सोम्य पुरुषः पञ्चदशाहानि माशीः काममपः पिबापोमयः प्राणो नपिबतो विच्छेत्स्यत इति
Dear one, if a person abstains from food for fifteen days, let him drink water as he wishes, for breath is made of water; if he does not drink, it will be interrupted.
स ह पञ्चदशाहानि नशाथ हैनमुपससाद किं ब्रवीमि भो इत्यृचः सोम्य यजूँषि सामानीति स होवाच न वै मा प्रतिभान्ति भो इति
He abstained for fifteen days. Then he approached and was asked, 'What shall I recite, sir?' 'The Rig, dear one, the Yajus, the Sama.' He replied, 'Sir, nothing comes to mind.'
तँ होवाच यथा सोम्य महतोऽभ्याहितस्यैकोऽङ्गारः खद्योतमात्रः परिशिष्टः स्यात्तेन ततोऽपि न बहु दहेदेवँसोम्य ते षोडशानां कलानामेका कलातिशिष्टा स्यात्तयैतर्हि वेदान्नानुभवस्यशानाथ मे विज्ञास्यसीति
He said, 'Just as, dear one, when a large fire is burning and only one ember the size of a firefly remains, it does not burn much; so, dear one, of your sixteen parts, only one remains, and with that you do not perceive the Vedas. When you eat, you will understand.'
स हशाथ हैनमुपससाद तँ ह यत्किञ्च पप्रच्छ सर्वँह प्रतिपेदे
After eating, he approached and whatever was asked, he answered everything.
तँ होवाच यथा सोम्य महतोऽभ्याहितस्यैकमङ्गारं खद्योतमात्रं परिशिष्टं तं तृणैरुपसमाधाय प्राज्वलयेत्तेन ततोऽपि बहु दहेत्
He said, 'Just as, dear one, when a large fire is burning and only one ember the size of a firefly remains, if it is kindled with grass, it will blaze greatly.'
एवँ सोम्य ते षोडशानां कलानामेका कलातिशिष्टाभूत्सान्नेनोपसमाहिता प्राज्वालीतयैतर्हि वेदाननुभवस्यन्नमयँहि सोम्य मन आपोमयः प्राणस्तेजोमयी वागिति तद्धास्य विजज्ञाविति विजज्ञाविति
In the same way, dear one, when only one of your sixteen parts remained, it was kindled by food and blazed forth. Now you perceive the Vedas. Indeed, dear one, mind is made of food, breath is made of water, and speech is made of fire. He understood this, he understood this.
उद्दालको हारुणिः श्वेतकेतुं पुत्रमुवाच स्वप्नान्तं मे सोम्य विजानीहीति यत्रैतत्पुरुषः स्वपिति नाम सता सोम्य तदा सम्पन्नो भवति स्वमपीतो भवति तस्मादेनँ स्वपितीत्याचक्षते स्वँह्यपीतो भवति
Uddalaka Aruni said to his son Svetaketu: 'My dear, understand the state of sleep. When this person sleeps, he becomes united with Being, he attains his own nature. Therefore, they say, “he sleeps,” for he has gone to his own self.'
स यथा शकुनिः सूत्रेण प्रबद्धो दिशं दिशं पतित्वान्यत्रायतनमलब्ध्वा बन्धनमेवोपश्रयत एवमेव खलु सोम्य तन्मनो दिशं दिशं पतित्वान्यत्रायतनमलब्ध्वा प्राणमेवोपश्रयते प्राणबन्धनँ हि सोम्य मन इति
Just as a bird, tied by a string, flies in every direction and, not finding a place to rest, returns to where it is bound, so too, dear one, the mind, after roaming in every direction, not finding a place to rest, returns to the vital breath; for the mind, dear one, is bound to the vital breath.
अशनापिपासे मे सोम्य विजानीहीति यत्रैतत्पुरुषोऽशिशिषति नामाप एव तदशितं नयन्ते तद्यथा गोनायोऽश्वनायः पुरुषनाय इत्येवं तदप आचक्षतेऽशनायेति तत्रितच्छुङ्गमुत्पतितँ सोम्य विजानीहि नेदममूलं भविष्यतीति
Understand, my dear, the states of hunger and thirst. When this person eats, the waters carry what is eaten to the appropriate place. Just as cows, horses, and humans are called by their respective names, so too, the waters are called 'food.' From this, the shoot arises. Understand, my dear, that this does not arise without a root.
तस्य क्व मूलँ स्यादन्यत्रान्नादेवमेव खलु सोम्यान्नेन शुङ्गेनापो मूलमन्विच्छाद्भिः सोम्य शुङ्गेन तेजोमूलमन्विच्छ तेजसा सोम्य शुङ्गेन सन्मूलमन्विच्छ सन्मूलाः सोम्येमाः सर्वाः प्रजाः सदायतनाः सत्प्रतिष्ठाः
Where could its root be, except in food? Thus, my dear, by means of the shoot, seek the root in food; by means of the shoot, seek the root in fire; by means of the shoot, seek the root in Being. All these creatures, my dear, have Being as their root, Being as their abode, Being as their foundation.
अथ यत्रैतत्पुरुषः पिपासति नाम तेज एव तत्पीतं नयते तद्यथा गोनायोऽश्वनायः पुरुषनाय इत्येवं तत्तेज आचष्ट उदन्येति तत्रैतदेव शुङ्गमुत्पतितँ सोम्य विजानीहि नेदममूलं भविष्यतीति
And when this person is thirsty, fire carries what is drunk to the appropriate place. Just as cows, horses, and humans are called by their respective names, so too, fire is called 'drink.' From this, the shoot arises. Understand, my dear, that this does not arise without a root.
तस्य क्व मूलँ स्यादन्यत्राद्भ्य्ऽद्भिः सोम्य शुङ्गेन तेजो मूलमन्विच्छ तेजसा सोम्य शुङ्गेन सन्मूलमन्विच्छ सन्मूलाः सोम्येमाः सर्वाः प्रजाः सदायतनाः सत्प्रतिष्ठा यथा नु खलु सोम्येमास्तिस्रो देवताः पुरुषं प्राप्य त्रिवृत्त्रिवृदेकैका भवति तदुक्तं पुरस्तादेव भवत्यस्य सोम्य पुरुषस्य प्रयतो वाङ्मनसि सम्पद्यते मनः प्राणे प्राणस्तेजसि तेजः परस्यां देवतायाम्
Where could its root be, except in water? Thus, my dear, by means of the shoot, seek the root in fire; by means of the shoot, seek the root in Being. All these creatures, my dear, have Being as their root, Being as their abode, Being as their foundation. Just as, my dear, these three elements, having entered the person, each become threefold, so it was said before: when this person departs, speech merges in the mind, mind in the breath, breath in fire, and fire in the highest deity.
स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true. That is the Self. That you are, Svetaketu.' 'Revered sir, please explain further.' 'So be it, dear one,' he said.
यथा सोम्य मधु मधुकृतो निस्तिष्ठन्ति नानात्ययानां वृक्षाणाँरसान्समवहारमेकताँरसं गमयन्ति
Just as, dear one, bees collect honey by gathering the juices of various trees and blend them into one essence,
ते यथा तत्र न विवेकं लभन्तेऽमुष्याहं वृक्षस्य रसोऽस्म्यमुष्याहं वृक्षस्य रसोऽस्मीत्येवमेव खलु सोम्येमाः सर्वाः प्रजाः सति सम्पद्य न विदुः सति सम्पद्यामह इति
There, they do not distinguish: 'I am the juice of this tree, I am the juice of that tree.' In the same way, dear one, all these creatures, having merged with Being, do not know: 'We have merged with Being.'
त इह व्याघ्रो वा सिँहो वा वृको वा वराहो वा कीटो वा पतङ्गो वा दँशो वा मशको वा यद्यद्भवन्ति तदाभवन्ति
Here, whether they become a tiger, a lion, a wolf, a boar, an insect, a moth, a gnat, or a mosquito—whatever they become, that they become.
स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true. That is the Self. That you are, Svetaketu.' 'Revered sir, please explain further.' 'So be it, dear one,' he said.
सोम्य नद्यः पुरस्तात्प्राच्यः स्यन्दन्ते पश्चात्प्रतीच्यस्ताः समुद्रात्समुद्रमेवापियन्ति स समुद्र एव भवति ता यथा तत्र न विदुरियमहमस्मीयमहमस्मीति
Dear one, the rivers in the east flow eastward, and those in the west flow westward; all of them, coming from the ocean, merge into the ocean and become the ocean itself. There, they do not know: 'I am this one, I am that one.'
एवमेव खलु सोम्येमाः सर्वाः प्रजाः सत आगम्य न विदुः सत आगच्छामह इति त इह व्याघ्रो वा सिँहो वा वृको वा वराहो वा कीटो वा पतङ्गो वा दँशो वा मशको वा यद्यद्भवन्ति तदाभवन्ति
In the same way, dear one, all these creatures, having come from Being, do not know: 'We have come from Being.' Here, whether they become a tiger, a lion, a wolf, a boar, an insect, a moth, a gnat, or a mosquito—whatever they become, that they become.
स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true. That is the Self. That you are, Svetaketu.' 'Revered sir, please explain further.' 'So be it, dear one,' he said.
अस्य सोम्य महतो वृक्षस्य यो मूलेऽभ्याहन्याज्जीवन्स्रवेद्यो मध्येऽभ्याहन्याज्जीवन्स्रवेद्योऽग्रेऽभ्याहन्याज्जीवन्स्रवेत्स एष जीवेनात्मनानुप्रभूतः पेपीयमानो मोदमानस्तिष्ठति
Dear one, if someone strikes the root of this great tree, it will bleed sap while living; if they strike the middle, it will bleed sap while living; if they strike the top, it will bleed sap while living. Pervaded by the living self, it stands rejoicing, drinking in nourishment.
अस्य यदेकाँ शाखां जीवो जहात्यथ सा शुष्यति द्वितीयां जहात्यथ सा शुष्यति तृतीयां जहात्यथ सा शुष्यति सर्वं जहाति सर्वः शुष्यत्येवमेव खलु सोम्य विद्धीति होवाच
If the life leaves one branch, that branch withers; if it leaves a second, that one withers; if it leaves a third, that one withers; if it leaves all, all wither. In the same way, dear one, understand this.' Thus he spoke.
जीवापेतं वाव किलेदं म्रियते न जीवो म्रियते इति स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
When life departs from it, indeed, it dies; life itself does not die. That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true. That is the Self. That you are, Svetaketu.' 'Revered sir, please explain further.' 'So be it, dear one,' he said.
न्यग्रोधफलमत आहरेतीदं भगव इति भिन्द्धीति भिन्नं भगव इति किमत्र पश्यसीत्यण्व्य इवेमा धाना भगव इत्यासामङ्गैकां भिन्द्धीति भिन्ना भगव इति किमत्र पश्यसीति न किञ्चन भगव इति
'Bring a fruit of the banyan tree, dear one.' 'Here it is, revered sir.' 'Break it.' 'It is broken, revered sir.' 'What do you see there?' 'Very small seeds, revered sir.' 'Break one of them.' 'It is broken, revered sir.' 'What do you see there?' 'Nothing at all, revered sir.'
तँ होवाच यं वै सोम्यैतमणिमानं न निभालयस एतस्य वै सोम्यैषोऽणिम्न एवं महान्यग्रोधस्तिष्ठति श्रद्धत्स्व सोम्येति
He said: 'Somya, you do not see this subtle essence; yet, truly, from this subtle essence alone, this great banyan tree stands. Believe this, Somya.'
स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदद्ँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true, that is the Self. You are that, Śvetaketu.' He said, 'Please, revered one, explain further.' 'So be it, Somya,' he replied.
लवणमेतदुदकेऽवधायाथ मा प्रातरुपसीदथा इति स ह तथा चकार तँ होवाच यद्दोषा लवणमुदकेऽवाधा अङ्ग तदाहरेति तद्धावमृश्य न विवेद
Place this salt in water, and come to me in the morning.' He did so. 'Bring the salt you placed in the water last night.' He searched, but did not find it.
यथा विलीनमेवाङ्गास्यान्तादाचामेति कथमिति लवणमिति मध्यादाचामेति कथमिति लवणमित्यन्तादाचामेति कथमिति लवणमित्यभिप्रास्यैतदथ मोपसीदथा इति तद्ध तथा चकार तच्छश्वत्संवर्तते तँ होवाचात्र वाव किल तत्सोम्य न निभालयसेऽत्रैव किलेति
'Taste the water from the edge—how is it?' 'Salty.' 'Taste from the middle—how is it?' 'Salty.' 'Taste from the other edge—how is it?' 'Salty.' 'Now return to me.' He did so. The salt remained dissolved. He said, 'Somya, though you do not see it here, it is truly present.'
स य एषोऽणिमैतदात्म्यमिदँ सर्वं तत्सत्यँ स आत्मा तत्त्वमसि श्वेतकेतो इति भूय एव मा भगवान्विज्ञापयत्विति तथा सोम्येति होवाच
That which is this subtle essence, all this has that as its self. That is the true, that is the Self. You are that, Śvetaketu.' He said, 'Please, revered one, explain further.' 'So be it, Somya,' he replied.
यथा सोम्य पुरुषं गन्धारेभ्योऽभिनद्धाक्षमानीय तं ततोऽतिजने विसृजेत्स यथा तत्र प्राङ्वोदङ्वाधराङ्वा प्रत्यङ्वा प्रध्मायीताभिनद्धाक्ष आनीतोऽभिनद्धाक्षो विसृष्टः
Somya, suppose a man is blindfolded and brought from Gandhāra, then released among people. He would blow in every direction—east, west, south, north—blindfolded, brought, blindfolded, released.