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CHAPTER II, 38.
171
the fifth ?; others, likewise, are (masters) of four Vedas; others, too. of three Vedas; others are (masters) of two Vedas, and of one Veda; and others of no Veda. Tell me which of these is the greatest, whom I may know (to be) a Brahmana.
Sanatsugâta said: Through ignorance of the one Veda —the one truth- king of kings! numerous Vedas came into existence. Some only adhere to the truth. The fancies of those who have fallen away from the truth are abortive, and through ignorance of the truth, ceremonies become amplified. One should understand a Brahmana, who (merely) reads much, to be a man of many words. Know him only to be the (true) Brahmana, who swerves not from the truth? O you who are the highest among men ! the Khandas, indeed, refer of themselves' to it. There
'Cl., as to this, Max Müller's Ancient Sanskrit Literature, p. 38 seq.; and Khåndogya, pp. 164, 474, 493; Brihadaranyaka, pp. 456, 687, 926; Maitri, p. 171; Nrisimha Tåpini, p. 105.
The original is 'void of Riks.' The commentators give no cxplanation. Does it mean those who abandon the karma-marga? Heretics who reject all Vedas are scarcely likely to be referred to in this way. Nilakantha's intorpretation of all this is very different. Sec his gloss.
Sankara gives various interpretations of this. Perhaps the best is to take it as meaning knowledge. The one knowledgethe one truth'-would then be like the famous texi-Taittiriya, P. 56– The Brahman is truth, knowledge,' &c.
• For this phrase cf. Gitá, p. 73.
• Those who do not understand the Brahman lose their natural power of obtaining what they wish, and so go in for various ceremonies for various special benefits. Cf. Khåndogya, p. 541; Ghi, p. 47; and p. 184 infra. • Cr. Brihadiranyaka, p. 893.
' Ibid. p. 636. . Literally, highest among bipeds,' a rather unusual expression. • Nilakantha says, “The part of the Vedas which teaches the
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