is both indestructible and destructible.[842] Though
it is without attributes by itself, yet it enters
all existent objects and as such assumes attributes.
Those persons that are conversant with truth regard
Brahma as eternal. Through the action of Ignorance,
Brahma causes the attributes of materiality to invest
the Chit or Soul which is immaterial spirit (having
knowledge only for its attribute). That materiality,
however, is not the essential attribute of the Soul,
for upon the appearance of a knowledge of the true
cause of everything, that materiality ceases to invest
the Soul.[843] Brahma in the form of Time is the refuge
of all creatures. Where wouldst thou go transcending
that Time? Time or Brahma, indeed, cannot be
avoided by running nor by staying still. All
the five senses are incapable of perceiving Brahma.
Some have said that Brahma is Fire; some that he is
Prajapati; some that he is the Seasons; some that
he is the Month; some that he is the Fortnight; some
that he is the Days; some that he is the Hours; some
that he is the Morning; some that he is the Noon;
some that he is the Evening; and some that he is the
Moment. Thus diverse people speak diversely of
him who is single. Know that he is Eternity,
under whose sway are all things. Many thousands
of Indras have passed away, O Vasava, each of whom
was possessed of great strength and prowess.
Thou also, O lord of Sachi, shalt have to pass away
after the same manner. Thee, too, O Sakra, that
art possessed of swelling might and that art the chief
of the deities, when thy hour comes, all-powerful
Time will extinguish! Time sweeps away all things.
For this reason, O Indra, do not brag. Time is
incapable of being quieted by either thee or me or
by those gone before us. This regal prosperity
that thou hast attained and that thou thinkest to be
beyond comparison, had formerly been possessed by
me. It is unsubstantial and unreal. She
does not dwell long in one place. Indeed, she
had dwelt in thousands of Indras before thee, all
of whom, again, were very much superior to thee.
Unstable as she is, deserting me she hath now approached
thee, O chief of the deities! Do not, O Sakra,
indulge in such brag again. It behoveth thee
to become tranquil. Knowing thee to be full of
vanity, she will very soon desert thee.’”
SECTION CCXXV
“Bhishma said, ’After this, he of hundred sacrifices beheld the goddess of Prosperity, in her own embodied form that blazed splendour, issue out of the form of the high-souled Vali. The illustrious chastiser of Paka, beholding the goddess blazing with radiance, addressed Vali in these words, with eyes expanded in wonder.’
“Sakra said, ’O Vali, who is this one, thus shining with splendour, thus decked with head plumes, thus adorned with golden bracelets on her upper arms, and thus emitting a halo of glory on all sides in consequence of her energy that is issuing out of thy body.’