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UPANISAD
world, the new generation was turning its whole consideration to that all-transcending, truly supernatural principle from which the forces, phenomena, and divine directors of the natural world proceeded: furthermore, these creative freethinkers were actually finding and making contact with that principle within themselves. Consequently, such intellectual energy as had formerly been devoted to the study and development of a machinery for the mastery of the demonic and divine forces of the cosmos-through an elaborate system of sacrificial propitiation and appeasing incantation-was being diverted inward, where it had just made contact with the supreme lise-force itself. The cosmic energy was being taken at its fountainhead, where it came at its maximum of strength and abundance. As a result, all those secondary, merely derivative streams of energy, which had been dammed, canalized, and put to human use through the magic machinery of priestly ritual, were being left behind. In Indian thought, not only the gods but the whole outer world was dwindling in importance.
"Yajñavalkya," wc rcad, "the great sage, one day caine to Janaka, the magnificent emperor of Videha. And the sage thought that he would not reveal anything she only wished to procure a donation). Ilowever, this same Janaka and Yājñavalkya had talked together on a former occasion, and the sage at that time had granted the emperor a boon. Janaka had begged the liberty of asking, in the future, any question he liked, and Yājñavalkya had acceded to the request. Therefore when the sage now entered upon his audience, Janaka immediately challenged him with a question.
“'Yājñavalkya,' said the emperor, 'what is the light by which man is served?'
“'The light of the sun, O Emperor,' said the sage [still intent on revealing as little as possible]; 'for it is by the light of the sun that man sits down, goes out, works, and comes back home.'
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