Chapter-VI
After that, Sukesa – the one hailing from the family of Bharadwaja, asked the sage Pippalaada this: “O Sir! The King of Kosala, by name Hiranyanaabha, approached me and asked if I know the Supreme One, who possesses the sixteen rays (detailed later in the paragraphs below). I told him that I do not know the answer to his question, and also that, if I were aware of that, I would have definitely explained it to him. I dare not speak lies since I know that any one who lies, will be destroyed and ruined. He left silently from my place. Now I am here to ask you the same question that he asked me. Please tell me who is that Supreme Being.”
To his question, the sage replied thus: “O wise one! That Supreme Being, who is the possessor of sixteen rays (of power), he resides within this very body itself.”
“That Supreme Being (who possesses sixteen rays) thought thus: “By the exhaust of which force will I be exhausted out of this body? By the establishment of which force will I be established (back) in this body?””
“Having thought thus, the Supreme Being (Iswara), created the Hiranya Garbha, or the Praanan, which is the life root of all beings. From the Praana, he created the Sraddha, the space, the air, the fire, the waters, the earth, the senses, the mind, and the food, and from the food, valour (or the Semen), the meditation, the mantras, the rituals, the worlds and from the worlds he created the names thereof.”
“In as much the same way that these rivers flow towards the ocean, reach it and become one with the waters of the Ocean, losing their names and separate identities, and are called by the name of the Ocean itself, the sixteen rays of the seer (or the living human) flow towards the Supreme Being, reach Him and become one with Him, lose their names and identities, and are referred by the same name as that of the Supreme Being. Having reached that stage, he is devoid of the sixteen rays and attains the state of immortality.”
“O dear disciples! Understand that Supreme Being in whom all the sixteen rays are established like how the spokes are established in a wheel. On understanding Him, you will remain undisturbed by the fear of death. (If you do not understand Him, you will be exposed to all the material disturbances, worries and the fear of death.)”
The sage went on further to his disciples: “I understood this Supreme Being as this only. There is nothing more to know above this.”
The disciples (having learnt their lessons fully well and having had their doubts clarified) praised and thanked their Guru and said unto him: “You are our father since you saved us from being washed away by the floods of ignorance, by imparting knowledge and enlightening our souls. Our praises to thee and to all the wise ones; Our praises to thee and to all the wise ones !!”
Om! O Devas! May we hear only the good with our ears; O the ones to be worshipped! May we see only the good with our eyes; may we have strong limbs and bodies, which will enable us to pray and worship the Devas. May we live unto such time the Devas feel we should live. May the Lord Indra, of great fame, shower some grace and good on us. May the Lord Surya (the Sun God), the knower of all, shower some grace and good on us. May the Lord Garuda, who has an unfettered clear path (to liberation), shower some grace and good on us. May the Lord Brhaspati shower some grace and good on us.
Om Shanti ! Shanti ! Shanti !