control.  Though destitute of understanding, he still regards himself as endued therewith, and though transcending the (four and twenty) topics, regards himself as one included among them.  Though deathless, he still regards himself as liable to death, and though motionless regards himself to be endued with motion.  Though not possessed of a material case, he still regards himself as possessed of one; and though unborn, he still regards himself as in-vested with birth.  Though transcending penances, he still regards as engaged in penances, and though he has no end (after which to strive), he still regards himself as liable to attain to ends (of diverse kinds).  Though not endued with motion and birth, he still regards himself as endued with both, and though transcending fear, still regards himself as liable to fear.  Though Indestructible, he still regards himself Destructible.  Invested with Ignorance, the Soul thus thinks of himself.”

SECTION CCCV

“’Vasishtha said, ’It is thus, in consequence of his Ignorance and his association with others that are invested with Ignorance, that Jiva has recourse to millions and millions of births every one of which has dissolution in the end.  In consequence of his transformation into Chit invested with Ignorance, Jiva betakes himself to millions of abodes one of which is liable to end in destruction, among intermediate beings and men and the deities.  In consequence of Ignorance, Jiva, like Chandramas, has to wax and wane thousands and thousands of times.  This is truly the nature of Jiva when invested with ignorance.  Know that Chandramas has in reality full sixteen portions.  Only fifteen of these are subject to increase and decrease.  The sixteenth (i.e., that portion which remains invisible and which appears on the night of the New-moon) remains constant.  After the manner of Chandramas, Jiva too has full sixteen portions.  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 subject to no modification.  Invested with Ignorance, Jiva repeatedly and continually takes birth in the fifteen portions named above.  With the eternal and immutable portion on Jiva primal essence become united and this union takes place repeatedly.  That sixteenth portion is subtile.  It should be known as Soma (eternal and immutable).  It is never upheld by the senses.  On the other hand, the senses are upheld by it.  Since those sixteen portions are the cause of the birth of creatures, creatures can never, O monarch, take birth without their aid.  They are called Prakriti.  The destruction of Jiva’s liability to be united with Prakriti is called Emancipation.  The Mahat-Soul, which is the twenty-fifth, if it regards that body of sixteen portions called the Unmanifest,[1617] has to assume it repeatedly.  In consequence of