Kena Upanishad (Sama Veda)
III-1. It is well-known that Brahman indeed achieved victory for the gods. But in that victory which was Brahman’s the gods revelled in joy.
III-2. They thought, “Ours alone is this victory, ours alone is this glory”. Brahman knew their pride and appeared before them, but they knew not who this Yaksha was.
III-3. They said to Agni: “O Jataveda, know thou this as to who this Yaksha is”. He said “So be it.”
III-4. Agni approached It. It asked him, “Who art thou?” He replied, “I am Agni Jataveda”.
III-5. It said “What is the power in thee, such as thou art?” Agni said “I can burn all this that is upon the earth.”
III-6. For him It placed there a blade of grass and said: “Burn this”. Agni went near it in all haste, but he could not burn it. He returned from there and said “I am unable to understand who that Yaksha is”.
III-7. Then the gods said to Vayu: “O Vayu, know thou this as to who this Yaksha is”. He said “So be it”.
III-8. Vayu approached It. It said to him, “Who art thou?” He replied, “I am Vayu or I am Matarsiva”.
III-9. It said “What is the power in thee, such as thou art?” Vayu said “I can take hold of all this that is upon the earth”.
III-10. For him It placed there a blade of grass and said: “Take this up”. Vayu went near it in all haste, but he could not take it up. He returned from there and said “I am unable to understand who that Yaksha is”.
III-11. Then the gods said to Indra: “O Maghava, know thou this as to who this Yaksha is”. He said “So be it”. He approached It, but It disappeared from him.
III-12. In that space itself where the Yaksha had disappeared, Indra approached an exceedingly charming woman. To that Uma decked in gold (or to the daughter of the Himalayas), he said: “Who is this Yaksha?”
IV-1. She said: “It was Brahman. In the victory that was Brahman’s you were revelling in joy”. Then alone did Indra know for certain that It was Brahman.
IV-2. Therefore, these gods viz. Agni, Vayu and Indra excelled other gods, for they touched Brahman who stood very close and indeed knew first that It was Brahman.
Om Sive
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