Kena Upaniṣad

By whom impelled soars foi th the mind projected ? Bv whom enjoined goes forth the earliest breathing? By whom impelled this speech do people utter ? The eye, the ear — what god, pray, them enjometh ?

That which is the hearing of the ear, the thought of the mind, The voice of speech, as also the breathing of the bieath, And the sight of the eye ! 2 Past these escaping, the wise, On departing fiom this woild, become imrnoital.

There the eye goes not ;

That which is unexpressed with speech (rac, \oice), That \\ith which speech is expressed —

That which one thinks not with thought (manas, mind),

That which one sees not with si^ht (tab its, eje),

That which one heais not with hearing (srotra, rai),

That which one breathes (pramii) not with bieatlnng

(2). I think not ' I know well ' ;

(4). When known by an awakening, It is conceived of;

(5). If one have known [It] here, then there is truth.

(i). Now, Brahma won a victory for the gods. Now, in the victory of this Brahma the gods were exulting. They bethought themselves : ' Ours indeed is this victory ! 4 Ours indeed is this greatness ! '

(2). Now, It understood this of them. It appeared to them. They did not understand It. * What wonderful being (yak so) is this ? 5 they said.

(3). They said to Agni(Fire): c Jatavedas,1 find out this— what this wonderful being is.5

(4). He ran unto It.

(6). It put down a straw before him. ' Burn that ! '

(7) Then they said to Vayu (Wind) • * Vayu, find out this — what this wonderful being is.'

(8). He ran unto It.

(9). e In such as you what power is there ? '

(10). It put down a straw before him. ' Carry that off' ' He went at it with all speed. He was not able to carry it

(u). Then they said to Indra: ' Maghavan (* Liberal'), find out this — what this wonderful being is.'

(12). In that very space he came upon a woman exceed- ingly beautiful, Uma,2 daughter of the Snowy Mountain (Himavat).

(3). Therefore, verily, Indra is above the other gods, as it were; for he touched It nearest, for he first knew It was Brahma.

(4). Of It there is this teaching.—

(5). Now with regard to oneself —

(6). It is called Tad-vana (' It-is-the-desire ').2 As ' It- is-the-desire ' (Tad-vana) It should be worshiped. For him who knows it thus, all beings together yearn.

(7). e Sir, tell me the mystic doctrine (upanisad)\ \

(8). Austerity (tapas)^ restraint (dama)^ and work (karman) are the foundation of it (i.e. the mystic doctrine). The Vedas are all its limbs. Truth is its abode.

(9). He, verily, who knows it [i. e. the mystic doctrine] thus, striking off evil (fapman), becomes established in the most excellent,1 endless, heavenly world — yea, he becomes established !

(2). Therefore, verily, these gods, namely Agni, Vayu, and Indra, are above the other gods, as it were : for these touched It nearest, for these and [especially] he [i. e. Indra] first knew It was Brahma.