na vā are patyuḥ kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya patiḥ priyo bhavati | na vā are jāyāyai kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya jāyā priyā bhavati | na vā are putrāṇāṁ kāmāya putrāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya putrāḥ priyā bhavanti | na vā are vittasya kāmāya vittaṁ priyaṁ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya vittaṁ priyaṁ bhavati | na vā are brahmaṇaḥ kāmāya brahma priyaṁ bhavati, ātmanas tu kāmāya brahma priyaṁ bhavati | na vā are kṣatrasya kāmāya kṣatraṁ priyaṁ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya kṣatraṁ priyaṁ bhavati | na vā are lokānāṁ kāmāya lokāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya lokāḥ priyā bhavanti | na vā are devānāṁ kāmāya devāḥ priyā bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya devāḥ priyā bhavanti | na vā are bhūtānāṁ kāmāya bhūtāni priyāṇi bhavanty ātmanas tu kāmāya bhūtāni priyāṇi bhavanti | na vā are sarvasya kāmāya sarvaṁ priyaṁ bhavaty ātmanas tu kāmāya sarvaṁ priyaṁ bhavati | ātmā vā are draṣṭavyaḥ śrotavyo mantavyo nididhyāsitavyo maitreyy ātmano vā are darśanena śravaṇena matyā vijñānenedaṁ sarvaṁ viditam |
(Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad: 2.4.5; cited in Bhakti Sandarbha: 7)
“Truly, not for the sake of love for the husband is the husband dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā [alt., ātmā] the husband is dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for the wife is the wife dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā the wife is dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for sons are sons dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā sons are dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for wealth is wealth dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā wealth is dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for the brāhmaṇa is the brāhmaṇa dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā the brāhmaṇa is dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for the kṣatriya is the kṣatriya dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā the kṣatriya is dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for the worlds are the worlds dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā the worlds are dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for the devas are the devas dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā the devas are dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for living beings are living beings dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā living beings are dear. Truly, not for the sake of love for all are all dear. Rather, for the sake of love for the Ātmā all are dear. Truly, the Ātmā is to be seen, [that is,] to be heard about, to be contemplated, and to be deeply meditated upon. O Maitreyī, truly, by seeing, [that is,] by hearing, reflecting upon, and realizing the Ātmā, everything becomes known.”
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