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VEDA
thought, the complex polytheistic ritual of the earlier stages of the Vedic tradition fell into disuse, and a way of worship came into favor that was at once less elaborate, morc intimate, and more profound.
"Om! Now, there was Śvetaketu Āruņcya. To him his father said: 'Live the life of a student of sacred knowledge. Verily, my dcar, from our family there is no one unlearned in the Vedas, a Brāhman by connection as it were.' Ile then, having become a pupil at the age of twelve, having studied all the Vedas, returned at the age of twenty-four, conceited, thinking himself learned, proud.
"Then his father said to him: 'Svetaketu, my dear, since now you are conceited, think yourself learned, and are proud, did you also ask for that teaching whereby what has not been heard of becomes heard of, what has not been thought of becomes thought of, what has not been understood becomes understood?'
“ 'How, pray, Sir, is that teaching?'
“Just as, my dear, by one piece of clay everything made of clay may be known (the modification is merely a verbal distinction, a name; the reality is just "clay”)1–just as, my dear, by one copper ornament everything made of copper may be known (the modification is merely a verbal distinction, a name; the reality is just "copper")—just as, my dear, by one nail-scissors everything made of iron may be known (the modification is merely a verbal distinction, a name; the reality is just "iron"); so, my dear, is that teaching.
“ 'Verily, those honored men did not know this; for, if they had known it, why would they not have told me? But do you, Sir, tell me it.'
“'So be it, my dear. ... Bring hither a fig from there.' 1 Or: "every modification being but an effort of speech, a name, and the clay the only reality about it" (vācārambhanam vikaro nämadheyam-myttik-ety eva satyam).
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