Brihadaranyaka Upanishad — Chapter 3: Adhyaya 3: Yajnavalkya Kanda — The Contest of Sages at King Janaka's Court
92 verses
Verse 1
King Janaka of Videha performed a sacrifice with abundant gifts. The brahmins of the Kuru-Panchala kingdoms had assembled there. King Janaka desired …
Verse 2
He said to them: 'Venerable brahmins, let him among you who is the wisest in Brahman drive these cows home.' None of the brahmins dared. Then Yajnava…
Verse 3
Then Ashvala, the hotri priest of King Janaka of Videha, questioned him: 'Yajnavalkya, since all this is pervaded by death, since all this is overcom…
Verse 4
'By what means does the sacrificer free himself from the reach of the adhvaryu priest?' 'By the adhvaryu, by the eye, by the sun. The eye is indeed t…
Verse 5
'By what means does the sacrificer free himself from the reach of the udgatri priest?' 'By the udgatri, by the breath, by the wind. The breath is ind…