हिन्दी
Om! He who knows what is the oldest and greatest becomes the oldest and greatest among his kinsmen. The vital breath (prana) is indeed the oldest and greatest. He who knows this becomes the oldest and greatest among his kinsmen and also among those of whom he wishes to be so.
He who knows what is the most excellent (vasishtha) becomes the most excellent among his kinsmen. The organ of speech is indeed the vasishtha. He who knows this becomes the most excellent among his kinsmen and also among those of whom he wishes to be so.
He who knows what has the attribute of steadiness (pratishtha) lives steadily in rough as well as smooth places and times. The eye indeed is endowed with steadiness, for with the help of the eye one remains steady in rough as well as smooth places and times. He who knows these lives steadily in rough as well as smooth places and times.
He who knows prosperity (sampad) attains whatever object he desires. The ear indeed is prosperity, for when the ear is intact all the Vedas are acquired. He who knows this attains whatever object he desires.
He who knows the abode (ayatana) becomes the abode of his kinsmen and also of other people. The mind indeed is the abode. He who knows this becomes the abode of his kinsmen as well as of other people.
He who knows what has the attribute of procreation (prajati) is enriched with children and animals. Semen verily has this attribute. He who knows this is enriched with children and animals.
These organs, disputing about who was superior among them, went to Prajapati and asked - "Which one among us is the most excellent (vasishtha)?" He said - "That one among you is the most excellent by whose departure this body is considered to suffer most."
The organ of speech departed. After being absent for a whole year it came back and said - "How have you been able to live without me?" The other organs said - "We lived just as dumb people live, without speaking through the tongue, but living through the vital breath, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear, knowing through the mind and procreating through the organ of generation." Then the organ of speech entered the body.
The eye departed. After being absent for a whole year it came back and said - "How have you been able to live without me?" The other organs said - "We lived just as blind people live, without seeing through the eye, but living through the vital breath, speaking through the organ of speech, hearing through the ear, knowing through the mind and procreating through the organ of generation." Then the eye entered the body.
The ear went out. After being absent for a whole year it came back and said - "How have you been able to live without me?" The other organs said - "We lived just as deaf people live, without hearing through the ear, but living through the vital breath, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, knowing through the mind and procreating through the organ of generation." Then the ear entered the body.
The mind went out. After being absent for a whole year it came back and said - "How have you been able to live without me?" The other organs said - "We lived just as idiots live, without knowing through the mind, but living through the vital breath, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear and procreating through the organ of generation." Then the mind entered the body.
Then the organ of generation (genitals) went out. After being absent for a whole year it came back and said: "How have you been able to live without me?" The other organs said - "We lived just as impotent people live, without procreating children through the organ of generation, but living through the vital breath, speaking through the organ of speech, seeing through the eye, hearing through the ear and knowing through the mind." Then the organ of generation entered the body.
Then as the vital breath was about to depart, it uprooted the organs from their places just as a great, noble horse of the Sindhu country tears up the pegs to which his feet are tied. They said - "Venerable Sir, please do not go out. We shall not be able to live without you." (Prana) "If I am such, then give me an offering." (organs) "So be it."
The organ of speech said - "That attribute of being most excellent which I possess is yours." The eye said - "That attribute of steadiness which I possess is yours." The ear said - "That attribute of prosperity which I possess is yours." The mind said - "That attribute of being an abode which I possess is yours. The organ of generation said - "That attribute of procreation which I possess is yours." Then the vital breath said - "If I am such, then what will be my food and what will be my dress?" They replied - "Whatever food there is, including that of dogs, worms, insects and moths, will be your food and water will be your dress." He who knows the food of the vital breath to be such never happens to eat anything or accept anything that is not food. Wise men who are versed in the Vedas therefore take a sip of water Just before and after eating; they think that thereby they remove the nakedness of the vital breath.
