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First
Question
Adoration to the Highest Self! Harih, Om!
1.
Sukesas Bharadvaga, and Saivya Satyakama, and Sauryayanin
Gargya, and Kausalya Asvalayana, and Bhargava Vaidarbhi,
and Kabandhin Katyayana, these were devoted to Brahman,
firm in Brahman, seeking for the Highest Brahman. They
thought that the venerable Pippalada could tell them
all that, and they therefore took fuel in their hands
(like pupils), and approached him.
2.
That Rishi said to them: 'Stay here a year longer, with
penance, abstinence, and faith; then you may ask questions
according to your pleasure, and if we know them, we
shall tell you all.'
3.
Then Kabandhin Katyayana approached him and asked: 'Sir,
from whence may these creatures be born?'
4.
He replied: 'Pragapati (the lord of creatures) was desirous
of creatures (pragah). He performed penance, and having
performed penance, he produces a pair, matter (rayi)
and spirit (prana), thinking that they together should
produce creatures for him in many ways.
5.
The sun is spirit, matter is the moon. All this, what
has body and what has no body, is matter, and therefore
body indeed is matter.
6.
Now Aditya, the sun, when he rises, goes toward the
East, and thus receives the Eastern spirits into his
rays. And when he illuminates the South, the West, the
North, the Zenith, the Nadir, the intermediate quarters,
and everything, he thus receives all spirits into his
rays.
7.
Thus he rises, as Vaisvanara, (belonging to all men,)
assuming all forms, as spirit, as fire. This has been
said in the following verse:
8.
(They knew) him who assumes all forms, the golden, who
knows all things, who ascends highest, alone in his
splendour, and warms us; the thousandrayed, who abides
in a hundred places, the spirit of all creatures, the
Sun, rises.
9.
The year indeed is Pragapati, and there are two paths
thereof, the Southern and the Northern. Now those who
here believe in sacrifices and pious gifts as work done,
gain the moon only as their (future) world, and return
again. Therefore the Rishis who desire offspring, go
to the South, and that path of the Fathers is matter
(rayi).
10.
But those who have sought the Self by penance, abstinence,
faith, and knowledge, gain by the Northern path Aditya,
the sun. This is the home of the spirits, the immortal,
free from danger, the highest. From thence they do not
return, for it is the end. Thus says the Sloka:
11.
Some call him the father with five feet (the five seasons),
and with twelve shapes (the twelve months), the giver
of rain in the highest half of heaven; others again
say that the sage is placed in the lower half, in the
chariot with seven wheels and six spokes.
12.
The month is Pragapati; its dark half is matter, its
bright half spirit. Therefore some Rishis perform sacrifice
in the bright half, others in the other half.
13.
Day and Night are Pragapati; its day is spirit, its
night matter. Those who unite in love by day waste their
spirit,but to unite in love by night is right.
14.
Food is Pragapati. Hence proceeds seed, and from it
these creatures are born.
15.
Those therefore who observe this rule of Pragapati (as
laid down in #13), produce a pair, and to them belongs
this Brahma-world here. But those in whom dwell penance,
abstinence, and truth,
16.
To them belongs that pure Brahma-world, to them, namely,
in whom there is nothing crooked, nothing false, and
no guile.'
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