Section 3.9
Original Sanskrit
3.9.1 अथ हैनं विदग्धः शाकल्यः पप्रच्छ कति देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।स हैतयैव निविदा प्रतिपेदे यावन्तो वैश्वदेवस्य निविद्युच्यन्ते ।त्रयश्च त्री च शता त्रयश्च त्री च सहस्रेति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।त्रयस्त्रिंशदिति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।षडिति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।त्रय इति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।द्वाविति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।अध्यर्ध इति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कत्येव देवा याज्ञवल्क्येति ।एक इति ।ओमिति होवाच ।कतमे ते त्रयश्च त्री च शता त्रयश्च त्री च सहस्रेति
3.9.2 स होवाच महिमान एवैषामेते ।त्रयस्त्रिंशत्त्वेव देवा इति ।कतमे ते त्रयस्त्रिंशदिति ।अष्टौ वसव एकादश रुद्रा द्वादशादित्याः त एकत्रिंशदैन्द्रश्चैव प्रजापतिश्च त्रयस्त्रिंशाविति
3.9.3 कतमे वसव इति ।अग्निश्च पृथिवी च वायुश्चान्तरिक्षं चादित्यश्च द्यौः च चन्द्रमाश्च नक्षत्राणि चैते वसवः ।एतेषु हीदं सर्वं वसु हितं इति तस्माद्वसव इति
3.9.4 कतमे रुद्रा इति ।दशेमे पुरुषे प्राणा आत्मैकादशः ।ते यदास्माच्छरीरान्मर्त्यादुत्क्रामन्त्यथ रोदयन्ति ।तद्यद्रोदयन्ति तस्माद्रुद्रा इति
3.9.5 कतम आदित्या इति ।द्वादश वै मासाः संवत्सरस्यैत आदित्याः ।एते हीदं सर्वमाददाना यन्ति ।ते यदिदं सर्वमाददाना यन्ति तस्मादादित्या इति
3.9.6 कतम इन्द्रः कतमः प्रजापतिरिति ।स्तनयित्नुरेवेन्द्रो यज्ञः प्रजापतिरिति ।कतमः स्तनयित्नुरिति ।अशनिरिति ।कतमो यज्ञ इति ।पशव इति
3.9.7 कतमे षडिति ।अग्निश्च पृथिवी च वायुश्चान्तरिक्षश्चादित्यश्च द्यौश्चैते षट् ।एते हीदं सर्वं षडिति
3.9.8 कतमे ते त्रयो देवा इति ।इम एव त्रयो लोकाः ।एषु हीमे सर्वे देवा इति ।कतमौ तौ द्वौ देवा इति ।अन्नं चैव प्राणश्चेति ।कतमोऽध्यर्ध इति ।योऽयं पवत इति
3.9.9 तदाहुर्यदयमेक इवैव पवते ।अथ कथमध्यर्ध इति ।यदस्मिन्निदं सर्वमध्यार्ध्नोत्तेनाध्यर्ध इति ।कतम एको देव इति ।प्राण इति ।स ब्रह्म त्यदित्याचक्षते
3.9.10 पृथिव्येव यस्यायतनमग्निर्लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं शारीरः पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।अमृतमिति होवाच
3.9.11 काम एव यस्यायतनं हृदयं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं काममयः पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।स्त्रिय इति होवाच
3.9.12 रूपाण्येव यस्यायतनं चक्षुर्लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवासावादित्ये पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।सत्यमिति होवाच
3.9.13 आकश एव यस्यायतनं श्रोत्रं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं श्रौतः प्रातिश्रुत्कः पुरुषः स एष ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।दिश इति होवच
3.9.14 तम एव यस्यायतनं हृदयं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं छायामयः पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।मृत्युरिति होवाच
3.9.15 रूपाण्येव यस्यायतनं हृदयं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायमादर्शे पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।सत्यमिति होवाच
3.9.16 आप एव यस्यायतनं हृदयं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं अप्सु पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।वरुण इति होवाच
3.9.17 रेत एव यस्यायतनं हृदयं लोको मनो ज्योतिर्यो वै तं पुरुषं विद्यात्सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं स वै वेदिता स्यात् ।याज्ञवल्क्य वेद वा अहं तं पुरुषं सर्वस्यात्मनः परायणं यमात्थ ।य एवायं पुत्रमयः पुरुषः स एषः ।वदैव शाकल्य तस्य का देवतेति ।प्रजापतिरिति होवाच
3.9.18 शाकल्येति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः ।त्वां स्विदिमे ब्राह्मणा अङ्गारावक्षयणमक्रता३ इति
3.9.19 याज्ञवल्क्येति होवाच शाकल्यः ।यदिदं कुरुपञ्चालानां ब्राह्मनानत्यवादीः किं ब्रह्म विद्वानिति ।दिशो वेद सदेवाः सप्रतिष्ठा इति ।यद्दिशो वेत्थ सदेवाः सप्रतिष्ठाः
3.9.20 किंदेवतोऽस्यां प्राच्यां दिश्यसीति ।आदित्यदेवत इति ।स आदित्यः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति ।चक्षुषीति ।कस्मिन्नु चक्षुः प्रतिष्ठितमिति ।रूपेष्विति ।चक्षुषा हि रूपाणि पश्यति ।कस्मिन्नु रूपाणि प्रतिष्ठितानीति ।हृदय इति होवाच ।हृदयेन हि रूपाणि जानाति ।हृदये ह्येव रूपाणि प्रतिष्ठितानि भवन्तीति ।एवमेवैतद्याज्ञवल्क्य
3.9.21 किंदेवतोऽस्यां दक्षिणायां दिश्यसीति ।यमदेवत इति ।स यमः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति ।यज्ञ इति ।कस्मिन्नु यज्ञः प्रतिष्ठित इति ।दक्षिणायामिति ।कस्मिन्नु दक्षिणा प्रतिष्ठितेति ।श्रद्धायामिति ।यदा ह्येव श्रद्धत्तेऽथ दक्षिणां ददाति ।श्रद्धायां ह्येव दक्षिणा प्रतिष्ठितेति ।कस्मिन्नु श्रद्धा प्रतिष्ठितेति ।हृदय इति होवाच ।हृदयेन हि श्रद्धाम् ।हृदये ह्येव श्रद्धा प्रतिष्ठिता भवतीति ।एवमेवैतद्याज्ञवल्क्य
3.9.22 किंदेवतोऽस्यां प्रतीच्यां दिश्यसीति ।वरुणदेवत इति ।स वरुणः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति ।अप्स्विति ।कस्मिन्न्वापः प्रतिष्ठिता इति ।रेतसीति ।कस्मिन्नु रेतः प्रतिष्ठितमिति ।हृदय इति ।तस्मादपि प्रतिरूपं जातमाहुर्हृदयादिव सृप्तो हृदयादिव निर्मित इति ।हृदये ह्येव रेतः प्रतिष्ठितं भवतीति ।एवमेवैतद्याज्ञवल्क्य
3.9.23 किंदेवतोऽस्यामुदीच्यां दिश्यसीति ।सोमदेवत इति ।स सोमः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति ।दीक्षायामिति ।कस्मिन्नु दिक्षा प्रतिष्ठितेति ।सत्य इति ।तस्मादपि दीक्षितमाहुः सत्यं वदेति ।सत्ये ह्येव दीक्षा प्रतिष्ठितेति ।कस्मिन्नु सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितमिति ।हृदय इति होवाच ।हृदयेन हि सत्यं जानाति ।हृदये ह्येव सत्यं प्रतिष्ठितं भवतीति ।एवमेवैतद्याज्ञवल्क्य
3.9.24 किंदेवतोऽस्यां ध्रुवायां दिश्यसीति ।अग्निदेवत इति ।सोऽग्निः कस्मिन् प्रतिष्ठित इति ।वाचीति ।कस्मिन्नु वाक्प्रतिष्ठितेति ।हृदय इति ।कस्मिन्नु हृदयं प्रतिष्ठितमिति
3.9.25 अहल्लिकेति होवाच याज्ञवल्क्यः ।यत्रैतदन्यत्रास्मन्मन्यासै ।यद्ध्येतदन्यत्रास्मत्स्याच्छ्वानो वैनदद्युर्वयांसि वैनद्विमथ्नीरन्निति
3.9.26 कस्मिन्नु त्वं चात्मा च प्रतिष्ठितौ स्थ इति ।प्राण इति ।कस्मिन्नु प्राणः प्रतिष्ठित इति ।अपान इति ।कस्मिन्न्वपानः प्रतिष्ठित इति ।व्यान इति ।कस्मिन्नु व्यानः प्रतिष्ठित इति ।उदान इति ।कस्मिन्नूदानः प्रतिष्ठित इति ।समान इति ।स एष नेति नेत्यात्मा ।अगृह्यो न हि गृह्यते ।अशीर्यो न हि शीर्यते ।असङ्गो न सज्यते ।असितो न व्यथते ।न रिष्यति ।एतान्यष्टावायतनान्यष्टौ लोका अष्टौ देवा अष्टौ पुरुषाः ।स यस्तान् पुरुषान्निरुह्य प्रत्युह्यात्यक्रामत्तं त्वौपनिषदं पुरुषं पृच्छामि ।तं चेन्मे न विवक्ष्यसि मूर्धा ते विपतिष्यतीति ।तं ह न मेने शाकल्यस्।तस्य ह मूर्धा विपपात ।अपि हास्य परिमोषिणोऽस्थीन्यपजह्रुरन्यन्मन्यमानाः
3.9.27 अथ होवाच ब्राह्मणा भगवन्तो यो वः कामयते स मा पृच्छतु ।सर्वे वा मा पृच्छत ।यो वः कामयते तं वः पृच्छामि सर्वान् वा वः पृच्छामीति ।ते ह ब्राह्मणा न दधृषुः
3.9.29 तान् हैतैः श्लोकैः पप्रच्छयथा वृक्षो वनस्पतिस्तथैव पुरुषोऽमृषा ।तस्य लोमानि पर्णानि त्वगस्योत्पाटिका बहिः
3.9.30 त्वच एवास्य रुधिरं प्रस्यन्दि त्वच उत्पटः ।तस्मात्तदातृण्णात्प्रैति रसो वृक्षादिवाहतात्
3.9.31 मांसान्यस्य शकराणि किनाटं स्नाव तत्स्थिरम् ।अस्थीन्यन्तरतो दारुणि मज्जा मज्जोपमा कृता
3.9.32 यद्वृक्षो वृक्णो रोहति मूलान्नवतरः पुनः ।मर्त्यः स्विन्मृत्युना वृक्णः कस्मान्मूलात्प्ररोहति
3.9.33 रेतस इति मा वोचत जीवतस्तत्प्रजायते ।धानारुह इव वै वृक्षोऽञ्जसा प्रेत्य सम्भवः
3.9.34 यत्समूलमावृहेयुर्वृक्षं न पुनराभवेत् ।मर्त्यः स्विन्मृत्युना वृक्णः कस्मान्मूलात्प्ररोहति
3.9.35 जात एव न जायते को न्वेनं जनयेत्पुनः ।
3.9.36 विज्ञानमानन्दं ब्रह्म रातिर्दातुः परायणम्तिष्ठमानस्य तद्विद इति
Musean translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Musean translation, made directly from Sanskrit and checked passage by passage against the Kāṇva text.
3.9.1 Then Vidagdha Shakalya questioned him. "How many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?"He answered according to the invocation, giving the number named in the invocation to the All-Gods:"Three hundred and three, and three thousand and three.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Thirty-three.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Six.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Three.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Two.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""One and a half.""Yes," he said."But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""One.""Yes," he said."Which are those three hundred and three, and three thousand and three?"
3.9.2 He said, "These are only their manifestations of greatness.There are only thirty-three gods.""Which are those thirty-three?""The eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, and the twelve Adityas make thirty-one. Indra and Prajapati make the thirty-three."
3.9.3 "Which are the Vasus?""Fire, earth, wind, the space between heaven and earth, the sun, heaven, the moon, and the stars: these are the Vasus.All this wealth is laid within them; that is why they are called Vasus."
3.9.4 "Which are the Rudras?""The ten vital powers in a person, with the self as the eleventh.When they depart from this mortal body, they make people weep.Because they make people weep, rud, they are called Rudras."
3.9.5 "Which are the Adityas?""The twelve months of the year are the Adityas.They pass, taking all this away.Because they pass taking all this away, they are called Adityas."
3.9.6 "Which is Indra, and which is Prajapati?""Thunder is Indra; sacrifice is Prajapati.""What is thunder?""The thunderbolt.""What is sacrifice?""The sacrificial animals."
3.9.7 "Which are the six?""Fire, earth, wind, the space between heaven and earth, the sun, and heaven: these are the six.All this is these six."
3.9.8 "Which are the three gods?""These three worlds,for all these gods are within them.""Which are the two gods?""Food and breath.""Which is the one and a half?""The wind that blows here."
3.9.9 "People ask: this wind blows as one alone.How, then, is it one and a half?""Because all this flourishes within it, it is one and a half.""Which is the one god?""Breath.It is Brahman, which they call 'that.'"
3.9.10 "He whose dwelling is earth, whose world is fire, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this embodied person.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Immortality," he said.
3.9.11 "He whose dwelling is desire, whose world is the heart, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person made of desire.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Women," he said.
3.9.12 "He whose dwelling is forms, whose world is sight, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is the person there in the sun.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Truth," he said.
3.9.13 "He whose dwelling is space, whose world is hearing, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person in hearing and its answering echo.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""The directions," he said.
3.9.14 "He whose dwelling is darkness, whose world is the heart, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person made of shadow.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Death," he said.
3.9.15 "He whose dwelling is forms, whose world is the heart, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person in the mirror.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Truth," he said.
3.9.16 "He whose dwelling is water, whose world is the heart, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person in the waters.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Varuna," he said.
3.9.17 "He whose dwelling is semen, whose world is the heart, whose light is mind—whoever knows that person, the final refuge of the whole self, would be a knower, Yajnavalkya.""I know that person, the final refuge of the whole self, of whom you speak.It is this person embodied in a son.Now tell me, Shakalya: what is his god?""Prajapati," he said.
3.9.18 "Shakalya," said Yajnavalkya,"have these Brahmins made you their coal-rake?"
3.9.19 "Yajnavalkya," said Shakalya,"what Brahman do you know, that you have outargued these Brahmins of the Kurus and Panchalas?""I know the directions, with their gods and their foundations.""Since you know the directions, with their gods and their foundations—
3.9.20 "what is your god in this eastern direction?""The sun is my god.""Upon what does the sun rest?""Upon sight.""Upon what does sight rest?""Upon forms,for through sight one sees forms.""Upon what do forms rest?""Upon the heart," he said."For through the heart one knows forms.Forms rest upon the heart.""Just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.21 "What is your god in this southern direction?""Yama is my god.""Upon what does Yama rest?""Upon sacrifice.""Upon what does sacrifice rest?""Upon the priestly gift.""Upon what does the priestly gift rest?""Upon faith.When one has faith, one gives the priestly gift.The priestly gift rests upon faith.""Upon what does faith rest?""Upon the heart," he said."For through the heart one has faith.Faith rests upon the heart.""Just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.22 "What is your god in this western direction?""Varuna is my god.""Upon what does Varuna rest?""Upon the waters.""Upon what do the waters rest?""Upon semen.""Upon what does semen rest?""Upon the heart.That is why people say of a son born in his father's likeness, 'He seems to have slipped from his heart, to have been fashioned from his heart.'Semen rests upon the heart.""Just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.23 "What is your god in this northern direction?""Soma is my god.""Upon what does Soma rest?""Upon consecration.""Upon what does consecration rest?""Upon truth.That is why people tell the consecrated man, 'Speak the truth.'Consecration rests upon truth.""Upon what does truth rest?""Upon the heart," he said."For through the heart one knows truth.Truth rests upon the heart.""Just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.24 "What is your god in this fixed direction?""Fire is my god.""Upon what does fire rest?""Upon speech.""Upon what does speech rest?""Upon the heart.""Upon what does the heart rest?"
3.9.25 "You fool!" said Yajnavalkya."Do you imagine it to be anywhere apart from us?If it were anywhere apart from us, dogs would eat this body or birds tear it apart."
3.9.26 "Upon what do you and your body rest?""Upon the inward breath.""Upon what does the inward breath rest?""Upon the downward breath.""Upon what does the downward breath rest?""Upon the breath that spreads through the body.""Upon what does that spreading breath rest?""Upon the upward breath.""Upon what does the upward breath rest?""Upon the balancing breath.This Self is 'not this, not this.'It cannot be grasped, for it is never grasped.It does not decay, for it never decays.It is unattached, for it does not become attached.It is unbound; it is not troubled.It is not injured.These are the eight dwellings, the eight worlds, the eight gods, the eight persons.I ask you about the person known through the Upanishads, who has drawn out those persons, gathered them back, and passed beyond them.If you do not explain him to me, your head will fall off."Shakalya did not know him.His head fell off.Thieves even carried away his bones, mistaking them for something else.
3.9.27 Then he said, "Honored Brahmins, let whichever of you wishes question me.Or all of you may question me.Or I shall question whichever of you wishes, or all of you."The Brahmins did not dare.
3.9.29 He questioned them with these verses:"As is a tree, a lord of the forest, so indeed is a person.His hairs are its leaves; his outer skin is its bark.
3.9.30 "From his skin blood flows, as sap from a tree's skin when torn.So from a wounded person it flows, as sap from a wounded tree.
3.9.31 "His flesh is its chips of wood; his sinews are its firm inner bark.His bones within are its timber; his marrow is made like its pith.
3.9.32 "A tree, when cut, grows again, renewed from its root.From what root does a mortal grow again, when cut down by death?
3.9.33 "Do not say, 'From semen,' for semen comes from the living.A tree, like a plant grown from seed, can plainly spring up again after death.
3.9.34 "If they tore a tree out by its root, it would not grow again.From what root does a mortal grow again, when cut down by death?
3.9.35 "Once born, he is not born again. Who could beget him anew?
3.9.36 "Brahman is awareness and bliss, the gift for the giver, the final refugeof the one who stands firm and knows it."
Plain English translation
Mouseia’s complete machine-assisted Plain English edition, translated independently from Sanskrit and checked passage by passage against the Kāṇva text.
3.9.1 Then Vidagdha Shakalya questioned him. "Yajnavalkya, how many gods are there?"He answered with the number given in the invocation to All the Gods: "Three hundred and three, and three thousand and three.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Thirty-three.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Six.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Three.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""Two.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""One and a half.""Yes," he said. "But how many gods are there, Yajnavalkya?""One.""Yes," he said. "Who are those three hundred and three, and three thousand and three?"
3.9.2 He said, "Those are only displays of their power. There are just thirty-three gods.""Who are those thirty-three?""The eight Vasus, the eleven Rudras, and the twelve Adityas make thirty-one. Indra and Prajapati make thirty-three."
3.9.3 "Who are the Vasus?""Fire, earth, wind, the space between earth and heaven, the sun, heaven, the moon, and the stars are the Vasus. All this wealth is stored in them. That is why they are called Vasus."
3.9.4 "Who are the Rudras?""The ten breaths in a person, with the self as the eleventh. When they leave this mortal body, they make people cry. Because they make people cry, they are called Rudras."
3.9.5 "Who are the Adityas?""The twelve months of the year are the Adityas. They go along taking all this away. Because they go along taking all this away, they are called Adityas."
3.9.6 "Which is Indra, and which is Prajapati?""Thunder is Indra. Sacrifice is Prajapati.""What is thunder?""The thunderbolt.""What is sacrifice?""The sacrificial animals."
3.9.7 "Which are the six?""Fire, earth, wind, the space between earth and heaven, the sun, and heaven are the six. These six make up everything here."
3.9.8 "Which are those three gods?""These three worlds. All these gods are in them.""Which are those two gods?""Food and breath.""Which is the one and a half?""The wind that blows here."
3.9.9 "People say, 'This wind seems to blow as just one. How is it one and a half?'""Because all this has prospered in it, it is called one and a half.""Which is the one god?""Breath. It is Brahman, which people call 'That.'"
3.9.10 "Earth is his home. Fire is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person in the body. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Immortality," he said.
3.9.11 "Desire is his home. The heart is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person made of desire. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Women," he said.
3.9.12 "Visible forms are his home. Sight is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is that person in the sun. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Truth," he said.
3.9.13 "Space is his home. Hearing is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person heard in the ear and in an answering echo. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""The directions," he said.
3.9.14 "Darkness is his home. The heart is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person made of shadow. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Death," he said.
3.9.15 "Visible forms are his home. The heart is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person in the mirror. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Truth," he said.
3.9.16 "Water is his home. The heart is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person in water. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Varuna," he said.
3.9.17 "Semen is his home. The heart is his world. The mind is his light. Whoever knows that person, the final resting place of the whole self, truly knows, Yajnavalkya.""I do know the person you speak of, the final resting place of the whole self. He is this person in the form of a son. But tell me, Shakalya, what is his deity?""Prajapati," he said.
3.9.18 Yajnavalkya said, "Shakalya, have these Brahmins made you their tongs for pulling out hot coals?"
3.9.19 Shakalya said, "Yajnavalkya, what Brahman do you know, that you have defeated these Brahmins of Kuru and Panchala in debate?""I know the directions, along with their gods and their foundations.""So you know the directions, along with their gods and their foundations."
3.9.20 "What deity do you have in this eastern direction?""My deity is the sun.""What supports the sun?""Sight.""What supports sight?""Visible forms. For a person sees forms through sight.""What supports visible forms?""The heart," he said. "For a person knows forms through the heart. Visible forms rest on the heart.""That is just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.21 "What deity do you have in this southern direction?""My deity is Yama.""What supports Yama?""Sacrifice.""What supports sacrifice?""The gift to the priests.""What supports the gift to the priests?""Faith. For only when a person has faith does he give a gift to the priests. The gift to the priests rests on faith.""What supports faith?""The heart," he said. "For it is through the heart that a person has faith. Faith rests on the heart.""That is just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.22 "What deity do you have in this western direction?""My deity is Varuna.""What supports Varuna?""Water.""What supports water?""Semen.""What supports semen?""The heart. That is why, when a child is born who looks like his father, people say, 'He seems to have slipped out of his heart. He seems to have been made from his heart.' For semen rests on the heart.""That is just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.23 "What deity do you have in this northern direction?""My deity is Soma.""What supports Soma?""Initiation into the sacrifice.""What supports initiation?""Truth. That is why people tell someone who has been initiated, 'Speak the truth.' For initiation rests on truth.""What supports truth?""The heart," he said. "For a person knows truth through the heart. Truth rests on the heart.""That is just so, Yajnavalkya."
3.9.24 "What deity do you have in this fixed direction?""My deity is fire.""What supports fire?""Speech.""What supports speech?""The heart.""What supports the heart?"
3.9.25 "You fool!" said Yajnavalkya. "You think it is somewhere outside us! If it were outside us, dogs would eat this body, or birds would tear it apart."
3.9.26 "What supports you and your body?""The in-breath.""What supports the in-breath?""The out-breath.""What supports the out-breath?""The breath that spreads through the body.""What supports the breath that spreads through the body?""The breath that rises upward.""What supports the breath that rises upward?""The breath that moves evenly. This Self is 'not this, not this.' It cannot be grasped, because it is not grasped. It cannot decay, because it does not decay. It is not attached, because it does not attach itself. It is not bound. It does not suffer. It is not harmed."There are these eight homes, eight worlds, eight gods, and eight persons. I ask you about the person of the secret teaching, who has drawn out those persons, drawn them back in, and gone beyond them. If you do not explain him to me, your head will fall off."Shakalya did not know him. His head fell off. Robbers even carried away his bones, mistaking them for something else.
3.9.27 Then he said, "Honored Brahmins, any of you who wants to may question me. Or all of you may question me. I will question whichever of you wants it, or I will question all of you."The Brahmins did not dare.
3.9.29 He questioned them with these verses:"A person really is like a tree, a tree of the forest.His body hair is its leaves; his skin is its outer bark.
3.9.30 "His blood flows from his skin, as sap flows from a tree's bark.That is why it comes out when he is cut, as sap comes out when a tree is struck.
3.9.31 "His flesh is like its wood chips; his tough sinews are like its inner bark.His bones are its wood inside; his marrow is compared to its pith.
3.9.32 "When a tree is cut down, it grows back from its root, fresher than before.When a mortal is cut down by death, from what root does he grow back?
3.9.33 "Do not say, 'From semen.' That comes from someone alive.A tree can clearly grow again after death, like a plant sprouting from seed.
3.9.34 "If a tree were pulled up with its root, it would not grow back.When a mortal is cut down by death, from what root does he grow back?
3.9.35 "Once born, he is not born again. Who could give birth to him again?
3.9.36 "Brahman is knowledge and joy—a gift for a person who gives, the final resting placeof the one who stands firm and knows it."
About this section
Section 3.9 is part of Brihadaranyaka Upanishad by Unknown. This page sets the Sanskrit original beside 2 direct-source translations, so any line can be checked against the source. It is section 21 of 47 in the work, which is kept in the Hindu tradition.
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