Kena Upanishad comes second among the ten Upanishads (literally meaning ‘sitting near God’). This passage explains that God being not the object of the senses cannot be perceived by them nor be apprehended by the mind.
Passage
He is ear of the ear, mind of the mind, speech of the speech, verily He is life of life and eye of the eye. The wise (on knowing Him) are freed and on departing from this world become immortal.
The eye does not reach there, nor does the speech reach, nor the mind. We do not know, nor comprehend Him, so as to be able to teach or explain Him. He is different from the known and also above the unknown. Thus have we heard from the ancients who have taught Him to us.
Who cannot be expressed by speech, but by whose power speech is uttered, Him alone know thou as God, not this which this speech worships (or expresses).
Who does not think by the mind, but by Whose power the mind thinks, Him alone know thou as God, not this which this mind worships (or thinks about).
Who does not see with eyes, by whose power the eyes see, That alone known thou as God, not this which the eye worships (or sees)
Who does not hear with ear, by whose power that ear hears this, Him alone know thou as God, not this which this ear worships (or hears)
Who does not breathe with breath, by whose power breath is directed; Him alone know thou as God, not this which this Prana worships (or breathes).
Pt. Ganga Prasadji. Kena Upanishad. Sarvadeshik Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, Delhi, 1900.
