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The garden between records

Records in this room

01storyEzekiel · The chariot vision02researchAncient Text Research Kit03storyAt the threshold of Kesh · The temple hymn’s conclusion04storyA Vessel on a White Lotus · Amoghapāśa05storySamuel · The source of the voice06storySpeech that went unheard · Vāk and understanding07storyWind, Dust and the Body · An Incantation of Ningirim08storyMoses · Fire in the bush09storyElijah · After the fire10storyA Voice from the Depths · Jonah11storyJacob · The place he did not know12storyThe empty space · A wheel, a vessel and a room13storyJacob · Tell me your name14storyKena · That through which15storyThe yaksha · Power that is not enough16storyWho knows the beginning · The hymn of origins17storyThe Waters of Nun · Book of the Dead18storyZhuang Zhou · The butterfly dream19storyForm and Emptiness · Heart Sūtra20storyThe Kālāmas · When you know for yourselves21storyThe ending of hostility · Pairs22storyThe cessation of suffering · What can change23storyDiscern and choose · Thought, word and deed24storyMusa · Where the two seas meet25storyThe Plant That Could Not Be Kept · Gilgamesh26storyAfter the Flood · Gilgamesh and Genesis27storyNachiketas · The third boon28storyThe unborn · The body and its dweller29storyA Weapon That Can Be Recalled · Mahābhārata30storyThe Stayed Hand · Abraham and Isaac31storyJob · Before explaining32publicationSuffering is not a required course.33storyAn explanation is not pain relief.34storyWhat Shall I Bring? · Micah and Hosea35storyWho sinned? · A question on the road36storyTo follow · To save and to lose37storyLife within me · No longer I38storyThe transfiguration · A voice from the cloud39storyAre you Elijah? · Three Gospel testimonies40storyWords on the Gates · Deuteronomy41storyElijah and Elisha · On the other side of the Jordan42storyThe seven seals · Who can stand?43storyThe image of the beast · Breath and a name44storyThe river and tree after the end · After the visions of judgment45storyAt the foot of Sumeru · Four mountains46storyMani · The name Maitreya47storyWait here for Maitreya · A dialogue48storyBuddha Mani · The Moon God49storyA place by the water · The garden between records

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The yaksha · Power that is not enough

Kena Upanishad III.1–12; IV.1–9

III.1Brahman won a victory for the gods. In Brahman’s victory the gods became exalted. They thought: “This victory is ours; this glory is ours.”

III.2He knew their thought and appeared before them. They did not understand what this yaksha was.

III.3They said to Agni: “Jatavedas, find out what this yaksha is.” “Yes,” he said.

III.4He hurried to it. It asked: “Who are you?” “I am Agni,” he answered, “I am Jatavedas.”

III.5“What power is in you?” “I can burn everything on earth.”

III.6It laid a blade of grass before him: “Burn this.” Agni rushed at it with all his power, but could not burn it. He returned: “I could not find out what this yaksha is.”

III.7Then they said to Vayu: “Vayu, find out what this yaksha is.” “Yes,” he said.

III.8He hurried to it. It asked: “Who are you?” “I am Vayu,” he answered, “I am Matarishvan.”

III.9“What power is in you?” “I can carry away everything on earth.”

III.10It laid a blade of grass before him: “Carry this away.” Vayu rushed at it with all his power, but could not carry it away. He returned: “I could not find out what this yaksha is.”

III.11Then they said to Indra: “Maghavan, find out what this yaksha is.” “Yes,” he said and hurried to it. But it disappeared before him.

III.12In that same space he encountered a woman of great beauty: Uma, daughter of Himavat. He asked her: “What was this yaksha?”

IV.1She said: “It was Brahman. In Brahman’s victory you became exalted.” It was from her that he learned that it was Brahman.

IV.2Therefore these gods—Agni, Vayu and Indra—seem to surpass the other gods: they came closest to touching it; they were the first to know that it was Brahman.

IV.3Therefore Indra seems to surpass the other gods: he came closest to touching it; he was the first to know that it was Brahman.

IV.4Here is an indication of it: like a flash of lightning, like the blinking of an eye. This is with regard to the deities.

IV.5Now with regard to oneself: the mind seems to go towards it; by means of it, thought remembers it again and again.

IV.6Its name is Tadvana, “that towards which beings strive.” It should be revered as Tadvana. All beings strive towards the one who knows it thus.

IV.7“Sir, tell me the Upanishad.” “You have been told the Upanishad; it is the Upanishad concerning Brahman that we have told you.”

IV.8Austerity, self-control and action are its foundation; the Vedas are all its limbs, and truth is its dwelling.

IV.9Whoever knows it thus shakes off evil and becomes established in the boundless, highest heavenly world; becomes established.

Reading notes

The gods attribute their victory to themselves. The test with a blade of grass reveals the limits of their stated powers: Agni cannot burn it and Vāyu cannot carry it away. A small object is enough to test a large claim.

Indra learns from Umā that the victory belonged to Brahman. The concluding part adds instruction on contemplation and conduct, so the account extends beyond a rebuke to the gods’ self-confidence.

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