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BRIHADARANYAKA-UPANISHAD.
ELEVENTH BRAHMANA. 1. This is indeed the highest penance, if a man, laid up with sickness, suffers pain'. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
This is indeed the highest penance, if they carry a dead person into the forest 2. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
This is indeed the highest penance, if they place a dead person on the fire3. He who knows this, conquers the highest world.
TWELFTH BRAHMANA. 1. Some say that food is Brahman, but this is not so, for food decays without life (prâna). Others say that life (prâna) is Brahman, but this is not so, for life dries up without food. Then these two deities (food and life), when they have become one, reach that highest state (i.e. are Brahman). Thereupon Pratrida said to his father : 'Shall I be able to do any good to one who knows this, or shall I be able to do him any harm*?' The father said to him, beckoning with his hand: 'Not so, O Prâtrida; for who could reach the highest state, if he has only got to the oneness of these two ?' He then said to him: Vi;
1 The meaning is that, while he is suffering pain from illness, he should think that he was performing penance. If he does that, he obtains the same reward for his sickness which he would have obtained for similar pain inflicted on himself for the sake of performing penance.
2 This is like the penance of leaving the village and living in the forest.
This is like the penance of entering into the fire. * That is, is he not so perfect in knowledge that nothing can harm him?
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