१ ॥प्राणो ब्रह्मेति ह स्माह कौषीतकिस्तस्य ह वा एतस्य प्राणस्य ब्रह्मणो मनो दूतं वाक्परिवेष्ट्री चक्षुर्गात्रं श्रोत्रं संश्रावयितृ तस्मै वा एतस्मै प्राणाय ब्रह्मण एताः सर्वा देवता अयाचमानाय बलिं हरन्ति तथो एवास्मै सर्वाणि भूतान्ययाचमानायैव बलिं हरन्ति य एवं वेद तस्योपनिषन्न याचेदिति ।तद्यथा ग्रामं भिक्षित्वाऽलब्धोपविशेन्नाहमतो दत्तमश्नीयामिति ।य एवैनं पुरस्तात्प्रत्याचक्षीरंस्त एवैनमुपमन्त्रयन्ते ददाम त इत्येष धर्मो याचतो भवति ।अन्यतस्त्वेवैनमुपमन्त्रयन्ते ददाम त इति ॥ १ ॥
In plain words
"Breath is Brahman" — thus indeed said Kauṣītaki. Of this breath which is Brahman the mind is the messenger, speech the housekeeper, the eye the guard and the ear the announcer. To this breath which is Brahman all these deities bring tribute though it does not ask; and so too all beings bring tribute to him though he does not ask, who knows thus. His secret rule is: let him not ask. It is as when a man has begged through a village and, having got nothing, sits down saying, "I will not eat what is given from here." Then those very people who refused him before invite him, saying, "Let us give to thee." Such is the way with one who does not ask. But those who give food still invite him, saying, "Let us give to thee."