Part 3

Kena Upanishad

2 min

1. The Brahman once won a victory for the Devas. Through that victory of the Brahman, the Devas became elated. They thought, "This victory is ours. This glory is ours."

1. Brahman once won a victory for the Devas. Because of Brahman's victory, the Devas became overjoyed. They thought, "This victory is ours. This glory is ours."

Brahman here does not mean a personal deity. There is a Brahma, the first person of the Hindu Trinity. But Brahman is the Absolute, the One without a second, the essence of all. Different names and forms represent certain personal aspects of Divinity. These include Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Siva the Transformer. But none of them can fully represent the Whole. Brahman is the vast ocean of being, on which countless ripples and waves of manifestation rise. All forms, from the smallest atom to a Deva or an angel, come from that limitless ocean of Brahman. Brahman is the endless Source of life. No manifested form of life can exist independently of its source, just as no wave, however mighty, can exist independently of the ocean. Nothing moves without that Power. He is the only one who acts. But the Devas thought: "This victory is ours, this glory is ours."

2. The Brahman perceived this and appeared before them. They did not know what mysterious form it was.

2. Brahman noticed this and appeared before them. They did not know what the mysterious form was.

3. They said to Fire: "O Jataveda (All-knowing)! Find out what mysterious spirit this is." He said: "Yes."

3. They said to Fire: "Jataveda (All-knowing), find out who this mysterious spirit is." He said: "Yes."

4. He ran towards it and He (Brahman) said to him: "Who art thou?" "I am Agni, I am Jataveda," he (the Fire-god) replied.

4. He ran toward it, and he (Brahman) asked him: "Who are you?" He (the Fire-god) replied, "I am Agni, I am Jataveda."

5. Brahman asked: "What power resides in thee?" Agni replied: "I can burn up all whatsoever exists on earth."

5. Brahman asked: "What power do you have?" Agni replied: "I can burn everything that exists on earth."

6. Brahman placed a straw before him and said: "Burn this." He (Agni) rushed towards it with all speed, but was not able to burn it. So he returned from there and said (to the Devas): "I was not able to find out what this great mystery is."

6. Brahman placed a straw in front of Agni and said: "Burn this." Agni rushed toward the straw as fast as he could, but he could not burn it. So he returned and said to the Devas: "I could not find out what this great mystery is."

7. Then they said to Vayu (the Air-god): "Vayu! Find out what this mystery is." He said: "Yes."

8. He ran towards it and He (Brahman) said to him: "Who art thou?" "I am Vayu, I am Matarisva (traveller of Heaven)," he (Vayu) said.

8. Vayu ran toward it. Brahman said to him, "Who are you?" Vayu said, "I am Vayu, I am Matarisva (traveler of Heaven)."

9. Then the Brahman said: "What power is in thee?" Vayu replied: "I can blow away all whatsoever exists on earth."

9. Then the Brahman asked: "What power do you have?" Vayu replied: "I can blow away everything that exists on earth."

10. Brahman placed a straw before him and said: "Blow this away." He (Vayu) rushed towards it with all speed, but was not able to blow it away. So he returned from there and said (to the Devas): "I was not able to find out what this great mystery is."

10. Brahman placed a straw before Vayu and said: "Blow this away." Vayu rushed toward the straw at full speed, but he could not blow it away. So he returned and said to the Devas: "I could not find out what this great mystery is."

11. Then they said to Indra: "O Maghavan (Worshipful One)! Find out what this mystery is." He said: "Yes"; and ran towards it, but it disappeared before him.

11. Then they said to Indra: "Maghavan (Worshipful One), find out what this mystery is." He said: "Yes." He ran toward it, but it disappeared before he reached it.

12. Then he saw in that very space a woman beautifully adorned, Uma of golden hue, daughter of Haimavat (Himalaya). He asked: "What is this great mystery?"

12. Then he saw a beautifully dressed woman in that very space. She was Uma, golden in color, the daughter of Haimavat (Himalaya). He asked: "What is this great mystery?"

Here we see how the Absolute takes a concrete form to give knowledge of himself to the earnest seeker. Brahman, the impenetrable mystery, disappeared, and a personal form appeared in his place to represent him. This subtly shows the difference between the Absolute and the personal aspects of the Deity. The Absolute is said to be unknowable and unthinkable, but he takes divine personal forms to make himself known to his devotees. Thus Uma, daughter of the Himalaya, represents that personal aspect as the offspring of the Infinite Being. The Himalaya symbolizes the Eternal, Unchangeable One.