हिन्दी
Prajāpati once said - ‘The Self is free from sin, free from old age, free from death, free from sorrow, and free from hunger and thirst. It is the cause of desire for Truth and for commitment to Truth. This Self has to be sought for and thoroughly known. The person who has sought for and known the Self attains all worlds and all desires’.
Both the Gods and the Asura's came to know from people what Prajāpati had said. They said - ‘We shall search for that Self, by knowing which we can attain all the worlds and whatever things we desire.’ With this object in view, Indra among the gods and Virocana among the Asura's went to Prajāpati, carrying fuel in their hands. But they did not let each other know their plans.
Both of them spent thirty-two years there living as brahmacarins. One day Prajāpati said to them - ‘For what purpose are you staying here?’ They replied - ‘“The Self is free from sin, free from old age, free from death, free from sorrow, and free from hunger and thirst. It is the cause of desire for Truth and for commitment to Truth. This Self has to be sought for and thoroughly known. The person who has learned about the Self and known it attains all worlds and all desires.”—Sir, this is your message. We wish to know that Self, and this is why we are here’.
Prajāpati said to those two - ‘That which is seen in the eyes is the Self.’ He also said - ‘This Self is immortal and fearless. It is Brahman.’ Then they asked - ‘Lord, we see something when we look in water and again when we look in a mirror. Which is it?’ Prajāpati replied - ‘The Self is seen in all these’.
