याज्ञवल्क्येति होवाच, यदिदं सर्वं मृत्योरन्नम्, का स्वित्सा देवता यस्या मृत्युरन्नमिति; अग्निर्वै मृत्युः, सोऽपामन्नम्, अप पुनर्मृत्युं जयति ॥ १० ॥
yājñavalkyeti hovāca, yadidaṃ sarvaṃ mṛtyorannam, kā svitsā devatā yasyā mṛtyurannamiti; agnirvai mṛtyuḥ, so’pāmannam, apa punarmṛtyuṃ jayati || 10 ||
10. ‘Yājñavalkya,’ said he, ‘since all this is the food of death, who is that god whose food is death?’ ‘Fire is death; it is the food of water. (One who knows thus) conquers further death.’
When the topic of the Grahas and Atigrahas (organs and objects) was concluded, Ārtabhāga spoke again. ‘Yājñavalkya’ said he,, ‘since all this manifested universe is the food of death—everything is born and imperilled, being swallowed by death in the form of the Grahas and Atigrahas—who is that god whose food is death even?’—for another Śruti says, ‘Whose sauce is death’ (Ka. II. 25). The intention of the questioner is this: If Yājñavalkya mentions the death of death, it will lead to a regressus in infinitum. If, on the other hand, he does not mention it, liberation from this death in the form of the Grahas and Ati-grahas will be impossible. For liberation can take place only when this form of death is destroyed, and this last would be possible if there be the death of death even. Hence, considering the question unanswerable, he asks, ‘Who is that god?’
(Yājñavalkya said): There is the death of death.
Objection: This will lead to a regressus in infinitum, since that death too may have its death.
Reply: No, because you cannot conceive another destroyer for that which is the death of all.
Objection: How do you know that there is the death of death?
Reply: We see it. Fire, for instance, is the death of all, being a destroyer. But it is swallowed by water; hence it is the food of water. So believe that there is the death of death, and it swallows all the Grahas and Atigrahas. When these fetters are destroyed—swallowed by that death—liberation from relative existence becomes possible, for it has already been said that the Grahas and Atigrahas are the fetters. So it is clear that we can get rid of these; hence our efforts to get rid of bondage are fruitful. Therefore (one who knows thus) conquers further death.