The First Question

Translation by Swami Sivananda1 Om. Sukesa, the Son of Bharadvajaand Satyakama, the son of Sibiand Sauryayani, belonging to the family of Gargaand Kausalya, the son of Asvalaand Vaidarbhi, belonging to the family of Bhriguand Kahandhi, the Son of Katya all these, devoted to Brahman and firm in Brahman and seeking the Supreme Brahman, approached, fuel in hand, the venerable Pippalada with the thought that he would tell them everything about Brahman.Translation by Max Mueller1. Sukesas Bhâradvâga, and Saivya Satyakâma, and Sauryâyanin Gârgya, and Kausalya Âsvalâyana, and Bhârgava Vaidarbhi, and Kabandhin Kâtyâyana, these were devoted to Brahman, firm in Brahman, seeking for the Highest Brahman. They thought that the venerable Pippalâda could tell them all that, and they therefore took fuel in their hands (like pupils), and approached him.

Translation by Swami Sivananda2 The rishi said to them: Stay with me a year more, practising austerities, chastity and faith. Then you may ask questions according to your desire. If we know we shall tell you all.Translation by Max Mueller2. That Rishi said to them: Stay here a year longer, with penance, abstinence, and faith; then you may ask questions according to your pleasure, and if we know them, we shall tell you all.

Translation by Swami Sivananda3 Then Kabandhi, the son of Katya, came to him and asked: Sir, whence are these creatures born?Translation by Max Mueller3. Then Kabandhin Kâtyâyana approached him and asked: Sir, from whence may these creatures be born?

Translation by Swami Sivananda4 To him the teacher said: Prajapati, the Creator, was desirous of progeny. He performed austerities and having performed austerities, created the pair, the moon (rayi) and the sun (prana). He said to Himself: “These two should produce creatures for Me in manifold ways.”Translation by Max Mueller4. He replied: Prajapati (the lord of creatures) was desirous of creatures (pragâh). He performed penance, and having performed penance, he produces a pair, matter (rayi) and spirit (prâna), thinking that they together should produce creatures for him in many ways.

Translation by Swami Sivananda5 The sun is, indeed, prana, life; the moon is rayi, food. Food is, indeed, all this what has form and what is formless. Therefore everything having form is, indeed, food.Translation by Max Mueller5. The sun is spirit, matter is the moon. All this, what has body and what has no body, is matter, and therefore body indeed is matter.

Translation by Swami Sivananda6 Now the sun, when it rises, enters the eastern quarter and thereby enfolds the living beings of the east in its rays. And when it illuminates the southern, the western, the northern, the lower, the upper and the intermediate quarters when it illuminates everything it thus enfolds all living beings in its rays.Translation by Max Mueller6. Now Âditya, the sun, when he rises, goes toward the East, and thus receives the Eastern spirits into his rays. And when he illuminates the South, the West, the North, the Zenith, the Nadir, the intermediate quarters, and everything, he thus receives all spirits into his rays.

Translation by Swami Sivananda7 That sun rises every day the sun, which is the soul of all creatures, the soul of all forms, which is life and fire. This has been described by the following rik: The wise know him who is in all forms, full of rays, all knowing, non dual, the support of all life, the eye of all beings, the giver of heat. There rises the sun, the thousand rayed, existing in a hundred forms, the life of all creatures.Translation by Max Mueller7. Thus he rises, as Vaisvânara, (belonging to all men,) assuming all forms, as spirit, as fire. This has been said in the following verse:

Translation by Swami Sivananda8 That sun rises every day the sun, which is the soul of all creatures, the soul of all forms, which is life and fire. This has been described by the following rik: The wise know him who is in all forms, full of rays, all knowing, non dual, the support of all life, the eye of all beings, the giver of heat. There rises the sun, the thousand rayed, existing in a hundred forms, the life of all creatures.Translation by Max Mueller8. (They knew) him who assumes all forms, the golden, who knows all things, who ascends highest, alone in his splendour, and warms us; the thousand-rayed, who abides in a hundred places, the spirit of all creatures, the Sun, rises.

Translation by Swami Sivananda9 The year, verily, is Prajapati and there arc two paths thereof: the Southern and the Northern. Those who perform sacrifices and engage in pious actions, as duties to be done, win only the World of the Moon; verily they return hither again. Therefore the rishis who desire off spring travel by the Southern Path. This Path of the Fathers is rayi, food.Translation by Max Mueller9. The year indeed is Prajapati, and there are two paths thereof, the Southern and the Northern. Now those who here believe in sacrifices and pious gifts as work done, gain the moon only as their (future) world, and return again. Therefore the Rishis who desire offspring, go to the South, and that path of the Fathers is matter (rayi).

Translation by Swami Sivananda10 But those who seek the Self through austerity, chastity, faith and knowledge travel by the Northern Path and win the Sun. The Sun, verily, is the support of all lives. He is immortal and fearless; He is the final goal. Thence they do not return. This path is blocked for the ignorant. Concerning it there is the following verse:Translation by Max Mueller10. But those who have sought the Self by penance, abstinence, faith, and knowledge, gain by the Northern path Âditya, the sun. This is the home of the spirits, the immortal, free from danger, the highest. From thence they do not return, for it is the end. Thus says the Sloka 1:

Translation by Swami Sivananda11 Some call Him the father with five feet and with twelve forms, the giver of rain and the dweller in the region above the sky. Others, again, say that the world is fixed in the omniscient Sun, endowed with seven wheels and six spokes.Translation by Max Mueller11. Some call him the father with five feet (the five seasons), and with twelve shapes (the twelve months), the giver of rain in the highest half of heaven; others again say that the sage is placed in the lower half, in the chariot with seven wheels and six spokes.

Translation by Swami Sivananda12 The month, verily, is Prajapati. Its dark half, verily, is food, rayi; its bright half, the eater, prana. Therefore some rishis perform sacrifice in the bright half, some in the other half.Translation by Max Mueller12. The month is Prajapati; its dark half is matter, its bright half spirit. Therefore some Rishis perform sacrifice in the bright half, others in the other half.

Translation by Swami Sivananda13 Day and night, verily, are Prajapati. Of these, day is the eater, prana and night, the food, rayi. Those who join in sexual enjoyment by day verily dissipate life; but to join in sexual enjoyment by night is, verily, chastity.Translation by Max Mueller13. Day and Night are Prajapati; its day is spirit, its night matter. Those who unite in love by day waste their spirit, but to unite in love by night is right.

Translation by Swami Sivananda14 Food, verily, is Prajapati. From that comes semen; from semen are all these creatures born.Translation by Max Mueller14. Food is Prajapati. Hence proceeds seed, and from it these creatures are born.

Translation by Swami Sivananda15 Those, therefore, who practise this rule of Prajapati beget a pair. But Brahmaloka belongs to those who observe austerity and chastity and in whom truth is firmly established.Translation by Max Mueller15. Those therefore who observe this rule of Prajapati (as laid down in § 13), produce a pair, and to them belongs this Brahma-world here. But those in whom dwell penance, abstinence, and truth,

Translation by Swami Sivananda16 The stainless World of Brahma belongs to those in whom there is no crookedness, no falsehood, no deception.Translation by Max Mueller16. To them belongs that pure Brahma-world, to them, namely, in whom there is nothing crooked, nothing false, and no guile.