control. Though destitute of understanding, he
still regards himself as endued therewith, and though
transcending the (four and twenty) topics, regards
himself as one included among them. Though deathless,
he still regards himself as liable to death, and though
motionless regards himself to be endued with motion.
Though not possessed of a material case, he still regards
himself as possessed of one; and though unborn, he
still regards himself as in-vested with birth.
Though transcending penances, he still regards as
engaged in penances, and though he has no end (after
which to strive), he still regards himself as liable
to attain to ends (of diverse kinds). Though
not endued with motion and birth, he still regards
himself as endued with both, and though transcending
fear, still regards himself as liable to fear.
Though Indestructible, he still regards himself Destructible.
Invested with Ignorance, the Soul thus thinks of himself.”
“’Vasishtha said, ’It is thus, in
consequence of his Ignorance and his association with
others that are invested with Ignorance, that Jiva
has recourse to millions and millions of births every
one of which has dissolution in the end. In consequence
of his transformation into Chit invested with Ignorance,
Jiva betakes himself to millions of abodes one of
which is liable to end in destruction, among intermediate
beings and men and the deities. In consequence
of Ignorance, Jiva, like Chandramas, has to wax and
wane thousands and thousands of times. This is
truly the nature of Jiva when invested with ignorance.
Know that Chandramas has in reality full sixteen portions.
Only fifteen of these are subject to increase and
decrease. The sixteenth (i.e., that portion which
remains invisible and which appears on the night of
the New-moon) remains constant. After the manner
of Chandramas, Jiva too has full sixteen portions.
Only fifteen of these, (viz., Prakriti with Chit’s
reflection, the ten senses of knowledge and action,
and the four inner faculties) appear and disappear.
The sixteenth (viz., Chit in its purity) is subject
to no modification. Invested with Ignorance, Jiva
repeatedly and continually takes birth in the fifteen
portions named above. With the eternal and immutable
portion on Jiva primal essence become united and this
union takes place repeatedly. That sixteenth portion
is subtile. It should be known as Soma (eternal
and immutable). It is never upheld by the senses.
On the other hand, the senses are upheld by it.
Since those sixteen portions are the cause of the
birth of creatures, creatures can never, O monarch,
take birth without their aid. They are called
Prakriti. The destruction of Jiva’s liability
to be united with Prakriti is called Emancipation.
The Mahat-Soul, which is the twenty-fifth, if it regards
that body of sixteen portions called the Unmanifest,[1617]
has to assume it repeatedly. In consequence of
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