Then Kausalya Ashvalayana asked: Revered one, from where is this Prana born? How does it come into this body? Having divided itself, how does it settle? By what means does it depart? How does it relate to what is outside? And how to what is within?
Browse topics
Source
- Tradition
- Hindu
- Source text
- Prashna Upanishad
- Chapter
- Prashna Upanishad
- Verse / page
- PrU.3.1
- Topics
- KnowledgeSelf-KnowledgeBody
Same theme, different voices
One attains Perfect Knowledge when one sees God in man.
We have been given this human life to understand the all-pervading, omnipresent God. This knowledge can only be given by someone who has themselves realized God. Life becomes truly happy only after meeting such a God-realized person.
Because you desired wisdom above all else, and did not ask for victory over your enemies, or riches, or long life, I will give you not only the wisdom you asked for to rule my people righteously, but also the things you did not ask for: riches, wealth, and glory, so that there will be no king like you before or after you.
There are two ways: one of knowledge and one of action. Action without knowledge, although it may be good, is ignorant and imperfect, but knowledge, even if it be unaccompanied by action, is glorious and noble.