ds all attributes, when the time
of its destruction comes. By casting off the consciousness of body and
the senses, by casting off all acts good and bad, by casting off both
truth and falsehood, one succeeds in divesting oneself of attributes. The
person who realises that inconceivable Purusha and comprehends his
subtile existence in the quadruple form of Aniruddha, Pradyumna,
Sankarshana, and Vasudeva, and who, in consequence of such comprehension,
attains to perfect tranquillity of heart, succeeds in entering into and
identifying himself with that one auspicious Purusha. Some persons
possessed of learning speak of him as the supreme soul. Others regarded
him as the one soul. A third class of learned men describe him as the
soul.[1920] The truth is that he who is the Supreme Soul is always
divested of attributes. He is Narayana. He is the universal soul, and he
is the one Purusha. He is never affected by the fruits of acts even as
the leaf of the lotus is never drenched by the water one may throw upon
it. The Karamta (acting Soul) is different. That Soul is sometimes
engaged in acts and when it succeeds in casting off acts attains to
Emancipation or identity with the Supreme Soul. The acting Soul is endued
with the seven and ten possessions.[1921] Thus it is said that there are
innumerable kinds of Purushas in due order. In reality, however, there is
but one Purusha. He is the abode of all the ordinances in respect of the
universe. He is the highest object of knowledge. He is at once the knower
and the object to be known. He is at once the thinker and the object of
thought. He is the eater and the food that is eaten. He is the smeller
and the scent that is smelled. He is at once he that touches and the
object that is touched. He is the agent that sees and the object that is
seen. He is the hearer and the object that is heard. He is the conceiver
and the object that is conceived. He is possessed of attributes and is
free from them. What has previously, O son, been named Pradhana, and is
the mother of the Mahat tattwa is no other than the Effulgence of the
Supreme Soul; because He it is who is eternal, without destruction and
any end and ever immutable. He it is who creates the prime ordinance in
respect of Dhatri himself. Learned Brahmanas call Him by the name of
Aniruddha. Whatever acts, possessed of excellent merits and fraught with
blessings, flow in the world from the Vedas, have been caused by
Him.[1922] All the deit