The Lord of all

5.11.1 Pracinasala Aupamanyava, Satyayajna Paulushi, Indradyumna Bhallaveya, Jana Sarkarakshya, and Budila Asvatarasvi, these great householders, greatly learned in sacred lore, having come together, pondered: "Who is our Lord? What is God?"

5.11.2 Then they agreed among themselves: "Verily, Sirs, Uddalaka Aruni here studies exactly this question of the Lord of all. Come, let us go unto him."

Then unto him they went.

5.11.3 Then he agreed with himself: "These great householders, greatly learned in sacred lore, will question me. I may not be able to answer them everything. Come! Let me direct them to another."

5.11.4 Then he said to them: "Verily, Sirs, Asvapati Kaikeya studies just this question of the Lord of all. Come! Let us go unto him."

Then unto him they went.

5.11.5 Then to them severally, when they arrived, he had proper attentions shown. He was indeed a man who, on rising, could say:

"Within my realm there is no thief,

No miser, nor a drinking man,

None without worship, none ignorant,

No man unchaste, no wife unchaste."

"Verily, Sirs, I am about to give freely in charity. As large a gift as I shall give to each of the learned, so large a gift will I give to you, Sirs. Remain, my Sirs."

5.11.6 Then they said: "With whatever subject a person is concerned, of that indeed he should speak. You know just this question of the Lord of all. Him indeed do you tell to us."

5.11.7 Then he said to them: "On the morrow will I make reply." Then with fuel in their hands, as a token of discipleship, in the morning they returned. Then, without having first received them as pupils, he spoke to them as follows: