good,
propensity towards evil, and restlessness,--these are the properties of
the mind. Destruction of both good and evil thoughts (i.e., dreamless
slumber), perseverance, concentration, decision, and ascertainment of all
things resting upon direct evidence, constitute the five properties of
the understanding."

"'Yudhishthira said, "How can the understanding be said to have five
properties? How again, can the five senses be spoken of as properties (of
the five elementary entities)? Expound to me, O grandsire, all this that
seems to be very abstruse."

"'Bhishma said, "The understanding is said to possess altogether sixty
properties, for the understanding includes the five elements.[1107] All
those properties exist in a state of union with the Soul. The Vedas
declare, O son, that the elements, their (fifty) properties (together
with the mind and the understanding and their nine and five properties)
are all created by Him who is above all deterioration. These (one and
seventy) entities, therefore, are not eternal (like the Soul). The
theories contradicting the Revelation that have in the previous Vedas, O
son, been placed before thee (about the origin of the Universe and its
other incidents) are all defective in the eye of reason. Carefully
attending, however, in this world to all that I have said unto thee about
the Supreme Brahma, do thou, after attaining to the puissance that the
knowledge of Brahma offers, seek to win tranquillity of heart."'"[1108]

SECTION CCLVI

"'Yudhishthira said, "These lords of earth that lie on the earth's surface
amid their respective hosts, these princes endued with great might, are
now reft of animation. Every one of these mighty monarchs was possessed
of strength equal to that of ten thousand elephants. Alas! these have all
been slain by men possessed of equal prowess and might. I do not behold
any one else (in the world) that could slay any of these men in
battle.[1109] All of them were endued with great prowess, great energy,
and great strength. Possessed also of great wisdom, they are now lying on
the bare ground, deprived of life. With respect to all these men that are
deprived of life, the word that is used is that they are dead. Of
terrible prowess, all these kings are said to be dead. On this subject a
doubt has arisen in my mind. Whence is animation and whence is death? Who
is it that dies? (Is it the gross body, the subtile body, or the Soul,
that dies)? Whence is death?