Deva-Yaksha-Samvada

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(Kena Upanishad)

 

In the fight with the Asuras, the Devas were victorious. The Devas

thought that they did so with their own power and prowess and forgot

that it was divine help which brought victory to them. Lord Brahma

wanted to teach them a lesson. He knew their idea of being puffed up

with vanity and appeared before them in the form of a Yaksha (Great

spirit) the beginning and end of which were not visible. They did not

know Him. They spoke to Agni thus: " O Jataveda! Find out what this

great spirit is " . He said " Yes " . Agni ran up to Brahma and Brahma

said: " Who art thou " ? He replied: " I am verily Agni, I am verily

Jatavedas " . Brahma asked Agni: " What power hast thou? " Agni

replied: " I can even burn whatsoever there is on the earth " . Brahma

placed a blade of grass before Agni and said: 'Burn this'. Agni

approached it with all its power. He could not burn it. Next came

Vayu (the god of wind). Brahma asked Vayu: " What power hast thou? "

Vayu replied: " I can blow away all the universe and all that is on

the earth " . Brahma placed a blade of grass before Vayu and

said: " Blow this away " . Vayu approached it with all his power and was

not able to make it move an inch from its place. Last of all the

chief of the Devas, Indra himself came. But when he reached the spot

he found that the Yaksha had vanished. Indra was in a state of great

dilemma. He was confused and perplexed. When he was thus standing

there, bewildered and ashamed at their defeat, Uma (Haimavati)-the

daughter of Himavan (Himalayas) and the consort of Lord Siva-appeared

before him and revealed to him the real identity of the Yaksha. Then

only Indra knew the 'spirit' to be Brahma. He verily became excellent

before the other gods on account of the grace of the Mother Uma.

 

On account of egoism, you think that you do everything and so you are

bound. Feel that you are an instrument in the hands of God. God works

through your hands, beholds through your eyes, hears through your

ears, smells through your nose. You will be freed from egoism and the

bondage of Karma. You will attain peace and become one with God. This

is the secret of Karma Yoga and Bhakti Yoga.