.12 "He who dwells in space, who is within space, whom space does not know, whose body is space, who governs space from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.13 "He who dwells in darkness, who is within darkness, whom darkness does not know, whose body is darkness, who governs darkness from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.14 "He who dwells in light, who is within light, whom light does not know, whose body is light, who governs light from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.15 "Now concerning beings.He who dwells in all beings, who is within all beings, whom no being knows, whose body is all beings, who governs all beings from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.So much concerning beings.

3.7.16 "Now concerning the self. He who dwells in breath, who is within breath, whom breath does not know, whose body is breath, who governs breath from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.17 "He who dwells in speech, who is within speech, whom speech does not know, whose body is speech, who governs speech from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.18 "He who dwells in sight, who is within sight, whom sight does not know, whose body is sight, who governs sight from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.19 "He who dwells in hearing, who is within hearing, whom hearing does not know, whose body is hearing, who governs hearing from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.20 "He who dwells in mind, who is within mind, whom mind does not know, whose body is mind, who governs mind from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.21 "He who dwells in skin, who is within skin, whom skin does not know, whose body is skin, who governs skin from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.22 "He who dwells in awareness, who is within awareness, whom awareness does not know, whose body is awareness, who governs awareness from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.

3.7.23 "He who dwells in semen, who is within semen, whom semen does not know, whose body is semen, who governs semen from within—this is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.Unseen, he is the seer; unheard, the hearer; unthought, the thinker; unknown, the knower.There is no seer apart from him, no hearer apart from him, no thinker apart from him, no knower apart from him.This is your Self, the inner ruler, the immortal.Everything apart from this is afflicted."Then Uddalaka Aruni fell silent.

3.7.1 Then Uddalaka Aruni questioned him. "Yajnavalkya," he said, "we were staying among the Madras, in the house of Patanchala Kapya, studying sacrifice. His wife was possessed by a Gandharva. We asked him, 'Who are you?' He said, 'Kabandha, a descendant of Atharvan.' He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, 'Kapya, do you know the thread on which this world, the other world, and all beings are strung together?' Patanchala Kapya said, 'Sir, I do not know it.' He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, 'Kapya, do you know the ruler within, who rules this world, the other world, and all beings from within?' Patanchala Kapya said, 'Sir, I do not know him.' He said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, 'Kapya, whoever knows that thread and that ruler within knows Brahman. He knows the worlds, the gods, the Vedas, the Self, and everything.' That is what he told them. I know this. Yajnavalkya, if you drive away the cows awarded for knowing Brahman without knowing that thread and that ruler within, your head will fall off.""Gautama, I do know that thread and that ruler within.""Anyone could say, 'I know, I know.' Tell us what you know."

3.7.2 He said, "Gautama, wind is that thread. On wind as a thread, Gautama, this world, the other world, and all beings are strung together. That is why, Gautama, people say of someone who has died, 'His limbs have come apart.' For they are strung together on wind as a thread, Gautama.""That is just so, Yajnavalkya. Tell us about the ruler within."

3.7.3 "He lives in earth and is within it. Earth does not know him. Earth is his body. He rules earth from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.4 "He lives in water and is within it. Water does not know him. Water is his body. He rules water from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.5 "He lives in fire and is within it. Fire does not know him. Fire is his body. He rules fire from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.6 "He lives in the space between earth and heaven and is within it. The space between earth and heaven does not know him. The space between earth and heaven is his body. He rules the space between earth and heaven from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.7 "He lives in wind and is within it. Wind does not know him. Wind is his body. He rules wind from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.8 "He lives in heaven and is within it. Heaven does not know him. Heaven is his body. He rules heaven from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.9 "He lives in the sun and is within it. The sun does not know him. The sun is his body. He rules the sun from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.10 "He lives in the directions and is within them. The directions do not know him. The directions are his body. He rules the directions from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.11 "He lives in the moon and stars and is within them. The moon and stars do not know him. The moon and stars are his body. He rules the moon and stars from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.12 "He lives in space and is within it. Space does not know him. Space is his body. He rules space from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.13 "He lives in darkness and is within it. Darkness does not know him. Darkness is his body. He rules darkness from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.14 "He lives in light and is within it. Light does not know him. Light is his body. He rules light from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.15 "Now about beings.He lives in all beings and is within them. None of these beings know him. All beings are his body. He rules all beings from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.That is about beings.

3.7.16 "Now about the person. He lives in breath and is within it. Breath does not know him. Breath is his body. He rules breath from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.17 "He lives in speech and is within it. Speech does not know him. Speech is his body. He rules speech from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.18 "He lives in sight and is within it. Sight does not know him. Sight is his body. He rules sight from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.19 "He lives in hearing and is within it. Hearing does not know him. Hearing is his body. He rules hearing from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.20 "He lives in the mind and is within it. The mind does not know him. The mind is his body. He rules the mind from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.21 "He lives in the skin and is within it. The skin does not know him. The skin is his body. He rules the skin from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.22 "He lives in understanding and is within it. Understanding does not know him. Understanding is his body. He rules understanding from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.

3.7.23 "He lives in semen and is within it. Semen does not know him. Semen is his body. He rules semen from within. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die.He is not seen, but he sees. He is not heard, but he hears. He is not thought of, but he thinks. He is not known, but he knows. There is no other who sees. There is no other who hears. There is no other who thinks. There is no other who knows. He is your Self, the ruler within, who does not die. Anything other than this is subject to suffering."Then Uddalaka Aruni stopped questioning him.