466 ON THE VEDAS, 



* He then interrogated J an a, the son of Sar- 

 cara'cshya: " Whom dost thou worship as the 

 soul, O son of Sarcara'cshya?" "The etherial 

 element," said he, " O venerable king !" " Abund- 

 ant is that universal self, whom thou dost worship 

 as the soul; and, therefore, thou likewise dost 

 abound with progeny and wealth. Thou dost 

 consume food; tlwu viewest a favourite object. 

 Whoever worships this, for the universal soul, 

 consumes food, and sets a beloved object; and has 

 religious occupations in his family. But this is 

 only the trunk of soul. Thy trunk had corrupted," 

 said the king, " hadst thou not come to me." 



' He afterwards inquired of Vudila, the son of 

 As'watara'swa : " Whom dost thou worship as 

 the soul, O descendant of Vya'ghrapad?^' " Wa- 

 ter," said he, " O venerable king !" " Rich is 

 that universal self, whom thou dost worship as 

 the soul; and, therefore, art thou opulent and 

 thriving. Thou dost consume food ; thou viewest 

 a favourite object. Whoever worships this, for 

 the universal soul, partakes of similar enjoyments, 

 contemplates as dear an object, and has religious 

 occupations in his family. But this is only the 

 abdomen of the soul. Thy bladder had burst," 

 said the king, " hadst thou not come to me." 



' Lastly, he interrogated I^dda'laca, the son 

 of Arun'a. " Whom dost thou worship as the 

 soul, O descendant of Gotama?" " The earth," 

 said he, " O venerable king!' " Constant is that 

 universal self, whom thou dost worship as tlie 

 soul : and, therefore, thou remainest steady, with 

 offspring and with cattle! Thou dost consume 

 food ; thou viewest a favourite object. Whoever 

 worships this, for the universal soul, shares like 

 enjoyments, and views as beloved an object, and 



