Chandogya

‘That person who goes about being worshipped in dreams is the Self. It is immortal and fearless. It is Brahman.’ Indra then left happy in mind. But even before he returned to the gods, a doubt arose in his mind - ‘A person may be blind, but when he is dreaming, he is not blind. He may be lame, but when he is dreaming, he is not lame. There may be some defects in his body, but his dream body is not affected by them’.

‘The body may be killed but the other is not killed. Nor is the dream body lame if the body is lame. Nevertheless, in dreams it may seem as if people are killing him; it may seem as if people are chasing him; it may seem as if there is something unpleasant. He may even seem to be weeping. I see nothing good in this’.

Indra returned with fuel in hand. Prajāpati asked - ‘Indra, you left happy in mind. What has made you come back?’ Indra replied - ‘Lord, a person may be blind, but when he is dreaming, he is not blind. He may be lame, but when he is dreaming, he is not lame. There may be some defects in his body, but his dream body is not affected by them’.

‘The body may be killed but the other is not killed. Nor is the dream body lame if the body is lame. Nevertheless, in dreams it may seem as if people are killing him; it may seem as if people are chasing him; it may seem as if there is something unpleasant. He may even seem to be weeping. I see nothing good in this.’ Prajāpati said - ‘Indra, it is so. I will explain the matter to you again. Stay here another thirty-two years.’ Indra lived another thirty-two years there. Then Prajāpati said to him—