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1.
Death said: 'The Self-existent pierced the openings
(of the senses) so that they turn forward: therefore
man looks forward, not backward into himself. Some wise
man, however,with his eyes closed and wishing for immortality,
saw the Self behind!
2.
'Children follow after outward pleasures, and fall into
the snare of wide-spread death. Wise men only, knowing
the nature of what is immortal, do not look for anything
stable here among things unstable!
3.
'That by which we know form, taste, smell, sounds, and
loving touches, by that also we know what exists besides.
This is that (which thou hast asked for).'
4.
'The wise, when he knows that that by which he perceives
all objects in sleep or in waking is the great omnipresent
Self, grieves no more.'
5.
'He who knows this living soul which eats honey (perceives
objects) as being the Self, always near, the Lord of
the past and the future, henceforward fears no more.
This is that!
6.
'He who (knows) him' who was born first from the brooding
heat, (for he was born before the water), who, entering
into the heart, abides therein, and was perceived from
the elements. This is that.'
7.
'(He who knows) Aditi also, who is one with all deities,
who arises with Prana (breath or Hiranyagarbha), who,
entering into the heart, abides therein, and was born
from the elements. This is that.'
8.
'There is Agni (fire), the all-seeing, hidden in the
two fire-sticks, well-guarded like a child (in the womb)
by the mother, day after day to be adored by men when
they awake and bring oblations. This is that.'
9.
'And that whence the sun rises, and whither it goes
to set, there all the Devas are contained, and no one
goes beyond. This is that.'
10.
'What is here (visible in the world), the same is there
(invisible in Brahman); and what is there, the same
is here. He who sees any difference here (between Brahman
and the world), goes from death to death.'
11.
'Even by the mind this (Brahman) is to be obtained,
and then there is no difference whatsoever. He goes
from death to death who sees any difference here.'
12.
'The person (purusha), of the size of a thumb, stands
in the middle of the Self (body?), as lord of the past
and the future, and henceforward fears no more. This
is that.'
13.
'That person, of the size of a thumb, is like a light
without smoke, lord of the past and the future, he is
the same to-day and to-morrow. This is that.'
14.
'As rain-water that has fallen on a mountain ridge runs
down the rocks on all sides, thus does he, who sees
a difference between qualities, run after them on all
sides.'
15.
'As pure water poured into pure water remains the same,
thus, O Gautama, is the Self of a thinker who knows.'
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