Om \ Verily, he who knows the chiefest and best, becomes the chiefest and best of his own [people]. Breath (prdna\ verily, is chiefest and best. He who knows this becomes the chiefest and best of his own [people] and even of those of whom he wishes so to become. 5 A parallel passage in simpler form is Chand. 5.1. 1-5,

Verily, he who knows the most excellent becomes the most excellent of his own [people]. Speech, verily, is the most excellent. He who knows this becomes the most excellent of his own [people] and even of those of whom he wishes so to become.

Verily, he who knows the firm basis (prati-stha) has a firm basis (verb prati-stkd) on even ground, has a firm basis on rough ground. The Eye, verily, is a firm basis, for with the eye both on even ground and on rough ground one has a firm basis. He has a firm basis on even ground, he has a firm basis on rough ground, who knows this.

Verily, he who knows attainment — for him, indeed, is attained what wish he wishes. The Ear, verily, is attainment, for in the ear all these Vedas are attained. The wish that he wishes is attained for him who knows this.

Verily, he who knows the abode becomes the abode of his own [people], an abode of folk. The Mind, verily, is an abode. He becomes an abode of his own [people], an abode of folk, who knows this.

Verily, he who knows procreation (prajatf) procreates himself with progeny and cattle. Semen, verily, is procreation. He procreates himself with progeny and cattle, who knows this. The contest of the bodily functions for superiority, and the supremacy of breath l

These vital Breaths (prand), disputing among themselves on self-superiority, went to Brahma. Then they said: ' Which of us is the most excellent? ' Then he said: ' The one of you after whose going off this body is thought to be worse off, he is the most excellent of you.

Speech went off. Having remained away a year, it came back and said: c How have you been able to live without me?' They said: 'As the dumb, not speaking with speech, but breathing with breath, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, procreating with semen. Thus have we lived.' Speech entered in.

The Eye went off. Having remained away a year, it came back and said: ' How have you been able to live without me?' They said: ' As the blind, not seeing with the eye, but breathing with breath, speaking with speech, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind, procreating with semen. Thus have we lived.' The eye entered in.

The Ear went off. Having remained away a year, it came back and said: l How have you been able to live without me?J They said: 'As the deaf, not hearing with the ear, but breathing with breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, knowing with the mind, procreating with semen. Thus have we lived.' The ear entered in.

The Mind went off. Having remained away a year, it came back and said: ' How have you been able to live without me?' They said: ' As the stupid, not knowing with the mind, but breathing with breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, procreating with semen. Thus have we lived.' The mind entered in. 12,. The Semen went off. Having remained away a year, it came back and said: ' How have you been able to live without me? ' They said: ' As the emasculated, not procreating with semen, but breathing with breath, speaking with speech, seeing with the eye, hearing with the ear, knowing with the mind. Thus have we lived.' The semen entered in.

Then Breath was about to go off. As a large fine horse of the Indus-land might pull up the pegs of his foot- tethers together, thus indeed did it pull up those vital breaths together. They said: ' Sir, go not off! Verily, we shall not be able to live without you! ' ' If such I am, make me an offering/ < So be it.'

Speech said: ' Verily, wherein I am the most excellent, therein are you the most excellent/ ' Verily, wherein I am a firm basis therein are you a firm basis/ said the eye. c Verily, wherein I am attainment, therein are you attain- ment,' said the ear. said the mind. ( Verily, wherein I am procreation, therein are you procrea- tion/ said the semen. f If such I anij what is my food? what is my dwelling? ' flying insects — that is your food. Water is your dwelling/ Verily, what is not food is not eaten; what is not food is not taken by him who thus knows that [i.e. water] as the food (anna) of breath (ana). Those who know this, who are versed in sacred learning (srotriya), when they are about to eat, take a sip; after they have eaten, they take a sip. So, indeed, they think they make that breath (ana) not naked (anagna).