(1) Om!—This syllable is this whole world. Its further explanation is:— The past, the present, the future—everything is just the word Om. And whatever else that transcends threefold time—that, too, is just the word Om.

(17) Therefore, with the utterance of 'Om,' are the acts of sacrifice, gift and austerity, as enjoined in the scriptures, always begun by the students of Brahman.

(15) Yama said: 'That word (or place) which all the Vedas record, which all penances proclaim, which men desire when they live as religious students, that word I tell thee briefly, it is Om.'

(5) The threefold offspring- of Prajapati — gods, men, and devils (asura)— dwelt with their father Prajapati as students of sacred knowledge (brahviacarya). Having lived the life of a student of sacred knowledge, the gods said: ' Speak to us, Sir/ To them then he spoke this syllable, 'Da.' £ Did you understand? ' ' We did understand/ said they. ' You said to us? ct Restrain yourselves (damyata)? ' ' Yes (Om)! ' said he. « You did understand/

(9) 'From him who perceives all and who knows all, whose brooding (penance) consists of knowledge, from him (the highest Brahman) is born that Brahman, name, form, and matter (food).'

(8) This is the Self with regard to the word Om, with regard to its elements. The elements (mātrā) are the fourths; the fourths, the elements: the letter a, the letter u, the letter m.

(2) It is — as, from a fire laid with damp fuel, clouds of smoke separately issue forth, so, lo, verily, from this great Being (bkutd) has been breathed foith that which is Rig- Veda, Yajur- Veda, Sama-Veda, [Hymns] of the Atharvans and Angirascs, Legend (itihasa), Ancient Lore (pitrand)> Sciences (vidya), Mystic Doctrines (^m^rf), Verses (sloka), Aphorisms (sutra), desert '; so also in all the following similar sentences. Cf. Bnh. 4. 5. 7. 2 A designation of the Atharva-Veda. Explanations (amivydkkydua)> and Commentaries (vyakhyana). From it, indeed, are all these breathed foith. ii. It is — as of all waters the uniting-point is the sea, so of all touches the uniting-point is the skin, so of all tastes the uniting-point is the tongue, so of all smells the uniting-point is the nostrils, so of all forms the uniting-point is the eye, so of all sounds the uniting-point is the ear, so of all intentions (samkalpa) the uniting-point is the mind (manas\ so of all knowledges the uniting-point is the heart, so of all acts (karma) the uniting-point is the hands, so of all pleasures (ananda) the uniting-point is the generative organ, so of all evacuations the uniting-point Is the anus, so of all journeys the uniting-point is the feet, so of all the Vedas the uniting-point is speech. 12,. It is — as a lump of salt cast in water would dissolve right- into the water; there would not be [any] 2 of it to seize forth, as it were (iva), but wherever one may take, it is salty indeed — so, lo, verily, this great Being (bhuta\ infinite, limitless, is just a mass of knowledge (vijnana-ghana). Arising out of these elements (bkuta), into them also one vanishes away. After death there is no consciousness (na pretya samjna *sti). Thus, lo, say I.' Thus spake Yajnavalkya.

(17) "OM, TAT, SAT": this has been taught to be the triple designation of Brahman. By that were created of old the brâhmanas and the Vedas and the sacrifices.

(12) The fourth is without an element, with which there can be no dealing, the cessation of development, benign, without a second. Thus Om is the Self (Ātman) indeed. He who knows this, with his self enters the Self—yea, he who knows this!

(4) It is — as, from a fire laid with damp fuel, clouds of smoke separately issue forth, so, lo, verily, from this great Being (bkuta) has been breathed forth that which is Rig- Veda, Yajur-Veda, Sama-Veda, [Hymns] of the Atharvans and Angi- rases, Legend (itihasa\ Ancient Lore (purana\ Sciences (mdya), Mystic Doctrines (upanisad), Verses (Moka\ Aphorisms (sutra), Explanations (anuuyakhydna), Commentaries (uya- kkyana), sacrifice, oblation, food, drink, this world and the other, and all beings. From it, indeed, have all these been breathed forth.

(8) 'The Brahman swells by means of brooding (penance); hence is produced matter (food); from matter breath, mind, the true, the worlds (seven), and from the works (performed by men in the worlds), the immortal (the eternal effects, rewards, and punishments of works).'

(6) He moves about becoming manifold within the heart where the arteries meet, like spokes fastened to the nave. Meditate on the Self as Om! Hail to you, that you may cross beyond (the sea of) darkness!

(1) Now of works, — That which is called the Body (atman) is their hymn of praise (ttktha), for from it arise (ut-tha) all actions. It is their Saman (chant), for it is the same (sama) as all works. It is their prayer (brahman), for it supports ( Vbhar) all works. Although it is that triad, this Soul (Atman) is one. Although it is one, it is that triad. That is the Im- mortal veiled by the real (satya). Life (prana^ ' breath ') [a designation of the Atman], verily, is the Immortal. Name and form are the real. By them this Life is veiled.