42. Katha Upanishad

Discussion on Verses 4.8 and 4.9 4.8 araṇyoḥ nihitaḥ jātavedāḥ । garbhaḥ iva subhṛtaḥ garbhiṇībhiḥ ॥ dive dive īḍyaḥ । jāgṛvadbhiḥ haviṣmadbhiḥ manuṣyaiḥ agniḥ ॥ etat vai tat The sacred fire [jātavedāḥ agniḥ], hidden within the two fire-sticks [araṇyoḥ nihitaḥ], carefully preserved like an embryo in the womb [garbha iva subhṛtaḥ garbhiṇībhiḥ], worthy of reverence day after day [dive dive īḍyaḥ] by alert and wakeful people carrying offerings [jāgṛvadbhiḥ haviṣmadbhiḥ manuṣyaiḥ]—this indeed is That [etat vai tat]. Like fire hidden in two pieces of wood, carefully protected like an embryo in the womb, Agni, the sacred fire, is worthy of reverence day after day by alert and devoted people. This indeed is That. 4.9 yataḥ ca udeti sūryaḥ astam yatra ca gacchati tam devāḥ sarve arpitāḥ tat u na atyeti kaścana ॥ etat vai tat ॥ From which [yataḥ] the sun rises [sūryaḥ udeti], and into which it sets [astam yatra gacchati], in which all the shining powers of the universe are established [tam devāḥ sarve arpitāḥ], and beyond which nothing whatsoever can go [tat u na atyeti kaścana]—this indeed is That [etat vai tat]. From which the sun rises and into which it sets, in which all the powers of the universe are established, and beyond which nothing can ever go—this indeed is That.