Isavasya OR Isa Upanisad
Brhadaranyaka Upanisad
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chandogya Upanisad
Taittiriya Upanisad
Aitareya Upanisad
Kausitaki Upanisad
Kena Upanisad
Katha Upanisad
Svetasvatara Upanisad
The Mundaka Upanisad
Prasna Upanisad
Mandukya Upanisad
Maitri Upanisad
 
Brhadaranyaka Upanisad

Chapter Six

VI.1
1. The one who knows the eldest and best becomes the eldest and best of his own people. Breath is the eldest and best. The one who knows this becomes the eldest and best of his own people, and of those of whom he wishes to become so.

2. The one who knows the finest becomes the finest of his own people. Speech is the finest. The one who knows this becomes the finest of his own people, and of those of whom he wishes to become so.

3. The one who knows the support (pratistha) stands firm (prati?stha?) on even ground, stands firm on rough ground. The eye is the support, for the eye stands firm on even ground, stands firm on rough ground. The one who knows this stands firm on even ground, stands firm on rough ground.

4. The one who knows prosperity attains whatever desire he desires. The ear is prosperity, for all the Vedas are attained in it. The one who knows this attains whatever desire he desires.

5. The one who knows the dwelling?place becomes a dwelling?place for his own folk, a dwelling?place for the people. Mind is the dwelling?place. The one who knows this becomes a dwelling?place for his own folk, a dwelling?place for the people.

6. The one who knows procreation increases in offspring and in animals. The seed is procreation. The one who knows this increases in offspring and in animals.

7. The bodily functions (prana) were arguing about who was the best. They went to brahman and asked it, 'Who is the finest of us?'
It said, 'The finest of you is the one after whose departure the body is thought to be worst off.'

8. Speech departed and stayed away for a year. When it came back it asked, 'How were you able to live without me?.
They said, 'We lived like the dumb, not speaking with speech, but breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, procreating with the seed.'
Then speech went back in.

9. The eye departed and stayed away for a year. When it came back it asked, 'How were you able to live without me?.
They said, 'We lived like the blind, speaking with speech, breathing with the breath, not seeing with the eye, but hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, procreating with the seed.'
Then the eye went back in.

10. The ear departed and stayed away for a year. When it came back it asked, 'How were you able to live without me?'
They said, 'We lived like the deaf, speaking with speech, breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, not hearing with the ear, but knowing with the mind, procreating with the seed.'
Then the ear went back in.

11. The mind departed and stayed away for a year. When it came back it asked, 'How were you able to live without me?'
They said, 'We lived like the simpletons, speaking with speech, breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, not knowing with the mind, but procreating with the seed.'
Then the mind went back in.

12. The seed departed and stayed away for a year. When it came back it asked, 'How were you able to live without me?'
They said, 'We lived like the eunuchs, speaking with speech, breathing with the breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, but not procreating with the seed.'
Then the seed went back in.

13. The breath (prana), about to depart, dragged those bodily functions (prana) together as a fine big stallion of Sindhu might drag its tethering pegs.
They said, 'Blessed one, do not leave. We will not be able to live without you.'
'Then make me an offering.'
'We will.'

14. Speech said, 'In that I am the finest, you are the finest.'
The eye said, 'In that I am the support, you are the support.'
The ear said, 'In that I am prosperity, you are prosperity.'
The mind said, 'In that I am the dwelling?place, you are the dwelling?place.'
The seed said, 'In that I am procreation, you are procreation.'
'Then what is my food, what is my clothing?'
'Whatever there is, down to dogs, worms, insects andlying things, is your food: water is your clothing.'
Whoever knows in this way the food of the breath will not come to eat anything that is not food, will not come to receive anything that is not food. Knowing this, the learned sip water when they are about to eat, and sip water after they have eaten. They think that they are making the breath (ana) not?naked (anagna).



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