praśnopaniṣad - prathamaḥ praśnaḥ

The First Question. Salutations to the Supreme Self. Hari Om. Sukesha the son of Bharadvaja, Satyakama the son of Shibi, Sauryayani the grandson of Garga, Kausalya the son of Ashvala, Bhargava of Vidarbha, and Kabandhi the son of Katya—all these were devoted to Brahman, absorbed in Brahman, and in search of the Supreme Brahman. Believing that he would surely explain all this to them, they approached the venerable Pippalada with sacrificial wood in their hands.

The sage said to them, "Dwell with me for another year, practicing penance, continence, and faith. Then you may ask your questions as you wish, and if I know the answers, I will tell you everything."

Then, Kabandhi the son of Katya approached him and asked, "Venerable Sir, from where are all these creatures born?"

To him, the sage replied: The Lord of Creation (Prajapati), desiring offspring, performed penance. Having performed penance, he created a pair—Matter (Rayi) and Life (Prana)—thinking that these two would create various beings for him.

The Sun is indeed Life, and the Moon is Matter; for Matter is all that has form and that which is formless. Therefore, form itself is Matter.

Now, when the Sun rises and enters the eastern direction, he gathers all living beings of the east into his rays. Similarly, when he illuminates the south, the west, the north, the depths below, the heights above, and the intermediate quarters, he gathers all living beings into his rays.

He rises as the universal fire, the Life of all, assuming all forms. Regarding this, there is a verse:

"The Sun rises as the life of all creatures, the one who assumes all forms, the golden one, the knower of all, the ultimate destination, the one light, the heat-giver. Possessing a thousand rays and existing in a hundred forms, he is the life of all living beings."

The year is the Lord of Creation, and it has two paths: the southern and the northern. Those who perform sacrifices and meritorious deeds with the desire for rewards attain the world of the Moon and are reborn. Therefore, those sages who desire offspring follow the southern path. This path of the ancestors is indeed the path of Matter.

But those who seek the Self through penance, continence, faith, and knowledge attain the Sun by following the northern path. This is the dwelling place of the life-forces; it is the immortal, the fearless, and the ultimate refuge. From there, they do not return, for this is the end. Regarding this, there is this verse:

Some say that the Father, possessing five feet and twelve forms, resides in the higher half of heaven, clothed in the waters. Others, however, declare that this Omniscient One is set within a chariot of seven wheels and six spokes.

The month is indeed Prajapati; its dark fortnight is matter (rayi), and its bright fortnight is life (prana). Therefore, those seers who perform sacrifices during the bright fortnight offer them to life, while others offer them during the other.

Day and night are indeed Prajapati; the day is life, and the night is matter. Those who unite in sexual intercourse during the day waste their life-force; truly, it is celibacy that is maintained when one unites during the night.

Food is indeed Prajapati; from it comes the seed, and from that seed are all these creatures born.

Those who follow this vow of Prajapati beget offspring. But theirs is the world of Brahman who practice austerity, celibacy, and in whom truth is firmly established.

For them is that stainless world of Brahman, in whom there is no crookedness, no falsehood, and no deception.