(1) Then they [i. e. the gods] said to the Ear: * Sing for us the Udgltha/ ' So be it/ said the Ear, and sang for them. Whatever pleasure there is in the ear, that it sang for the gods; whatever good one hears, that for itself. They [i.e. the devils] knew. 'Verily, by this singer they will overcome us/ They rushed upon it and pierced it with evil. That evil was the improper thing that one hears. This, truly, was that evil.

(1) They said to Speech: c Sing for us the Udgitha. 'So be it/ said Speech, and sang for them. Whatever pleasure there is in speech, that it sang for the gods; what- ever good one speaks, that for itself. They [i. e. the devils] knew: ' Verily, by this singer they will overcome us.' They rushed upon it and pierced it with evil. That evil was the improper thing that one speaks. That was the evil.

(1) Then they [i.e. the gods] said to the In-breath (prana): c Sing for us the Udgitha.' e So' be it/ said the In-breath, and sang for them. Whatever pleasure there is in the in-breath, that it sang for the gods; whatever good one breathes in, that for itself. They [i.e. the devils] knew: 'Verily, by this singer they will overcome us.' They rushed upon it and pierced it with evil That evil was the improper thing thai one breathes in. This, truly, was that evil.

(1) Then they [i.e. the gods] said to the Eye: cSing for us the Udgitha.' cSo be it/ said the Eye, and sang for them. Whatever pleasure there is in the eye, that it sang for the gods; what- ever good one sees, that for itself. They [i.e. the devils] knew: 'Verily, by this singer they will overcome us/ They rushed upon it and pierced it with evil. That evil was the improper thing that one sees. This, truly, was that evil.

(1) Then they [i.e. the gods] said to the Mind: ' Sing for us the Udgltha/ c So be it/ said the Mind, and sang for them. Whatever pleasure there is in the mind, that it sang for the gods, what- ever good one imagines, that for itself. They [i.e. the devils] knew: 'Verily, by this singer they will overcome us/ They rushed upon him and pierced him with evil. That evil was the improper thing that one imagines. This, truly, was that evil. And thus they let out upon these divinities with evil, they pierced them with evil.

(1) Then they [i.e. the gods] said to this Breath in the mouth: ' Sing for us the Udgltha/ They [i.e. the devils] knew: c Verily, by this singer they will overcome us/ They rushed upon him and desired to pierce him with evil. As a clod of earth would be scattered by striking on a stone, even so they were scattered in all directions and perished. Therefore the gods increased, the demons became inferior. He increases with himself, a hateful enemy becomes inferior for him who knows this.

(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/

(0) Oṁ. May we hear what is auspicious with our ears, Deities. May we see what is auspicious with our eyes, Revered Ones. May we enjoy a long life, allotted by the gods, while singing their praises.Oṁ. Peace; peace; peace.

(6) 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.

(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!

(4) ' Let us hear what anybody may have told you,' [con- tinued Yajnavalkya]. c Gardabhivipita Bharadvaja told me: "Brahma, verily, is hearing.'" c As a man might say that he had a mother, that he had a father, that he had a teacher, so did that Bharadvaja say, " Brahma is hearing." For he might have thought, " What can one have who can not hear?" But did he tell you Its seat and support? J < He did not tell me.' £ Forsooth, your Majesty, that is a one-legged [Brahma].' e Verily, Yajnavalkya, do you here tell us.' c Its seat is just hearing; Its support, space. One should worship It as the endless (ananta).' fore, verily, your Majesty, to whatever quarter one goes, he does not come to the end of it, for the quarters of heaven are endless. Verily, your Majesty, the quarteis of heaven are 1 K hearing. Verily, your Majesty, the highest Brahma is hearing. Hearing does not desert him who, knowing this, worships it as such. All things run unto him. He, becoming a god, goes to the gods. c I will give you a thousand cows with a bull as large as an elephant, said Janaka, [king] of Videha. Yajnavalkya replied: ' My father thought that without having instructed one should not accept.'