Chapter IV—Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi (I).....brahadaranyak upanishad
1
"Maitreyi, my dear," said Yajnavalkya, "I am going to renounce this life. Let me make a final
settlement between you and Katyayani (his other wife)."
2
Thereupon Maitreyi said: "Venerable Sir, if indeed the whole earth, full of wealth, belonged
to me, would I be immortal through that?" "No," replied Yajnavalkya, "your life would be just
like that of people who have plenty. Of Immortality, however, there is no hope through
wealth."
3
Then Maitreyi said: "What should I do with that which would not make me immortal? Tell
me, venerable Sir, of that alone which you know to be the only means of attaining
Immortality."
4
Yajnavalkya replied: "My dear, you have been my beloved even before, and now you say
what is after my heart. Come, sit down; I will explain it to you. As I explain it, meditate on
what I say."
5
Then Yajnavalkya said: "Verily, not for the sake of the husband, my dear, is the husband
loved, but he is loved for the sake of the self which, in its true nature, is one with the
Supreme Self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the wife, my dear, is the wife loved, but she is loved for the sake
of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the sons, my dear, are the sons loved, hut they are loved for the
sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of wealth, my dear, is wealth loved, but it is loved for the sake of the
self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the brahmin, my dear, is the brahmin loved, but he is loved for
the sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the kshatriya, my dear, is the kshatriya loved, but he is loved for
the sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the worlds, my dear, are the worlds loved, but they are loved for
the sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the gods, my dear, are the gods loved, but they are loved for the
sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the beings, my dear, are the beings loved, but they are loved for
the sake of the self.
"Verily, not for the sake of the All, my dear, is the All loved, but it is loved for the sake of the
self.
"Verily, my dear Maitreyi, it is the Self that should be realized—should be heard of, reflected
on, and meditated upon. By the realization of the Self, my dear—through hearing, reflection,
and meditation—all this is known.
6
"The brahmin rejects one who knows him as different from the Self. The kshatriya rejects
one who knows him as different from the Self. The worlds reject one who knows them as
different from the Self. The gods reject one who knows them as different from the Self. The
beings reject one who knows them as different from the Self. The All rejects one who knows
it as different from the Self. This brahmin, this kshatriya, these worlds, these gods, these
beings, and this All—are that Self.
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Chapter V—Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi (II)
1
Yajnavalkya had two wives: Maitreyi and Katyayani. Of these, Maitreyi was conversant with
the Knowledge of Brahman, while Katyayani had an essentially feminine outlook. One day
Yajnavalkya, when he wished to embrace another mode of life,
2
Said: "Maitreyi, my dear, I am going to renounce this life to become a monk. Let me make a
final settlement between you and Katyayani."
3
Maitreyi said: "Venerable Sir, if indeed the whole earth full of wealth belonged to me, would
I be immortal through that or not?" "No," replied Yajnavalkya, "your life would be just like that of people who have plenty. Of Immortality, however, there is no hope through wealth."
4
Then Maitreyi said: "What should I do with that which would not make me immortal? Tell
me, venerable Sir, of that alone which you know to be the only means of attaining
Immortality."
5
Yajnavalkya replied: "My dear, you have been my beloved even before and now you have
resolved to know what is after my heart. If you wish, my dear, I shall explain it to you. As I
explain it, meditate on what I say."
