The fourth valli, opening the second adhyaya, develops the teaching on the eternal Self further. The self-existent Lord made the senses face outward, but the wise turn inward. The key insight is that what is here is also there — whoever sees multiplicity goes from death to death. The thumb-sized person dwelling in the heart is the lord of past and future, blazing like a smokeless flame. The section closes with two analogies: rainwater on mountains disperses and is lost, but pure water poured into pure water remains pure — so the wise person's Self becomes one with Brahman.
The self-existent Lord fashioned the senses to face outward. So a person sees the outer, not the inner Self. But some wise person, longing for immortality, turns the gaze inward and sees the Self within.
परिचीय ते मृत्युप्रोक्तां ब्रह्मविद्यां सनातनीम् । उक्त्वा श्रुत्वा च मेधावी ब्रह्मलोके महीयते ॥ २ ॥
paricīya te mṛtyuproktāṃ brahmavidyāṃ sanātanīm | uktvā śrutvā ca medhāvī brahmaloke mahīyate || 2 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
The foolish go after outward pleasures and fall into the widespread snare of death. The wise, knowing immortality, do not seek anything lasting among the unstable things of this world.
yena rūpaṃ rasaṃ gandhaṃ śabdān sparśāṃś ca maithunān | etenaiva vijānāti kim atra pariśiṣyate etad vai tat || 3 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
That by which one knows form, taste, smell, sound, and touch, and by which one knows what is to be known — what remains here beyond that? This, verily, is That.
यः पूर्वं तपसो जातमद्भ्यः पूर्वमजायत । गुहां प्रविश्य तिष्ठन्तं यो भूतेभिर्व्यपश्यत एतद् वै तत् ॥ ६ ॥
yaḥ pūrvaṃ tapaso jātam adbhyaḥ pūrvam ajāyata | guhāṃ praviśya tiṣṭhantaṃ yo bhūtebhir vyapaśyata etad vai tat || 6 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
That which arose before all things from austerity, which was born before water, which entered the cave of the heart and stands among the elements — whoever sees it through the elements sees it. This, verily, is That.
यायदेव विद्यया यद् वा देव्यादृते विद्ययाऽन्वारम्भे । अदितिर्देवतामयी प्राणेन संभूतो यश्च जायते एतद् वै तत् ॥ ७ ॥
yā yadaiva vidyayā yad vā devyādṛte vidyayā 'nvārambhe | aditir devatāmayī prāṇena saṃbhūto yaś ca jāyate etad vai tat || 7 ||
Simple English
Primary Translation
Aditi, the mother of the gods, who arises through the vital breath and is born along with the beings — who enters the cave of the heart — whoever knows her, knows the truth. This, verily, is That.
Agni, the all-knower, hidden in the fire sticks like an embryo carefully carried, to be worshipped daily by the vigilant who bring offerings — this, verily, is That.
Just as rain falling on rugged mountain terrain runs off in all directions, so one who sees qualities as separate and runs after them disperses and is lost.