A Guest at Nidāgha's Door

When a thousand years of the gods had passed, Ṛbhu went to that city to see his pupil. He came at the end of Nidāgha's offering to the gods, and stood where he could be seen from the door. Nidāgha gave him the water of welcome and led him into his house, washed his hands and feet, gave him a seat, and said respectfully: Please eat.

What food is there in your house, best of brahmins? said Ṛbhu. Tell me; I never care for poor food. There is barley meal and barley gruel and cakes in my house, said Nidāgha. Eat whatever you like. That is poor food, brahmin, said Ṛbhu. Give me something sweet, rice cooked in milk, and things made with curds and molasses. Wife, said Nidāgha, make this guest whatever is finest in our house. And his wife, out of respect for her husband's word, prepared sweet food for the brahmin.

When the great sage had eaten as much sweet food as he wanted, Nidāgha stood before him, bowing, and said: Are you satisfied, brahmin, and content? Is your mind at ease after your meal? Where do you live, where are you going, and where have you come from?

Ṛbhu said: A man who is hungry is satisfied when he has eaten. I was never hungry; why do you ask me if I am satisfied? Hunger comes when the fire has used up the earthy part of the body, and thirst when the water is used up. Hunger and thirst belong to the body, not to me; and since hunger never arises in me, I am always satisfied. Ease and contentment belong to the mind. Ask that of the one whose mind it is; the Self is untouched by them.

You ask where I live, where I am going and where I have come from. The Self goes everywhere and fills everything, like space. How can one ask of it where it comes from, where it lives, or where it is going? I do not go and I do not come, and I do not live in any one place. You are not you, and others are not others, and I am not I.

As for sweet and not sweet, I was only testing what you would say. What is sweet or not sweet to one who eats? What is sweet becomes tiresome, and what is not sweet becomes sweet, and men tire of what is sweet. At the beginning, the middle and the end, what food is truly pleasant? As a house of clay stands firm when it is plastered with clay, so this earthy body is held together by earthy atoms, by barley and wheat and beans, ghee and oil and milk and curds and fruit. Knowing this, let your mind, which weighs sweet and not sweet, rest in sameness; for sameness leads to freedom.

When Nidāgha heard these words, full of the highest truth, he bowed down and said: Be gracious to me, and tell me for my good who you are. My delusion has vanished at your words. I am Ṛbhu, your teacher, said Ṛbhu. I came here to give you understanding, and now I will go, for I have told you the highest truth. Know that this whole world is one, without division, the very form of the supreme Self, Vāsudeva. Vāsudeva is a name of the Lord, given him because he dwells in all things and all things dwell in him. So be it, said Nidāgha, bowing, and he honoured him with great devotion, and Ṛbhu went away as he wished.