elf 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
invested 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
sixtee