25 He for whom the priesthood and the nobility

both are as food,

and death is as a sauce:

who really knows where He is?

Third Valli

The soul and its Lord

1 There are two that drink of the fruit of righteousness in the world of good deeds;

both are entered into the secret place of the heart, and in the highest sphere.

Those who know God speak of them as "light" and "shade,"

and so do householders, and those too who walk the path of Naciketas.

The path as an aid

2 This which is the bridge for those who strive,

the means for those who seek to cross over to the fearless farther shore:

may we hold fast to it!

Parable of the soul in a chariot

3 Know thou the soul as riding in a chariot,

the body as the chariot,

know thou the intellect as the chariot-driver,

and the mind as the reins.

4 The senses, they say, are the horses;

the objects of sense, what they range over.

The soul combined with senses and mind

wise men call "the enjoyer."

5 He who has not understanding,

whose mind is not constantly held firm,

his senses are uncontrolled,

like the vicious horses of a chariot-driver.

6 He, however, who has understanding,

whose mind is constantly held firm,

his senses are under control,

like the good horses of a chariot-driver.

Intelligent control of the soul's chariot is needed to arrive at the goal

7 He, however, who has not understanding,

who is unmindful and ever impure,

reaches not the goal,

but goes astray into ruin.

8 He, however, who has understanding,

who is mindful and ever pure,

reaches the goal,

from which he is not turned back.

9 He, however, who has the understanding of a chariot-driver,

a man who reins in his mind,

he reaches the end of his journey,

the highest station, nearness to God.

The order of progression

10 Higher than the senses are the objects of sense.

Higher than the objects of sense is the mind;

and higher than the mind is the intellect.

Higher than the intellect is the great soul.

11 Higher than the great is the Unseen.

Higher than the Unseen is God.

Higher than God there is nothing at all.

That is the goal. That is the highest course.

The subtle perception of the Lord

12 Though He is hidden in all things,

He shines not forth to the eye.

But He is perceived by subtle seers

with superior, subtle intellect.

13 An intelligent man should restrain his speech and his mind.

The mind he should place in the keeping of understanding.

The understanding he should place in the keeping of the great soul.

That he should surrender to the peaceful Lord.

Exhortation to the way of salvation from death

14 Arise ye! Awake ye!

Receive your guidance and understand it!

A sharpened edge of a razor, hard to traverse,

a difficult path is this, the wise declare!

15 He is soundless, touchless, formless, imperishable,

likewise tasteless, everlasting, odorless,

without beginning, without end, higher than the great, stable.

By knowing Him, one is saved from the mouth of death.

The value of this teaching

16 The tale of Naciketas,

Death's ancient teaching:

by declaring and hearing this, a wise man

is honoured in the abode of God.

17 If one recites this supreme secret

in an assembly of the learned,

devoutly,

that makes for life everlasting!

That makes for life everlasting!

Fourth Valli

The soul not to be sought through outward senses only

1 The Self-existent God pierced the openings of the senses outward;

therefore one looks outward, not within himself.

A certain wise man, while seeking life everlasting,

turned his eyes inward and beheld the truth face to face.

2 The childish go after outward pleasures;

they walk into the net of widespread death.

But the wise, knowing what is everlasting,

seek not the stable among things which are unstable here.

God, by whose leave the senses perceive

3 That by which one discerns form, taste, smell,

sound, and touch:

it is by God's leave indeed that one discerns.

What is there left over here?

This, verily, is the truth!

4 By recognizing the great and all-encompassing Lord

by whose leave one perceives both

the sleeping state and the waking state,

the wise man sorrows not.

God is near

5 He who knows his Lord as near at hand,

Lord of what has been and of what is to be,

does not shrink away from Him.

This, verily, is the truth!

6 He who was before all things,

who brought forth the waters,

who is nearer than the jugular vein,

who looks upon His creatures:

this, verily, is the truth!

7 Life arises by His command; He gave to every being its place;

and He is aware of all that is within the hearts of His creatures.

This, verily, is the truth!

8 Fire, hidden away in the fire-sticks,

like the embryo well borne by pregnant women,

is a sign of God, to be watched for day by day

by watchful men who give thanks:

this, verily, is the truth!

9 Whence the sun rises,

and where it goes to rest:

on His command all the angels depend,