AITAREYA I.3.6 • FIFTEEN UPANISHADS

If he had grasped it by hearing, then merely by hearing of food, one would have been satisfied. 6

He tried to grasp it by the skin the sense of touch. He was not able to grasp it by the skin. If he had grasped it by the skin, then merely by touching food, one would have been satisfied. 7

He tried to grasp it by the mind. He was not able to grasp it by the mind. If he had grasped it by the mind, then merely by thinking of food, one would have been satisfied. 8

He tried to grasp it by the generative organ. He was not able to grasp it by the organ. If he had grasped it by the organ, then merely by emitting procreation/secretion, one would have been satisfied. 9

Then he tried to grasp it by the out-breath apana In this context, apana refers to the digestive breath or the vital force that pulls food inward. He finally grasped it. This is the "seizer" of food. This vital breath is that which lives on food. 10

He the Creator/Self thought, "How could this body exist without Me?" He thought, "By which way should I enter it?" He thought, "If speaking is done by the voice, if breathing is done by the breath, if seeing is done by the eye, if hearing is done by the ear, if touching is done by the skin, if thinking is done by the mind, if digesting is done by the out-breath, and if emitting is done by the organ—then who am I?" 11

Having pierced the very top of the head the sagittal suture or 'crown', He entered by that gate. This gate is known as the "Cleft" vidriti. This is the "Place of Bliss" original: "nandanam". For the Self, there are three abodes and three states of sleep These represent the waking, dreaming, and deep sleep states of consciousness: this is an abode, this is an abode, and this is an abode. 12

Once born embodied, He looked around at all created beings. He wondered, "What else here would wish to speak of anything else?" But then He saw this very person Purusha as the all-pervading Brahman. "I have seen this!" He cried. 13

Therefore, His name is Idandra meaning "This-Seeing". Indeed, Idandra is His name. Although His name is Idandra, they call Him Indra cryptically. For the gods seem to love what is cryptic; indeed, the gods love what is cryptic. 14