The Gold Beyond the Gold
King Shikhidhvaja, answered by Cudala
King Shikhidhvaja gave away everything and kept the keeper: the little 'mine', the renouncer proudly renouncing. A young sage with strangely familiar eyes undoes him with one question — and when the bowl goes into the river, the veil drops: his teacher wears his lover's face. The tenderest recognition scene in world scripture, sung as a duet by the fire, opening into sunrise: come home — the crown will not defile you; the world is also true.
Mantra
Tat Tvam Asi
Chandogya Upanishad mahavakya
Thou art That — recognition, as only a beloved can say it.
The last possession is the 'mine'.
Lyrics
I gave the treasury to beggars I gave the palace to the wind I kept a bowl, a mat, a fire And kept the keeper hid within A young sage found me in the forest With eyes I almost recognized He asked me, "What have you abandoned If you're still the one who's wise" Throw the bowl into the river Let the last possession go Not the mat, not the fire The little "mine," the quiet "no" Tat Tvam Asi — thou art That The gold beyond the gold And when the young sage dropped the veil My teacher wore my lover's face The truth had walked beside me always Patient as dawn, disguised as grace Come home — the crown will not defile you Come home — the world is also true We'll reign with open hands together And freedom will reign through us too Tat Tvam Asi (Tat Tvam Asi) Tat Tvam Asi (Tat Tvam Asi) Om Shanti... Shanti... Shanti Throw the bowl into the river Let the last possession go Not the mat, not the fire The little "mine," the quiet "no" Tat Tvam Asi — thou art That The gold beyond the gold Open hands... open throne Free
All music and lyrics by Luis Miguel Gallardo. Traditional mantras in the public domain. ℗ & © 2026 World Happiness Press.