Chapter 305

“‘Vasishtha said, ‘It is thus, in consequence of his Ignorance and hisassociation with others that are invested with Ignorance, that Jiva hasrecourse to millions and millions of births every one of which hasdissolution in the end. In consequence of his transformation into Chitinvested with Ignorance, Jiva betakes himself to millions of abodes oneof which is liable to end in destruction, among intermediate beings andmen and the deities. In consequence of Ignorance, Jiva, like Chandramas,has to wax and wane thousands and thousands of times. This is truly thenature of Jiva when invested with ignorance. Know that Chandramas has inreality full sixteen portions. Only fifteen of these are subject toincrease and decrease. The sixteenth (i.e., that portion which remainsinvisible and which appears on the night of the New-moon) remainsconstant. After the manner of Chandramas, Jiva too has full sixteenportions. 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 subjectto no modification. Invested with Ignorance, Jiva repeatedly andcontinually takes birth in the fifteen portions named above. With theeternal and immutable portion on Jiva primal essence become united andthis union takes place repeatedly. That sixteenth portion is subtile. Itshould be known as Soma (eternal and immutable). It is never upheld bythe senses. On the other hand, the senses are upheld by it. Since thosesixteen portions are the cause of the birth of creatures, creatures cannever, O monarch, take birth without their aid. They are called Prakriti.The destruction of Jiva’s liability to be united with Prakriti is calledEmancipation. The Mahat-Soul, which is the twenty-fifth, if it regardsthat body of sixteen portions called the Unmanifest,[1617] has to assumeit repeatedly. In consequence of not knowing, That which is stainless andpure, and for its devotion to what is the result of a combination of bothPure and Impure, the Soul, which is in reality pure, becomes, O kingImpure. Indeed, in consequence of its devotion to Ignorance, Jiva, thoughcharacterised by Knowledge becomes repeatedly associated with Ignorance.Though, O monarch, free from error of every kind, yet in consequence ofits devotion to the three attributes of Prakriti, it becomes endued withthose attributes.'”