[paragraph continues] Him, a man becomes a saint; wandering friars wander forth seeking Him for their world. Understanding this, the ancients desired not offspring: "What is offspring to us who have this Self for this world?" So having departed from desire of sons, from desire of substance, and desire of the world, they went about begging. For desire of sons is desire of substance, desire of substance is desire of the world; these are both desires.

This Self is Nay, Nay: not to be grasped, for He is not grasped; not to be broken, for He is not broken; unclinging, for He clings not; He is not bound, He trembles not, He takes no hurt. One [who knows this] is overcome neither by having done evil for His sake nor by having done good for His sake; he overcomes both; work done and work not done grieve him not.

This is said by a verse:

The Brahman's constant majesty by works
Nor waxes more, nor wanes. This shall he trace;
This known, ill deeds defile him nevermore.

Footnotes

^74:1 Brihad-aranyaka Upanishad, IV. iv. 22-23.

X. THE SPIRIT WITHIN

Then Uddalaka Aruni questioned him.

"Yajnavalkya," said he, "we dwelt among

the Madras, in the house of Patanchala Kapya, . studying sacrifice. He had a wife who was possessed by a spirit ; we asked him who he was, and he answered that he was Kabandha Atharvana, and said to Patanchala Kapya and to the students of sacrifice, "Knowest thou, Kapya, that Thread whereby this world and the world beyond and all creatures are bound together?" "Nay, my lord," said Patanchala Kapya, "I know it not." Then he said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, "Knowest thou, Kapya, that Inward Ruler who rules inwardly this world and the world beyond and all creatures?" "Nay, my lord," said Patanchala Kapya, "I know him not." Then he said to Patanchala Kapya and the students of sacrifice, "Verily, Kapya, he who should know that Thread and that Inward Ruler knows Brahma, knows the worlds, knows the Vedas, knows the creatures, knows the Self, knows the All." This he said to them: this I know. If thou, Yajnavalkya, shalt drive home the Brahman's cows without knowing that Thread and that Inward Ruler, thy head shall split."

"Verily, Gautama, I know that Thread and that Inward Ruler."

"Any man may say, "I know, I know"; but do thou say how thou knowest."

"Truly, Gautama," said he, "the wind is that Thread; for by the wind as thread, Gautama, this world and the world beyond and all creatures are bound together. Therefore, Gautama, they say of a man who has died that his limbs are relaxed; for by the wind as thread, Gautama, were they bound together."

"It is so, Yajnavalkya. Tell of the Inward Ruler."