Kausitaki Upanishad

1. Brahman won a victory for the gods, and the gods were
triumphing in the victory of brahman. They thought: ‘This
victory is ours’ This triumph is ours!’

2. It knew their thought and appeared before them, but
they did not know what this wonder was.

3. They said to Agni, ‘Jatavedas, find out what this wonder
is.’

‘I will.’

4. He ran up to it, and it spoke to him: ‘Who are you?’
‘I am Agni,’ he said. ‘I am Jatavedas.’

5. ‘Then what power is in you?’

‘I could bum up everything that is on the earth.’

6. It put down a blade of grass before him. ‘Bum this!’

He approached it with all his force but could not bum
it. Then he went back, saying, ‘I have not been able to find
out what this wonder is.’

7. Then they said to Vayu, ‘Vayu, find out what this wonder
is.’

I will.’

8. He ran up to it, and it spoke to him: ‘Who are you?’
I am Vayu,’ he said. ‘I am Matarisvan.’

9. ‘Then what power is in you?’

‘I could carry off everything that is on the earth.’

10. It put down a blade of grass before him. ‘Carry off
this!’

He approached it with all his force but could not carry
it off. Then he went back, saying, ‘I have not been able to
find out what this wonder is.’

11. Then they said to Indra, ‘Maghavan, find out what
this wonder is?

?I will.’

He ran up to it, and it disappeared.

12. In the same space he came upon a most beautiful
woman, Uma Haimavati. He asked her what this wonder
was.