Chapter 20

“Vasudeva said, ‘In this connection is cited the ancient narrative, O sonof Pritha, of the discourse that took place between a married couple. Acertain Brahmana’s spouse, beholding the Brahmana, her husband who was acomplete master of every kind of knowledge and wisdom, seated inseclusion, said unto him,–Into what region shall I go, depending on theeas my husband,–thee that art seated, having cast off all (religious)acts, that art harsh in thy conduct towards me, and that art soundiscerning?[46] It has been heard by us that a wife attains to thoseregions which are acquired by her husband. What, indeed, is the goal thatI shall attain, having obtained thee for my husband?–Thus questioned,that Brahmana of tranquil soul then said unto her, smilingly,–O blesseddame, I am not offended with these words of thine, O sinless one.Whatever acts exist that are adopted with the aid of others, that areseen (in consequence of their grossness), and that are true, are done asacts by men devoted to acts.[47] Those persons that are destitute ofknowledge, only store delusion by acts. Freedom from acts, again, isincapable of being attained in this world for even a moment. From birthto the attainment of a different form, action good or bad, andaccomplished by acts, mind, or speech, exists in all beings. Those paths(of action) which are characterised by visible objects (such asSoma-juice and ghee for libations) being destroyed by Rakshasas, turningaway from them I have perceived the seat (of the soul) that is in thebody, without the aid of the soul.[48] There dwells Brahma transcendingall pairs of opposites; there Soma with Agni: and there the urger of theunderstanding (viz., Vayu) always moves, upholding all creatures.[49] Itis for that seat that the Grandsire Brahman and others, concentrated inYoga, worship the Indestructible. It is for that seat that men oflearning and excellent vows, of tranquil souls, and of senses completelyvanquished, strive.[50] That is not capable of being smelt by the senseof smell; nor tasted by the tongue; or touched by the organs of touch. Itis by the mind that that is attained. It is incapable of being conqueredby the eye. It transcends the sense of hearing. It is destitute of scent,taste, touch, and form as attributes. It is that from which proceeds thewell-ordained universe, and it is that upon which it rests. Thelife-breaths called Prana and Apana and Samana and Vyana and Udana flowfrom it, and it is that into which they again enter. The breaths Pranaand Apana move between Samana and Vyana. When the soul sleeps, bothSamana and Vyana are absorbed.[51] Between Apana and Prana, Udana dwells,pervading all. Hence, Prana and Apana do not desert a sleeping person. Inconsequence of its controlling all the life-winds, the controlling breathis called Udana. Hence, utterers of Brahman undergo penances which havemyself for their goal.[52] In the midst of all those life-breaths thatswallow up one another and move within the body, blazes forth the firecalled Vaiswanara made up of seven flames. The nose, the tongue, the eye,the skin, the ear which numbers the fifth, the mind, and theunderstanding,–these are the seven tongues of that Vaiswanara’s flame.That which is smelt, that which is seen, that which is drunk, that whichis touched, as also that which is heard, that which is thought of, andthat which is understood,–these are the seven sorts of fuel for me. Thatwhich smells, that which eats, that which sees, that which touches, thatwhich hears numbering the fifth; that which thinks, and that whichunderstands,–these are the seven great officiating priests. Behold, Oblessed one, learned sacrificers duly casting seven libations in sevenways in the seven fires, viz., that which is smelt, that which is drunk,that which is seen, that which is touched, as also that which is heard,that which is thought of, and that which is understood, create them intheir own wombs.[53] Earth, Wind, Ether, Water, and Light numbering asthe fifth, Mind, and Understanding–these seven are called wombs (of allthings). All the attributes which constitute the sacrificial offerings,enter into the attribute that is born of the fire, and having dweltwithin that dwelling became reborn in their respective wombs. Thitheralso, viz., in that which generates all beings, they remain absorbedduring the period for which dissolution lasts. From that is producedsmell, from that is produced taste, from that is produced colour, andfrom that is produced touch; from that is produced sound; from thatarises doubt; and from that is produced resolution. This is what is knownas the sevenfold creation. It is in this very way that all this wascomprehended by the ancients. By the three full and final libations, thefull become full with light.'”