The Web of the Worlds

Yājñavalkya, she said, all this world is woven, warp and woof, upon the waters. On what, then, are the waters woven, warp and woof?

On the wind, Gārgī.

On what is the wind woven, warp and woof?

On the worlds of the middle air, Gārgī.

On what are the worlds of the middle air woven?

On the worlds of the gandharvas, Gārgī.

And so she went on, and he answered her at every step. The worlds of the gandharvas, the musicians of heaven, are woven on the worlds of the sun, and the worlds of the sun on the worlds of the moon, and the worlds of the moon on the worlds of the stars. The worlds of the stars are woven on the worlds of the gods, and the worlds of the gods on the worlds of Indra, king of the gods, and the worlds of Indra on the worlds of Prajāpati, the lord of creatures, and the worlds of Prajāpati on further worlds beyond them.

Then she asked, And on what are those woven, warp and woof?

Gārgī, he said, do not ask too far, or your head will fall off. You are questioning a deity beyond the point where it may be questioned. Gārgī, do not ask too far.

And Gārgī Vācaknavī fell silent.