without wishing for regions of felicity (in the next world).[728] As gold, when united with iron, loses its purity and fails to shine, even so Knowledge, when existing with attachment to earthly objects and such other faults, fails to put forth its splendour.[729] He who, influenced by cupidity and following the dictates of desire and wrath, practises unrighteousness, transgressing the path of righteousness, meets with complete destruction.[730] One who is desirous of benefiting oneself should never follow, with excess of attachments, earthly possessions represented by the objects of the senses.  If one does it, wrath and joy—­and sorrow arise from one another (and make one miserable).  When every one’s body is made up of the five original elements as also of the three attributes of Goodness, Passion, and Darkness, whom shall one adore and whom shall one blame with what words?  Only they that are fools become attached to the objects of the senses.  In consequence of folly they do not know that their bodies are only modifications.[731]

As a house made of earth is plastered over with earth, even so this body which is made of earth is kept from destruction by food which is only a modification of earth.  Honey and oil and milk and butter and meat and salt and treacle and grain of all kinds and fruit and roots are all modifications of earth and water.  Recluses living in the wilderness, giving up all longing (for rich and savoury food), take simple food, that is again unsavoury, for only supporting the body.  After the same manner, a person that dwells in the wilderness of the world, should be ready for labour and should take food for passing through life, like a patient taking medicine.[732] A person of noble soul, examining all things of an earthly nature that come upon him, by the aid of truth, purity, candour, a spirit of renunciation, enlightenment, courage, forgiveness, fortitude, intelligence, reflection, and austerities, and desirous of obtaining tranquillity, should restrain his senses.  All creatures, stupefied, in consequence of Ignorance, by the attributes of Goodness and Passion and Darkness, are continually revolving like a wheel.  All faults, therefore, that are born of Ignorance, should be closely examined and the idea of Self which has its origin in Ignorance, and which is productive of misery, should be avoided.  The fivefold elements, the senses, the attributes of Goodness, Passion, and Darkness, the three worlds with the Supreme Being himself, and acts, all rest on Self-consciousness.[733] As Time, under its own laws, always displays the phenomena of the seasons one after another, even so one should know that Consciousness in all creatures is the inducer of acts.[734] Tamas (from which proceeds Consciousness) should be known as productive of delusions.  It is like Darkness and is born of Ignorance.  To the three attributes of Goodness, Passion, and Darkness are attached all the joys and sorrows (of creatures).  Listen now to those consequences that spring from the