in our nature, is never tainted with sin, and consequently evil has no
power over him. Man's corporeal self has been compared to a chariot, his
soul to a charioteer and his senses to horses. A dexterous man drives
about without confusion, like a quiet charioteer with well-broken
horses. That man is an excellent driver who knows how to patiently wield
the reins of those wild horses,--the six senses inherent in our nature.
When our senses become ungovernable like horses on the high road, we
must patiently rein them in; for with patience, we are sure to get the
better of them. When a man's mind is overpowered by any one of these
senses running wild, he loses his reason, and becomes like a ship tossed
by storms upon the high ocean. Men are deceived by illusion in hoping to
reap the fruits of those six things, whose effects are studied by
persons of spiritual insight, who thereby reap the fruits of their clear
perception."'"

SECTION CCXI

"Markandeya continued, 'O Bharata, the fowler having expounded these
abstruse points, the Brahmana with great attention again enquired of him
about these subtle topics. The Brahmana said, "Do thou truly describe to
me, who now duly ask thee, the respective virtues of the qualities of
_sattwa, rajas_, and _tamas_." The fowler replied, "Very well, I shall
tell thee what thou hast asked. I shall describe separately their
respective virtues, do thou listen. Of them _tamas_ is characterised by
illusion (spiritual), _rajas_ incites (men to action), _sattwa_ is of
great grandeur, and on that account, it is said to be the greatest of
them. He who is greatly under the influence of spiritual ignorance, who
is foolish, senseless and given to dreaming, who is idle, unenergetic
and swayed by anger and haughtiness, is said to be under the influence
of _tamas_. And, O Brahmana _rishi_, that excellent man who is agreeable
in speech, thoughtful, free from envy, industrious in action from an
eager desire to reap its fruits, and of warm temperament, is said to be
under the influence of _rajas_. And he who is resolute, patient, not
subject to anger, free from malice, and is not skilful in action from
want of a selfish desire to reap its fruits, wise and forbearing, is
said to be under the influence of _sattwa_. When a man endowed with the
_sattwa_ quality, is influenced by worldliness, he suffers misery; but
he hates worldliness, when he realises its full significance. And then a
feeling of indifference to