A new approach to the Vedas : an essay in translation and exegesis

PORTIONS OF THE MAITRI UPANISAD

Heart, consuming food, is that same numinous Solar Fire that is spoken of as all-consuming Time.

What is the Lotus and of what modality (-maya)? This Lotus is verily the same as Space.*® These four airts and inter-airts are its surrounding petals.

These twain, the Spirit and the Supernal-Sun go forth towards each other. One should laud them with that Imperishable-Word OM, with the Utterances, Bhir, Bhuvas, Svar, and with the Savitri, “ That Fiery-Energy of Savitr, be ours the vision of that Angel's glory, may He incite our Understanding.’’*°

There are verily two forms of Brahman: in a likeness (mérvta) and imageless (amirta). Now the That which is in a likeness is contingent (asatya): the That which is imageless, essential (satya) Brahman, Light.*t That Light is the Supernal-Sun.

He verily became with OM as Self. He assumed a Trinity (tvedha): for the OM has three factors, and it is by these that “‘ the whole world is woven, warp and woof, on Him.” As it has been said, “ Beholding that the Supernal-Sun is OM, unify therewith thyself.”

And as it has been said, again: “‘ Now, verily, the Chant (udgitha) is the Rune (pranava), and the Rune is the Chant; that is indeed the Supernal-Sun, he is the Chant, he OM. Thus it says: “The Chant is the Rune, the Inductor (pranetva), image-bearing-light (bha-ripa), sleep-

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