Two Arrows

Uddālaka Āruṇi questioned Yājñavalkya next, about the thread on which all beings are strung and the inner controller who rules them from within, and he too fell silent. Then Gārgī spoke again, this time to the whole assembly.

Revered brahmins, she said, I will ask him two questions. If he answers them, then not one of you will ever defeat him in speaking of Brahman.

Ask, Gārgī, they said.

She turned to Yājñavalkya. Yājñavalkya, she said, as a warrior's son of Kāśi or of Videha strings his unstrung bow, takes two arrows in his hand that will pierce his enemy, and rises up against him, so I have risen up against you with two questions. Answer them for me.

Ask, Gārgī.

Yājñavalkya, she said, that which is above the sky and below the earth, that which is between the sky and the earth, that which men call past and present and to come: on what is that woven, warp and woof?

Gārgī, he said, that which is above the sky and below the earth, that which is between them, that which men call past and present and to come, is woven, warp and woof, on space.

Homage to you, Yājñavalkya, she said, for you have answered this one for me. Now prepare for the other.

Ask, Gārgī.

She asked him the first question again, word for word, and again he answered, On space alone. Then, on that answer, she put her second question. And on what is space woven, warp and woof?