Note 88 — Chapter II
Reading edition
A few of the questions put and answers given on this occasion may afford some insight into Indian modes of thought.
Q. What is it that maketh the sun rise? Who keep him company? Who causeth him to set? In whom is he established?
A. Brahma maketh the sun rise: the gods keep him company: Dharma causeth him to set: and he is established in truth.
Q. What is that which doth not close its eyes while asleep? What is that which doth not move after birth? What is that without a heart? And what is that which swells with its own impetus?
A. A fish doth not close its eyes while asleep: an egg doth not move after birth: a stone is without a heart: a river swelleth with its own impetus.
Q. What constitutes the way? What hath been spoken of as water? What as food? And what as poison?
A. They that are good constitute the way: space has been spoken of as water: the cow is food: a request is poison.
[To this answer the translator, Babu P. C. Roy, appends the following notes among others. “The crutis speak of the cow as the only food, in the following sense. The cow gives milk. The milk gives butter. The butter is used in Homa. The Homa is the cause of the clouds. The clouds give rain. The rain makes the seeds to sprout forth and produce food. Nilakantha endeavours to explain this in a spiritual sense. There is, however, no need of such explanation here.”]