Svetasvatara Upanishad is a post-Buddhist Upanishad that contains 113 mantras or verses in six chapters. The word Svetasvatara means white mule. It is the earliest textual description of a systematic philosophy of Shaivism. The Svetasvatara Upanishad repudiates the theory of naturalism, which makes svabhava the cause of the universe. The Fourth Chapter of Svetasvatara Upanishad has twenty-two verses that states the Brahman residing in everything present in the universe.
1st - 5th Verse
According to the verses, He the one and undifferentiated, who by the manifold application of His powers produces, in the beginning, different objects for a hidden purpose and, in the end, withdraws the universe into Himself, is indeed the self luminous. That Supreme Self is Lord Agni (Fire); it is Aditya (Sun); it is Vayu (Wind); it is Chandrama (Moon). It is water and it is Virat. He is the woman, man; youth and maiden too. It is the dark blue bee; green parrot with red eyes; thunder, cloud, the seasons and the seas. There is one unborn prakriti, red, white and black which gives birth to many creatures like itself. An unborn individual soul becomes attached to it while another unborn individual soul leaves it after his enjoyment is completed.
6th -10th Verse
According to these verses the jiva whines, bewildered by its weakness but when it beholds the other, the Lord worshipped by all and His glory, it becomes free from grief. One needs to know and understand that indestructible Substance, that akasa like Brahman. Only those who know It attain bliss. The sacred verses, the offerings (yajna), the sacrifices (kratu), the penances (vrata), the past, the future and all that the Vedas declare, have been produced from the imperishable Brahman. Brahman projects the universe through the power of its Maya. One must know that the prakriti is Maya and that Great God is the Lord of Maya.
11th - 15th Verse
By truly realising Him who dwells in prakriti, attains the supreme peace. It is the Brahman that the whole world comes together and dissolves. He is the creator of the gods and the bestower of their powers and supports the universe. He is the sovereign of the gods, in whom the worlds find their support, who rules over all two footed and four footed beings. One must realise him who is the subtler than the subtlest, who is the Creator of all things and is endowed with many forms. By realising Him one attains the supreme peace. He is the custodian of the universe and the sovereign of all. He conceals Himself in all beings as their inner witness.
16th - 22nd Verse
The Brahman is the radiant Deity, the sole ruler of the universe. One who realised him is released from all his fetters. He is the Maker of all things, and dwells always in the hearts of men. They who know Him become immortal. There would be no darkness of ignorance, there is no day or night, neither being nor non being. Then the pure Brahman would alone exist. No one can grasp Him above, across, or in the middle. There is no likeness of Him. His name is Great Glory. Realising Him as abiding in the heart one becomes immortal.
