The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.
thus assume diversity and revert back to unity.  Prakriti also herself has the same indications.  Only fully conversant with the nature of the topics of enquiry knows that Prakriti also assumes the same kind of diversity and unity, for when Destruction comes she reverts into unity and when Creation flows she assumes diversity of form.  The Soul makes Prakriti, which contains the principles of production or growth, to assume manifold forms.  Prakriti is called Kshetra (or soil).  Transcending the four and twenty topics or principles is the Soul which is great.  It presides over that Prakriti or Kshetra.  Hence, O great king, the foremost of Yatis say that the Soul is the Presider.  Indeed, it has been heard by us that in consequence of the Soul’s presiding over all Kshetras He is called the Presider.  And because He knows that Unmanifest Kshetra, He is, therefore, also called Kshetrajna (Knower of Kshetra).  And because also the Soul enters into Unmanifest Kshetra (viz., the body), therefore he is called Purusha.  Kshetra is something quite different from Kshetrajna.  Kshetra is Unmanifest.  The Soul, which transcends the four and twenty principles, is called the Knower.  Knowledge and the object known are different from each other.  Knowledge, again, has been said to be Unmanifest, while the object of knowledge is the Soul which transcends the four and twenty principles.  The Unmanifest is called Kshetra.  Sattwa (understanding), and also Iswara (the supreme Lord), while Purusha, which is the twenty-fifth principle has nothing superior to it and is not a principle (for it transcends all principles and is only called a principle conventionally).  This much O king, is an account of the Sankhya philosophy.  The Sankhyas called the cause of the universe, and merging all the grosser principles into the Chit behold the Supreme Soul.  Rightly studying the four and twenty topics along with Prakriti, and ascertaining their true nature, the Sankhyas succeed in beholding That which transcends the four and twenty topics or principles.[1625] Jiva in reality is that very Soul which transcends Prakriti and is beyond the four and twenty topics.  When he succeeds in knowing that Supreme Soul by dissociating himself from Prakriti, he then becomes identifiable with the Supreme Soul.  I have now told thee every thing about the Sankhya System truly.  Those who are conversant with this philosophy succeed in attaining are subject to error have direct cognisance of Brahma.  They that succeed in attaining to tranquillity.  Indeed, as men whose understanding are subject to error have direct cognisance of Brahma.  They that succeed in attaining to that state have never to come back to this world after the dissolution of their bodies; while as regards those that are said to be emancipate in this life, puissance, and that indescribable felicity which attaches itself to Samadhi, and immutability, become theirs, in consequence of their having attained to the nature of the Indestructible.[1626] They who behold this
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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.