7 He who encompasses the wind, yet is other than the wind, whom the wind does not know, who controls the wind from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

8 He who encompasses the sky, yet is other than the sky, whom the sky does not know, who controls the sky from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

9 He who encompasses the sun, yet is other than the sun, whom the sun does not know, who controls the sun from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

10 He who encompasses the quarters of heaven, yet is other than the quarters of heaven, whom the quarters of heaven do not know, who controls the quarters of heaven from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

11 He who encompasses the moon and stars, yet is other than the moon and stars, whom the moon and stars do not know, who controls the moon and stars from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

12 He who encompasses space, yet is other than space, whom space does not know, who controls space from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

13 He who encompasses the darkness, yet is other than the darkness, whom the darkness does not know, who controls the darkness from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

14 He who encompasses the light, yet is other than the light, whom the light does not know, who controls the light from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

— Thus far with reference to the world of the heavens. Now with reference to material existence. —

15 He who encompasses all things, yet is other than all things, whom all things do not know, who controls all things from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

— Thus far with reference to material existence. Now with reference to the self. —

16 He who encompasses breath, yet is other than breath, whom the breath does not know, who controls the breath from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

17 He who encompasses speech, yet is other than speech, whom the speech does not know, who controls the speech from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

18 He who encompasses the eye, yet is other than the eye, whom the eye does not know, who controls the eye from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

19 He who encompasses the ear, yet is other than the ear, whom the ear does not know, who controls the ear from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

20 He who encompasses the mind, yet is other than the mind, whom the mind does not know, who controls the mind from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

21 He who encompasses the skin, yet is other than the skin, whom the skin does not know, who controls the skin from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

22 He who encompasses the understanding, yet is other than the understanding, whom the understanding does not know, who controls the understanding from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

23 He who encompasses the semen, yet is other than the semen, whom the semen does not know, who controls the semen from within by His command — He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.

He is the unseen Seer, the unheard Hearer, the unthought Thinker, the ununderstood Understander. Other than He there is no seer. Other than He there is no hearer. Other than He there is no thinker. Other than He there is no understander. He is your Lord, the Controller, the Immortal.'

Thereupon Uddalaka Aruni held his peace.

Eighth Brahmana

The ultimate ground of the world — the unqualified Imperishable

1 Then [Gargi] Vacaknavi said: 'Venerable scholars, lo, I will ask him two questions. If he will answer me these, not one of you will surpass him in discussions about God.'

'Ask, Gargi.'

2 She said: 'As a noble youth of the Kasis or of the Videhas might rise up against you, having strung his unstrung bow and taken two foe-piercing arrows in his hand, even so, O Yajnavalkya, have I risen up against you with two questions. Answer me these.'

Yajnavalkya said: 'Ask, Gargi.'

3 She said: 'That, O Yajnavalkya, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across what is that woven, warp and woof?'

4 He said: 'That, O Gargi, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across space is that woven, warp and woof.'

5 She said: 'Adoration to you, Yajnavalkya, in that you have solved this question for me. Prepare yourself for the other.'

'Ask, Gargi.'

6 She said: 'That, O Yajnavalkya, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across what is that woven, warp and woof?'

7 He said: 'That, O Gargi, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across space alone is that woven, warp and woof.'

'Across what then, pray, is space woven, warp and woof?'

8 He said: 'That, O Gargi, the knowers call the Imperishable. It is not coarse, not fine, not short, not long, not glowing like fire, not adhesive like water, without shadow and without darkness, without air and without space, without stickiness, intangible, odorless, tasteless, without eye, without ear, without voice, without wind, without energy, without breath, without mouth, without personal or family name, unaging, undying, without fear, immortal, stainless, not uncovered, not covered, without measure, without inside and without outside.

It consumes nothing soever.

No one soever consumes it.

9 Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the sun and the moon stand apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the earth and the sky stand apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the moments, the hours, the days, the nights, the fortnights, the months, the seasons, and the years stand apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable some rivers flow from the snowy mountains to the east, others to the west, in whatever direction each flows. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable men praise those who give, and the angels serve the worshipper.

10 Verily, O Gargi, if one performs worship and undergoes austerity in this world for many thousands of years, but without knowing that Imperishable, limited indeed is that work of his. Verily, O Gargi, he who departs from this world without knowing that Imperishable is pitiable. But, O Gargi, he who departs from this world knowing that Imperishable is a true knower.

11 Verily, O Gargi, that Imperishable is the unseen Seer, the unheard Hearer, the unthought Thinker, the ununderstood Understander. Other than Him there is naught that sees. Other than Him there is naught that hears. Other than Him there is naught that thinks. Other than Him there is naught that understands. By the command of this Imperishable, O Gargi, is space established.'

12 She said: 'Venerable scholars, you may think it a great thing if you escape from this man with merely making a bow. Not one of you will surpass him in discussions about God.'

Thereupon [Gargi] Vacaknavi held her peace.

Ninth Brahmana

The return from the numerous powers to the One God

1 Then Vidagdha Sakalya questioned him. 'How many divine powers are there, Yajnavalkya?'

He answered in accord with the following invocation: 'As many as are mentioned in the invocation of the Hymn to All the Powers, namely, three hundred and three, and three thousand and three [= 3,306].'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'Thirty-three.'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'Six.'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'Three.'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'Two.'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'One and a half.'

'Yes,' said he, 'but just how many are there, Yajnavalkya?'

'One.'

'Yes,' said he, 'which are those three hundred and three, and those three thousand and three?'

2 He [Yajnavalkya] said: 'Those are only their manifestations of power. There are just thirty-three created powers, servants of God.'

'Which are those thirty-three?'

'Eight Vasus, eleven Rudras, twelve Adityas. Those are thirty-one. The thunder and the act of worship make thirty-three.'

3 'Which are the Vasus?'

'Fire, earth, wind, atmosphere, sun, sky, moon, and stars. These are Vasus, for upon them this excellent world is set. Therefore they are called Vasus.'

4 'Which are the Rudras?'

'These ten breaths in a person, and the self as the eleventh. When they go out from this mortal body, they make us lament. So, because they make us lament, therefore they are called Rudras.'

5 'Which are the Adityas?'

'Verily, the twelve months of the year. These are Adityas, for they go carrying along this whole world. Since they go carrying along this whole world, therefore they are called Adityas.'

6 'Which is the thunder? Which is the act of worship?'

'The thunder, verily, is the thunderbolt. The act of worship is the offering of what is lawful.'

7 'Which are the six?'

'Fire, earth, wind, atmosphere, sun, and sky. These are the six, for the whole world is these six.'

8 'Which are the three?'

'They, verily, are the three worlds, for in them all these powers exist.'

'Which are the two?'

'Food and breath.'

'Which is the one and a half?'

'This one here that purifies, the wind.'

9 Then they say: 'Since that which purifies is just like one, how then is it one and a half?'

'Because in it this whole world did prosper. Therefore it is one and a half.'

'Which is the One?'

'God,' said he. 'Him they call the Beyond.'

19 'Yajnavalkya,' said Sakalya, 'by knowing what do you talk down the scholars of the Kurupancalas?'

'I know the quarters of heaven together with their signs and their bases.'

'Since you know the quarters of heaven together with their signs and their bases, [20] what sign of God have you in this eastern quarter?'

'The sun.'

'That sun — on what is it based?'

'On the eye.'

'And on what is the eye based?'

'On appearance, for with the eye one sees appearances.'

'And on what are appearances based?'

'On the heart,' he said, 'for with the heart one knows appearances, for on the heart alone appearances are based.'

'Quite so, Yajnavalkya.'

21 [Sakalya said:] 'What sign have you in this southern quarter?'

'Death.'

'That death — on what is it based?'

'On worship.'

'And on what is worship based?'

'On gifts for the needy.'

'And on what are the gifts based?'

'On faith, for when one has faith, then one gives gifts. Verily, on faith the gifts are based.'

'On what is faith based?'

'On the heart,' he said, 'for with the heart one knows faith. Verily, on the heart alone faith is based.'

'Quite so, Yajnavalkya.'

22 [Sakalya said:] 'What sign have you in this western quarter?'

'Water.'

'That water — on what is it based?'

'On semen.'

'And on what is semen based?'

'On the heart. Therefore they say of a son who is just like his father, "He has slipped out from his heart, as it were. He is built out of his heart." For on the heart alone semen is based.'

'Quite so, Yajnavalkya.'

23 [Sakalya said:] 'What sign have you in this northern quarter?'

'The provision of God.'

'That provision — on what is it based?'

'On devotion.'

'And on what is devotion based?'

'On truth. Therefore they say to one who is consecrating himself, "Speak the truth!" For on truth alone devotion is based.'

'And on what is truth based?'

'On the heart,' he said, 'for with the heart one knows truth. Verily, on the heart alone truth is based.'

'Quite so, Yajnavalkya.'