SIXTH BRAHMAṆA The teachers of this doctrine. 1. Now the Line of Tradition (vaṁśa).– Gaupavana from Pautimashya, Śāṇḍilya from Kausika and Gautama, Gautama [2] from Agniveśya, Āgniveśya from Gārgya, Gärgya from Gārgya, Gárgya from Gautama, Gautama from Saitava, Kashāyaṇa from Sayakayana, Sāyakāyana from Kauśikāyani, Kausikāyani [3] from Ghṛitakauśika, Ghritakausika from Pārāśaryāyaṇa, Pārāśaryāyaṇa from Pārāśarya, Pārāśarya from Jātūkarṇya, Jātūkarṇya from Āsurāyaṇa and Yāska, 1 So the Madhyamdina text begins the list. Māṇṭi from Gautama, Gautama from Vātsya, Vatsya from Sandilya, Śāṇḍilya from Kaiśorya Kāpya, Kaisorya Kāpya from Kumārahārita, Kumārahārita from Gālava, Gālava from Vidarbhikauṇḍinya, Vidarbhīkauṇḍinya from Vatsanapāt Bābhrava, Vipracitti from Vyashți, Vyashți from Sanāru, Sanāru from Sanatana, Sanatana from Sanaga, Sanaga from Parameshthin, Parameshthin from Brahma. Brahma is the Self-existent (svayam-bhū). Adoration to Brahma! Om! 'Brahma is the ether (kha)—the ether primeval, the ether that blows.' Thus, verily, was the son of Kauravyāyanī wont to say. This is the knowledge (veda) the Brahmans know. Thereby I know (veda) what is to be known. SECOND BRAHMAŅA The three cardinal virtues 1. The threefold offspring of Prajapati-gods, men, and devils (asura)-dwelt with their father Prajapati as students of sacred knowledge (brahmacarya). Having lived the life of a student of sacred knowledge, the gods said: 'Speak to us, Sir.' To them then he spoke this syllable, 'Da.' 'Did you understand?' 'We did understand,' said they. 'You said to us, “ Restrain yourselves (damyata).” 'Yes (Om)!' said he. 'You did understand.' 3 2. So then the men said to him: 'Speak to us, Sir.' To them then he spoke this syllable,' Da.' 'Did you understand?' 'We did understand,' said they. You said to us, "Give (datta)." 'Yes (Om)!' said he. 'You did understand.' 3. So then the devils said to him: them then he spoke this syllable, 'Da.' 'We did understand,' said they. compassionate (dayadhvam)."' 'Yes (Om)!' said he. 'You did understand.' 'Speak to us, Sir.' To 'Did you understand?' 'You said to us, "Be This same thing does the divine voice here, thunder, repeat: Da! Da! Da! that is, restrain yourselves, give, be compassionate. One should practise this same triad: self-restraint, giving, compassion. THIRD BRAHMAŅA Brahma as the heart The heart (hrdayam) is the same as Prajapati (Lord of Creation). It is Brahma. It is all. It is trisyllabic-hr-da-yam. hr is one syllable. Both his own people and others bring (hr) offerings unto him who knows this. da is one syllable. Both his own people and others give (√dā) unto him who knows this. yam is one syllable. To the heavenly world goes (eti [pl. yanti]) he who knows this. FOURTH BRAHMAŅA Brahma as the Real This, verily, is That. This, indeed, was That, even the Real. He who knows that wonderful being (yakṣa) as the first-bornnamely, that Brahma is the Real-conquers these worlds. Would he be conquered who knows thus that great spirit as the first-born—namely, that Brahma is the Real? [No!] for indeed, Brahma is the Real. FIFTH BRAHMAŅA The Real, etymologically and cosmologically explained 1. In the beginning this world was just Water. That Water emitted the Real-Brahma [being] the Real-; Brahma, Prajapati; Prajapati, the gods. Those gods reverenced the Real (satyam). That is trisyllabic: sa-ti-yam-sa is one syllable, ti is one syllable, yam is one syllable. The first and last syllables are truth (satyam).1 In the middle is falsehood (anṛtam). This falsehood is embraced on both sides by truth; it partakes of the nature of truth itself. Falsehood does not injure him who knows this. 2. Yonder sun is the same as that Real. The Person who is there in that orb and the Person who is here in the right eye-these two depend the one upon the other. Through his rays that one depends upon this one; through his vital breaths this one upon that. When one is about to decease, he sees that orb quite clear [i. e. free from rays]; those rays come to him no more. 3. The head of the person who is there in that orb is Bhūr -there is one head, this is one syllable. Bhuvar is the armsthere are two arms, these are two syllables. Svar is the feet 1 'Truth' is another meaning (beside 'the Real') of the word satyam. 2 Because, as the Commentator explains, the sound ti is contained in the word anṛtam. -there are two feet, these are two syllables (su-ar). The mystic name (upaniṣad) thereof is 'Day' (ahan). He slays (✔han) evil, he leaves it behind (√hã) who knows this. 4. The head of the person who is here in the right eye is Bhur-there is one head, this is one syllable. Bhuvar is the arins—there are two arms, these are two syllables. Svar is the feet-there are two feet, these are two syllables (su-ar). The mystic name (upaniṣad) thereof is 'I' (aham). He slays (√han) evil, he leaves it behind (√hã) who knows this. SIXTH BRAHMAŅA The individual person, pantheistically explained This person (purușa) here in the heart is made of mind, is of the nature of light, is like a little grain of rice, is a grain of barley. This very one is ruler of everything, is lord of everything, governs this whole universe, whatsoever there is. SEVENTH BRAHMAŅA Brahma as lightning, etymologically explained Brahma is lightning (vidyut), they say, because of unloosing (vidāna). Lightning unlooses (vidyati) him from evil who knows this, that Brahma is lightning-for Brahma is indeed lightning. EIGHTH BRAHMAŅA The symbolism of speech as a cow One should reverence Speech as a milch-cow. She has four udders: the Svāhā (Invocation), the Vashat (Presentation), the Hanta (Salutation), the Svadha (Benediction).1 The gods subsist upon her two udders, the Svāhā and the Vashat; men, upon the Hanta; the fathers upon the Svadha. The breath is her bull; the mind, her calf. NINTH BRAHMAŅA 2 The universal fire and the digestive fire This is the universal fire which is here within a person, by means of which the food that is eaten is cooked. It is the 1 Four exclamations in the sacrificial ritual. 2 Recurs entire in Maitri 2. 6. |