The yaksha · Power that is not enough · Elias Thorn
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The yaksha · Power that is not enough

Kena Upanishad III.1–12; IV.1–9

III.1 Brahman 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.2 He knew their thought and appeared before them. They did not understand what this yaksha was.

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

III.4 He 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.6 It 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.7 Then they said to Vayu: “Vayu, find out what this yaksha is.” “Yes,” he said.

III.8 He 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.10 It 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.11 Then they said to Indra: “Maghavan, find out what this yaksha is.” “Yes,” he said and hurried to it. But it disappeared before him.

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

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

IV.2 Therefore 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.3 Therefore Indra seems to surpass the other gods: he came closest to touching it; he was the first to know that it was Brahman.

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

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

IV.6 Its 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.8 Austerity, self-control and action are its foundation; the Vedas are all its limbs, and truth is its dwelling.

IV.9 Whoever 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.

English rendering of the Russian working translation, with the same passage boundaries and uncertainties. Yakṣa designates the mysterious being that appears. Tadvana has several proposed etymologies; here it is understood as “that towards which beings strive.”

Open source ↗ (https://texts.wara.in/upanishads/mukhya/kena/)