(chief) indication. Thus have I declared to you
the paths leading to the deities. They are adopted
by those that are good and wise by their acts.
Those paths are the causeways of piety. That
person of rigid vows who adopts any one of these modes
separately, always succeeds in time to understand
the production and destruction of all creatures.
I shall now declare, accurately and with reasons,
the elements which reside in parts in all objects.
The great soul, the unmanifest, egoism (consciousness
of identity), the ten and one organs (of knowledge
and action), the five great elements, the specific
characteristics of the five elements,—these
constitute the eternal creation. The number of
elements has been said to be four and twenty, and
one (more). That person of wisdom who understands
the production and destruction of all these elements,
that man among all creatures, never meets with delusion.
He who understands the elements accurately, all the
qualities, all the deities, succeeds in cleansing
himself of all sin. Freed from all bonds, such
a man succeeds in enjoying all regions of spotless
purity.’"[103]
“Brahma said, ’That which is unmanifest,
which is indistinct, all-pervading, everlasting, immutable,
should be known to become the city (or mansion) of
nine portals, possessed of three qualities, and consisting
of five ingredients. Encompassed by eleven including
Mind which distinguishes (objects), and having Understanding
for the ruler, this is an aggregate of eleven.[104]
The three ducts that are in it support it constantly.
These are the three Nadis. They run continually,
and have the three qualities for their essence:
Darkness, Passion, and Goodness. These are called
the (three) qualities. These are coupled with
one another. They exist, depending on one another.
They take refuge in one another, and follow one another.
They are also joined with one another. The five
(principal) elements are characterised by (these) three
qualities. Goodness is the match of Darkness.
Of Goodness the match is Passion. Goodness is
also the match of Passion, and of Goodness the match
is Darkness. There where Darkness is restrained,
Passion is seen to flow. There where Passion
is restrained, Goodness is seen to flow. Darkness
should be known to have the night (or obscurity) for
its essence. It has three characteristics, and
is (otherwise) called Delusion. It has unrighteousness
(or sin) also for its indication, and it is always
present in all sinful acts. This is the nature
of Darkness and it appears also as confined with others.
Passion is said to have activity for its essence.
It is the cause of successive acts. When it prevails,
its indication, among all beings, is production.
Splendour, lightness, and faith,—these
are the form, that is light, of Goodness among all
creatures, as regarded by all good men. The true
nature of their characteristics will now be declared
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