Then [Gargl] Vacaknavl said: 'Venerable Brahmans, lo, I will ask him [i.e. Yajnavalkya] two questions. If he will answer me these, not one of you will surpass him in discussions about Brahma. ' Ask, Gargl/ a. She said: ' As a noble youth of the Kasls or of the Videhas might rise up against you, having strung his unstrung bow and taken two foe-piercing anows in his hand, even so, O Yajnavalkya, have I risen up against you with two questions. Answer me these/ Yajnavalkya said: 6 Ask, Gargi.'

She said: ' That, O Yajnavalkya, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the eaith, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across what is that woven, warp and woof? '

He said: ( That, O Gargi, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across space is that woven, warp and woof/

She said: * Adoration to you, Yajnavalkya, in that you have solved this question for me. Prepare yourself for the other,'

She said: ' That, O Yajnavalkya, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across what is that woven, warp and woof?

He said: ' That, 0 Gargi, which is above the sky, that which is beneath the earth, that which is between these two, sky and earth, that which people call the past and the present and the future — across space alone is that woven, warp and woof.'

He said: * That, O Gargi, Brahmans call the Imperish- able (aksard). It is not coarse, not fine, not short, not long, not glowing [like fire], not adhesive [like water], without shadow and without darkness, without air and without space, without stickiness, (intangible), odorless, tasteless, without eye, without ear, without voice, without wind, without energy,, without breath, without mouth, (without personal or family name, unaging, undying, without fear, immortal, stainless, not uncovered, not covered), without measure, without inside and without outside It consumes nothing soever. No one soever consumes it.

Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the sun and the moon stand apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the earth and the sky stand 1 A Madhyamdma addition. apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable the moments, the hours, the days, the nights, the fortnights, the months, the seasons, and the years stand apart. Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable some livers flow from the snowy mountains to the east, others to the west, in whatever diiection each flows, Verily, O Gargi, at the command of that Imperishable men praise those who give, the gods are desirous of a sacrificer, and the fathers [are desirous] of the Manes-sacrifice.

Verily, O Gargi, if one pei forms sacrifices and worship and undergoes austerity in this world for many thousands of years, but without knowing that Imperishable, limited indeed is that [work] of his. Verily, 0 Gargi, he who departs from this world without knowing that Imperishable is pitiable But, O Gargi, he who departs from this world knowing that Imperishable is a Brahman.

Verily, O Gargi, that Imperishable is the unseen Seer, the unheard Hearer, the unthought Thinker, the ununderstood Understander. Other than It there is naught that sees. Other than It there is naught that hears. Other than It there is naught that thinks. Other than It there is naught that understands. Across this Imperishable, O Gargi, is space woven, warp and woof.'

She said: 'Venerable Brahmans, you may think it a great thing if you escape from this man with [merely] making a bow. Not one of you will surpass him in discussions about Brahma/ Thereupon [Gargi] Vacaknavl held her peace.