जनको ह वैदेहः कूर्चादुपावसर्पन्नुवाच, नमस्तेऽस्तु याज्ञवल्क्य, अनु मा शाधीति; स होवाच, यथा वै सम्राण्महान्तमध्वानमेष्यन् रथं वा नावं वा समाददीत, एवमेवैताभिरुपनिषद्भिः समाहितात्मासि; एवं वृन्दारक आढ्यः सन्नधीतवेद उक्तोपनिषत्क इतो विमुच्यमानः क्व गमिष्यसीति; नाहं तद् भगवन् वेद यत्र गमिष्यामीति; अथ वै तेऽहं तद्वक्श्यामि यत्र गमिष्यसीति; ब्रवीतु भगवानिति ॥ १ ॥
janako ha vaidehaḥ kūrcādupāvasarpannuvāca, namaste’stu yājñavalkya, anu mā śādhīti; sa hovāca, yathā vai samrāṇmahāntamadhvānameṣyan rathaṃ vā nāvaṃ vā samādadīta, evamevaitābhirupaniṣadbhiḥ samāhitātmāsi; evaṃ vṛndāraka āḍhyaḥ sannadhītaveda uktopaniṣatka ito vimucyamānaḥ kva gamiṣyasīti; nāhaṃ tad bhagavan veda yatra gamiṣyāmīti; atha vai te’haṃ tadvakśyāmi yatra gamiṣyasīti; bravītu bhagavāniti || 1 ||
1. Janaka, Emperor of Videha, rose from his lounge and approaching Yājñavalkya said, ‘Salutations to you, Yājñavalkya, please instruct me.’ Yājñavalkya replied, ‘As one wishing to go a long distance, O Emperor, should secure a chariot or a boat, so have you fully equipped your mind with so many secret names (of Brahman). You are likewise respected and wealthy, and you have studied the Vedas and heard the Upaniṣads; (but) where will you go when you are separated from this body?’ ‘I do not know, sir, where I shall go.’ ‘Then I will tell you where you will go.’ ‘Tell me, sir.’
Janaka, Emperor of Videha, etc. As Yājñavalkya knew all aspects of Brahman with their attributes. Janaka gave up his pride of teachership, rose from his lounge,,a particular kind of seat, and approaching Yājñavalkya, i.e. prostrating himself at his feet, said, ‘Salutations to you, Yājñavalkya, please instruct me.’ The word ‘iti’ marks the close of his speech. Yājñavalkya replied, ‘As in the world one wishing to go a long distance should secure a chariot, if he wants to go’by land, or a boat, if he wants to go by water, so have you fully equipped your mind with so many secret names (of Brahman)—by meditating upon Brahman in so many aspects bearing those names. Not only that, you are likewise respected and wealthy, not poor, and you have studied the Vedas and heard the Upaniṣads from teachers. Although you are thus endowed with all glories, you are but in the midst of ṛear owing to the absence of Self-knowledge, i.e. you are far from achieving the object of your life, till yon realise the Supreme Brahman. With all this outfit serving as a boat or chariot, where will you go when you are separated from this body? What will you attain?’ ‘I do not know, sir, where I shall go.’ ‘If thus you do not know where you will go to achieve the object of your life, then I will Hell you where you will go.’ ‘Tell me, sir, if you are gracious to me.’ ‘Listen.’