ence is like
that of men who journey along the same road, riding on a car unto which
are yoked (fleet) steeds and which moves with swiftness. Having ascended
to the top of a mountain, one should not cast one's eyes on the surface
of the earth.[151] Seeing a man, even though travelling on a car,
afflicted and rendered insensible by pain, the man of intelligence
journeys on a car as long as there is a car path.[152] The man of
learning, when he sees the car path end, abandons his car for going on.
Even thus proceeds the man of intelligence who is conversant with the
ordinances respecting truth and Yoga (or Knowledge and Devotion).
Conversant with the qualities, such a man proceeds, comprehending what is
next and next.[153] As one that plunges, without a boat, into the
terrible ocean, with only one's two arms, through delusion, undoubtedly
wishes for destruction; while the man of wisdom, conversant with
distinctions, goes into the water, with a boat equipt with oars, and soon
crosses the lake without fatigue, and having crossed it attains to the
other shore and casts off the boat, freed from the thought of meum. This
has been already explained by the illustration of the car and the
pedestrian. One who has been overwhelmed by delusion in consequence of
attachment, adheres to it like a fisherman to his boat. Overcome by the
idea of meum, one wanders within its narrow range. After embarking on a
boat it is not possible in moving about on land. Similarly, it is not
possible in moving about on water after one has mounted on a car. There
are thus various actions with regard to various objects. And as action is
performed in this world, so does it result to those that perform them.
That which is void of smell, void of taste, and void of touch and sound,
that which is meditated upon by the sages with the aid of their
understanding, is said to be Pradhana. Now, Pradhana is unmanifest. A
development of the unmanifest is Mahat. A development of Pradhana when it
has become Mahat is Egoism. From egoism is produced the development
called the great elements. And of the great elements respectively, the
objects of sense are said to be the developments. The unmanifest is of
the nature of seed. It is productive in its essence. It has been heard by
us that the great soul has the virtues of a seed, and that is a product.
Egoism is of the nature of seed and is a product again and again. And the
five great elements are of the nature of seed and pro