uld
be understood.[782] One who understands all this is never stupefied when
one has to draw conclusions (in respect of all subjects of enquiry). He
that is desirous of attaining to high prosperity should become pure in
mind, and betaking himself to austere practices in respect of the body
and the senses, should devote himself to yoga without desire of fruits.
The universe is pervaded by yoga power secretly circulating through every
part of it and illumining it brightly. The sun and the moon shine with
effulgence in the firmament of the heart in consequence of yoga power.
The result of yoga is Knowledge. Yoga is talked of very highly in the
world.[783] Whatever acts are destructive of Passion and Darkness
constitute yoga in respect of its real character. Brahmacharya and
abstention from injury are said to constitute yoga of the body; while
restraining mind and speech properly are said to constitute yoga of the
mind. The food that is obtained in alms from regenerate persons
conversant with the ritual is distinguished from all other food. By
taking that food abstemiously, one's sins born of Passion begin to fade.
A yogin subsisting upon such food finds his senses gradually withdrawn
from their objects. Hence, he should take only that measure of food which
is strictly necessary for the support of his body. (Another advice that
may be offered is that) that knowledge which one obtains gradually by
mind devoted to yoga should cheerfully be made one's own during one's
last moments by a forcible stretch of power.[784] The embodied Soul, when
divested of Rajas (does not immediately attain to Emancipation but)
assumes a subtile form with all the senses of perception and moves about
in space. When his mind becomes unaffected by acts, he, in consequence of
such renunciation (loses that subtile form and) becomes merged in
Prakriti (without however, yet attaining to Brahma or Emancipation which
transcends Prakriti).[785] After the destruction of this gross body, one
who through absence of heedlessness escapes from all the three bodies
(viz., the gross, the subtile and the karana) succeeds in attaining to
Emancipation.[786] The birth and death of creatures always depend upon
the cause constituted by original Ignorance (or Avidya). When knowledge
of Brahma arises, necessity no longer pursues the person. Those, however,
that accept what is the reverse of truth (by believing that to be Self
which is really not-Self) are men whose understan