In the matter of such a man’s attainment of a second body (notwithstanding his death in a sacred spot) the only cause is his accidental death.  There is no second cause.  That new body which embodied creatures obtain (in consequence of the accidental character of their deaths in sacred places) comes into existence and becomes attached to Rudras and Pisachas.[1552] Learned men, conversant with Adhyatma, say that the body is a conglomeration of arteries and sinews and bones and much repulsive and impure matter and a compound of (primal) essences, and the senses and objects of the senses born of desire, all having an outer cover of skin close to them.  Destitute (in reality) of beauty and other accomplishments, this conglomeration, through force of the desires of a previous life, assumes a human form.[1553] Abandoned by the owner, the body becomes inanimate and motionless.  Indeed, when the primal ingredients return to their respective natures, the body mingles with the dust.  Caused by its union with acts, this body reappears under circumstances determined by its acts.  Indeed, O ruler of the Videhas, under whatever circumstances this body meets with dissolution, its next birth, determined by those circumstances, is seen to enjoy and endure the fruits of all its past acts.  Jiva, after dissolution of the body it inhabited, does not, O king, take birth in a different body immediately.  It roves through the sky for some time like a spacious cloud.  Obtaining a new receptacle, O monarch, it then takes birth again.  The soul is above the mind.  The mind is above the senses.  Mobile creatures, again, are foremost of all created objects.  Of all mobile creatures those that have two legs are superior.  Amongst two-legged creatures, those that are regenerate are superior.  Amongst those that are regenerate they that are possessed of wisdom are superior.  Amongst them that are possessed of wisdom they that have succeeded in acquiring a knowledge of the soul are superior.  Amongst those that are possessed of a knowledge of the soul, they that are endued with humility are superior.  Death follows birth in respect of all men.  This is settled.  Creatures, influenced by the attributes of Sattwa, Rajas, and Tamas, pursue acts which have an end.[1554] That man is regarded as righteous who meets with dissolution when the Sun is in the northern declension, and at a time and under a constellation both of which are sacred and auspicious.  He. is righteous who., having cleansed himself of all sins and accomplished all his acts according to the best of his power and having abstained from giving pain to any man, meets with death when it comes.  The death that one meets with by taking poison, by hanging, by burning, at the hands of robbers, and at the teeth of animals, is said to be an inglorious one.[1555] Those men that are righteous never incur such or similar deaths even if they be afflicted with mental and physical diseases of the most agonising kind.  The lives of the righteous, O king, piercing through the Sun,