Bhrguvallī (Bhrgu)

Section 3.1 — Bhrgu Approaches His Father

Bhrgu the well known son of Varuna approached his father, Varuna and requested: ‘O revered Sir, teach me Brahman.’ Varuna said, thus to him (Bhrgu): Food, Prana, the eyes, the ears, the mind and the speech are Brahman. To him (Bhrigu) he Varuna again said: ‘Crave to know well that from which these beings are born; that by which, having been born, these beings live and continue to exist; and that into which, when departing, they all enter. That is Brahman.’ He, Bhrgu performed penance; and after having done penance…

Section 3.2 — Food as Brahman

Bhrgu learnt that Food is Brahman because it is from food that all these beings are born; by food when born, do they live, and having departed, into food they enter. Having known that, he approached his father Varuna and said: ‘Revered Sir, teach me Brahman.’ Varuna told him: ‘By deep thinking (Tapas) seek thou to know Brahman. Tapas is Brahma. He performed Tapas and having performed Tapas…

Section 3.3 — Prana as Brahman

Bhrgu understood that Prana is Brahman; because it is from Prana alone that all these living beings are born; having been born from it, they live by it and (in the end) on departing they go towards Prana and become one with it. Having known that he approached his father again saying: ‘Revered Sir, instruct me about Brahman.’ Varuna told him: ‘Desire to know Brahman by Tapas. Tapas is Brahman.’ He performed Tapas and having performed Tapas…

Section 3.4 — Mind as Brahman

Bhrgu understood that Mind is Brahman; because it is from the Mind that all these living beings are born; having been born from it, they live by it and (in the end) on departing they enter into Mind and become one with it. Having known that he approached his father again saying: ‘Revered Sir, instruct me about Brahman.’ Varuna told him: ‘Desire to know Brahman by Tapas. Tapas is Brahman.’ He performed Tapas and having performed Tapas…

Section 3.5 — Intelligence as Brahman

Bhrgu understood that Intelligence is Brahman; because it is from Intelligence that all these living beings are born; having been born from it, they live by it and (in the end) on departing they enter into Intelligence and become one with it. Having known that he approached his father again saying: ‘Revered Sir, instruct me about Brahman.’ Varuna told him: ‘Desire to know Brahman by Tapas. Tapas is Brahman.’ He performed Tapas and having performed Tapas…

Section 3.6 — Bliss as Brahman

Bhrgu understood that Bliss is Brahman; because it is from Bliss that all these beings are produced and by bliss do these beings live. They go to bliss on departing and become one with it. Having known that he approached his father again saying: ‘Revered Sir, instruct me about Brahman.’ Varuna told him: ‘Desire to know Brahman by Tapas. Tapas is Brahman.’ He performed Tapas and having performed Tapas…

Section 3.7 — Meditation on Food as Brahman

Do not blashpheme food, that shall be your vow. Prana is food. Body is the eater of food. The body is fixed in Prana. The Prana is fixed in the body. Thus food is fixed in food. He who knows that food is fixed in food, becomes one with Brahman. He becomes possessed of food and he becomes the eater of food. He becomes great in progency, in cattle wealth and in the splendor of Brahmana-hood. He becomes great in fame.

Section 3.8 — Water as Food

Do not reject food, that shall be your vow. Water is food. Fire is the food-eater. Fire is fixed in water. Water is fixed in fire. So food is fixed in food. He who knows that food is fixed in food, stands forever, established well. He becomes the possessor of food and he becomes the eater of food. He becomes great in progency, in cattle wealth and in the splendor of Brahmana-hood. He becomes great in fame.

Section 3.9 — Earth as Food

Accumulate plenty of food, that shall be your vow. The Earth is food. Akasha is the food-eater. In the Earth is fixed the Akasha. In the Akasha is fixed the Earth. So food is fixed in food. He who knows that food is fixed in food, stands forever, established well. He becomes the possessor of food and he becomes the eater of food. He becomes great in progency, in cattle wealth and in the splendor of Brahmana-hood. He becomes great in fame.

Section 3.10 — The Supreme Meditation and Realization

Do not turn away anyone who seeks shelter and stay. This is the vow. Let one therefore, acquire plenty of food by any means whatsoever. They should say: ‘Food is ready.’ If the food is prepared in the best manner, the food is givn to him (the guest) also in the best manner. If the food is prepared in the medium manner, food is also given to him in the medium manner. If food is prepared in the lowest manner, the same food is also given to him in the lower manner. he who knows thus, will obtain all the rewards as mentioned above.

The Supreme resides in speech as ‘well-being’; in Prana and Apana as acquirer and preserver; in the hands as actions, in the legs as movement, in the anus as the activity of excretion. Thus is the meditation of Brahman in respect of man. Now follows the meditation upon the Adhidivika; as satisfaction in the rain, as power in the lightning;

As fame in the cattle, as light in the stars, as offspring, immortality, and joy in the organs of procreation, and as all in the Akasha. Let him meditate on the Supreme as support; he becomes well-supported. Let one worship It as mind; he becomes thoughtful.

Let him worship That as Namah (obeisance); to him all desires shall come to pay homage. Let him meditate upon That as the Supreme; he comes to supremacy in life. Let him contemplate upon That as the ‘destructive aspect’ of Brahman; all those enemies who hate him and those rivals whom he does not like ‘die around him’. The reality in the core of man and the Reality which is in the Sun are one.

He who knows this, on leaving this world, first attains this Atman made of food, next attains this Atman made of Prana, next this Atman made of mind, next this Atman made of Buddhi and lastly this Atman made of Bliss. And thereafter, eating what he likes, and assuming any form according to his wishes, he roams upon the face of this globe and sits singing the following Sama song of joy.

Haaavu, Haaavu, Haaavu

I am the food, I am the food, I am the food. I am the eater of food, I am the eater of food, I am the eater of food. I am the author of the Shloka. I am the author of the Shloka. I am the author of the Shloka. I am the first born (Hiranyagarbha) of the True (of the Eternal and the immortal). I am the center of immortality, prior to the Gods. whoever gives me, he surely does save thus. I am the food that eats him who eats food. I have conquered all, in this world. I am luminous like the sun. He who knows thus (also attains the aforesaid results).

This is the Upanishad.