Page:Sacred Books of the East - Volume 1.djvu/232

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118
KHÂNDOGYA-UPANISHAD.

thus again thunderclaps come with lightnings, flashing upwards and across the sky. Then people say, There is lightning and thunder, it will rain. Then also does fire, after showing this sign first, create water. Meditate on fire.

2. 'He who meditates on fire as Brahman, obtains, resplendent himself, resplendent worlds, full of light and free of darkness; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as fire reaches—he who meditates on fire as Brahman.'

'Sir, is there something better than fire?'

'Yes, there is something better than fire.'

'Sir, tell it me.'


Twelfth Khanda.

1. 'Ether (or space) is better than fire. For in the ether exist both sun and moon, the lightning, stars, and fire (agni). Through the ether we call, through the ether we hear, through the ether we answer[1]. In the ether or space we rejoice (when we are together), and rejoice not (when we are separated). In the ether everything is born, and towards the ether everything tends when it is born[2]. Meditate on ether.

2. He who meditates on ether as Brahman, obtains the worlds of ether and of light, which are free from pressure and pain, wide and spacious[3]; he is, as it were, lord and master as far as ether reaches — he who meditates on ether as Brahman.'

'Sir, is there something better than ether?'


  1. Cf. Kh. Up. IV, 5, i.
  2. The seed grows upwards towards the ether; not downwards.
  3. Cf. Kâth. Up. II, ii.