The Highest Self²¹

There was formerly Gârgya Bâlâki,²² famous as a man of great reading; for it was said of him that he lived among the Usînaras, among the Satvat-Matsyas, the Kuru-Pañkâlas, the Kâsî-Videhas. Having gone to Agâtasatru, (the king) of Kâsî, he said to him: "Shall I tell you Brahman?" Agâtasatru said to him: "We give a thousand (cows) for that speech (of yours), for verily all people run away, saying, 'Ganaka (the king of Mithilâ) is our father (patron).'"

There was once a man named Gârgya Bâlâki,²² who was famous for his extensive reading. People said he had lived among the Usînaras, the Satvat-Matsyas, the Kuru-Pañkâlas, and the Kâsî-Videhas. He went to Agâtasatru, the king of Kâsî, and asked him: "Shall I tell you about Brahman?" Agâtasatru said to him: "I give you a thousand cows for those words. For all people run away, saying, 'Ganaka, the king of Mithilâ, is our father and patron.'"

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the sun, on him I meditate (as Brahman)."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the sun (as Brahman)."

Agâtasatru said to him: "No, no! do not challenge me (to a disputation) on this.²³ I meditate on him who is called great, clad in white raiment, the supreme, the head of all beings. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes supreme, and the head of all beings."

Agâtasatru said to him: "No, no! Do not challenge me to a debate on this.²³ I meditate on him who is called great, who is dressed in white, and who is supreme and head of all beings. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes supreme and head of all beings."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the moon, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the moon."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Soma, the king, the self, (source) of all food. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes the self, (source) of all food."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Soma, the king, the self and source of all food. Anyone who meditates on him in this way becomes the self and source of all food."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the lightning, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the lightning."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self in light. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes the self in light."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self in light. Anyone who meditates on him in this way becomes the self in light."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the thunder, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the thunder."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of sound. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes the self of sound."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of sound. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes the self of sound."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the ether, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the ether."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the full, quiescent Brahman. Whoso meditates on him thus, is filled with offspring and cattle. Neither he himself nor his offspring dies before the time."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the complete, peaceful Brahman. Whoever meditates on him this way is blessed with children and cattle. Neither he nor his children die before their time."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the air, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the air."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Indra Vaikuntha, as the unconquerable army. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes victorious, unconquerable, conquering his enemies."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Indra Vaikuntha, the unconquerable army. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes victorious and unconquerable, and conquers his enemies."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the fire, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the fire."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as powerful. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes powerful among others."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as powerful. Whoever meditates on him this way becomes powerful among others."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the water, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the water."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of the name. Whoso meditates on him thus, becomes the self of the name."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of the name. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes the self of the name."

So far with regard to deities (mythological); now with regard to the body (physiological).

That concludes the discussion of deities (mythology). Now we turn to the body (physiology).

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the mirror, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the mirror."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the likeness. Whoso meditates on him thus, to him a son is born in his family who is his likeness, not one who is not his likeness."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the likeness. Whoever meditates on him in this way will have a son born in his family who resembles him, not one who does not."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the echo, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the echo."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the second, who never goes away. Whoso meditates on him thus, he gets a second from his second (his wife), he becomes doubled."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the second, who never goes away. Whoever meditates on him in this way receives a second from his second (his wife). He becomes doubled."

Bâlâki said: "The sound that follows a man, on that I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the sound that follows a man."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as life. Whoso meditates on him thus, neither he himself nor his offspring will faint before the time."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as life. Whoever meditates on him in this way will not faint before their time, nor will their offspring."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the shadow, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the shadow."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as death. Whoso meditates on him thus, neither he himself nor his offspring will die before the time."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as death. Anyone who meditates on him as death will not die before their time, nor will their children."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is embodied, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person who is embodied."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Lord of creatures. Whoso meditates on him thus, is multiplied in offspring and cattle."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Lord of creatures. Whoever meditates on him this way will have many offspring and cattle."

Bâlâki said: "The Self which is conscious (pragñâ), and by whom he who sleeps here, walks about in sleep, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the conscious Self (pragñâ), through whom the person sleeping here walks about in sleep."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as Yama the king. Whoso meditates on him thus, everything is subdued for his excellencies."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as King Yama. For anyone who meditates on him this way, everything is subdued for his excellencies."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the right eye, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the right eye."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of the name, as the self of fire, as the self of splendour. Whoso meditates on him thus, he becomes the self of these."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of the name, of fire, and of splendor. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes the self of these."

Bâlâki said: "The person that is in the left eye, on him I meditate."

Bâlâki said: "I meditate on the person in the left eye."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of the true, as the self of lightning, as the self of light. Whoso meditates on him thus, he becomes the self of these."

Agâtasatru said to him: "Do not challenge me on this. I meditate on him as the self of truth, of lightning, and of light. Whoever meditates on him in this way becomes the self of these."

After this Bâlâki became silent. Agâtasatru said to him: "Thus far only (do you know), O Bâlâki?" "Thus far only," replied Bâlâki.

After this, Bâlâki fell silent. Agâtasatru said to him: "Is that all you know, Bâlâki?" "That is all," Bâlâki replied.

Then Agâtasatru said to him: "Vainly did you challenge me, saying: 'Shall I tell you Brahman?' O Bâlâki, he who is the maker of those persons (whom you mentioned), he of whom all this is the work, he alone is to be known."

Then Agâtasatru said to him: "You challenged me in vain when you said: 'Shall I tell you about Brahman?' O Bâlâki, only he who made those persons (whom you mentioned) is to be known. All this is his work."

Thereupon Bâlâki came, carrying fuel in his hand, saying: "May I come to you as a pupil?" Agâtasatru said to him: "I deem it improper that a Kshatriya should initiate a Brâhmana. Come, I shall make you know clearly." Then taking him by the hand, he went forth. And the two together came to a person who was asleep. And Agâtasatru called him, saying: "Thou great one, clad in white raiment, Soma, King!" But he remained lying. Then he pushed him with a stick, and he rose at once. Then said Agâtasatru to him: "Bâlâki, where did this person here sleep? Where was he? Whence came he thus back?" Bâlâki did not know.

Then Bâlâki came, carrying fuel in his hand, and said: "May I come to you as a pupil?" Agâtasatru said to him: "I think it improper for a Kshatriya to initiate a Brâhmana. Come, I will help you understand clearly." He took Bâlâki by the hand and led him away. Together, they came to a sleeping person. Agâtasatru called to him, saying: "You great one, dressed in white, Soma, King!" But the person remained lying there. Then Agâtasatru pushed him with a stick, and he rose at once. Agâtasatru said to Bâlâki: "Bâlâki, where did this person sleep? Where was he? Where did he come back from?" Bâlâki did not know.

And Agâtasatru said to him: "Where this person here slept, where he was, whence he thus came back, is this: The arteries of the heart called Hitâ extend from the heart of the person towards the surrounding body. Small as a hair divided a thousand times, they stand full of a thin fluid of various colours, white, black, yellow, red. In these the person is when sleeping he sees no dream. Then he becomes one with that prâna alone. Then speech goes to him with all names, the eye with all forms, the ear with all sounds, the mind with all thoughts.

And Agâtasatru said to him: "Here is where this person was while he slept, and where he came back from. The arteries of the heart, called Hitâ, extend from the heart into the surrounding body. They are as small as a hair divided a thousand times. They are filled with a thin fluid of various colours: white, black, yellow, and red. The person is in these arteries when he sleeps without dreaming. Then he becomes one with prâna alone. Then speech comes to him with all names, the eye with all forms, the ear with all sounds, and the mind with all thoughts.

"And when he awakes, then, as from a burning fire, sparks proceed in all directions, thus from that self the prânas (speech, &c.) proceed, each towards its place, from the prânas the gods, from the gods the worlds. And as a razor might be fitted in a razor-case, or as fire in the fire-place (the aranî on the altar), even thus this conscious self enters the self of the body (considers the body as himself) to the very hairs and nails.

"And when he wakes, the prânas (speech and the rest) come from that self, each moving toward its own place. They spread like sparks from a burning fire in all directions. From the prânas come the gods, and from the gods come the worlds. Just as a razor fits in its case, or fire in the fireplace (the aranî on the altar), this conscious self enters the self of the body, down to the hairs and nails. It regards the body as itself.

"And the other selfs (such as speech, &c.) follow that self, as his people follow the master of the house. And as the master feeds with his people, nay, as his people feed on the master, thus does this conscious self feed with the other selfs, as a master with his people, and the other selfs follow him, as his people follow the master. So long as Indra did not understand that self, the Asuras conquered him. When he understood it, he conquered the Asuras and obtained the pre-eminence among all gods, sovereignty, supremacy. And thus also he who knows this obtains pre-eminence among all beings, sovereignty, supremacy, yea, he who knows this."

"And the other selves, such as speech, follow that self, as a household follows its master. The master eats with his household. Indeed, the household feeds on the master. In the same way, the conscious self feeds with the other selves, like a master with his household. And the other selves follow the conscious self, as a household follows its master. As long as Indra did not understand that self, the Asuras defeated him. When he understood the self, he defeated the Asuras. He gained preeminence, sovereignty, and supremacy among all gods. In the same way, anyone who knows this gains preeminence, sovereignty, and supremacy among all beings. Indeed, anyone who knows this gains them."