Famous Debates in the Forest- (Brihadaranyaka-Upanishad) - Shree Purohit Swami and WB Yeats

Part VI

Adoration to the highest Self.

King Janaka of Behar sacrificed. Costly gifts were given to the priests. Many priests from the provinces of Kuru and Panchala had come. Janaka wanted to find out who knew most. He bought a thousand cows, every cow had ten gold coins tied between its horns.

He said: ‘Venerable Priests! Let him, who knows Spirit, take those cows.’

But the priests dared not.

Thereupon Yadnyawalkya said to his pupil: ‘Samashrawa! My son, take these cows.’ He obeyed.

The other priests were angry.

They said: ‘How dare he call himself the wisest among us?’

Ashwala, a priest attached to the court of Janaka said:

‘Yadnyawalkya! Do you think you are the wisest among us?’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘I bow to him who knows Spirit. I wanted the cows.’

Ushasta, son of Chakra, said: ‘Yadnyawalkya! Explain that Spirit, which out of sight is known by sight; that Self who lives in the hearts of all.’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘Your own Self lives in the hearts of all.’

Ushasta said: ‘What Self do you say lives in the hearts of all?’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘He who inhales with the help of Prana is your Self, living in the hearts of all. He who exhales with the help of Apana is your Self, living in the hearts of all. He who diffuses breath with the help of Wyana is your Self, living in the hearts of all. He who goes out with the help of Udana is your Self, living in the hearts of all. Your own self lives in the hearts of all.’

Ushasta said: ‘As one might point and say "this is a cow; this is a horse", explain Spirit; that Spirit which out of sight is known by sight; that Self who lives in the hearts of all.’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘Your own Self lives in the hearts of all.’

Ushasta said: ‘What Self do you say lives in the hearts of all?’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘You cannot see the seer of the sight, you cannot hear the hearer of the sound, you cannot think of the thinker of the thought, you cannot know the knower of the known. Your own Self lives in the hearts of all. Nothing else matters.’

Thereupon Ushasta became silent.

Then Kahola, son of Kusheetaka said: ‘Yadnyawalkya! Explain that Spirit which out of sight is known by sight; that Self who lives in the hearts of all.’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘Your own Self lives in the hearts of all.’

Kahola said: ‘What Self do you say lives in the hearts of all?’

Yadnyawalkya said: ‘He who is beyond hunger, thirst, delusion, sorrow, decay, death. When saints know that Self, they conquer desire for children, wealth, companions, live the life of mendicants. Desire for children is desire for wealth; desire for wealth is desire for companions; therefore let a spiritual man transcend all book-learning and live like a child. When he transcends book-learning and childlike simplicity, let him meditate. When he transcends meditation and lack of meditation, he becomes a saint.’

© "The Ten Principal UPANISHADS" published by Rupa & Company, 7/16, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi 110 002. Part V of this article appeared in Splendour May 2004 issue.

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