PRODUCTION OF LIVING BEINGS.
Argument. Production of the bodies of Living Beings, according to the
degrees of their Reason.
Vasishtha continued:—O strong armed Ráma! after the great father of
creation, he took himself to his activity, he formed and supported the
worlds by his energy and might.
2. All living and departed souls, are tied like buckets by the rope of
their desire, and made to rise and fall in this old well of the world,
by the law of their predetermined destiny (or Fate that binds Siva or
Jove himself).
3. All beings proceeding from Brahmá, and entering the prison house of
the world, have to be concentrated into the body of the air-born
Brahmá; as all the waters of the sea have to be whirled into the
whirlpool in the midst of the sea. (All things were contained in and
produced from Brahmá the Demiurge).
4. Others are continually springing from the mind of Brahmá, like
sparks of fire struck out of a red-hot iron; while many are flying to
it as their common centre.
5. Ráma! all lives are as the waves in the ocean of the everlasting
spirit of Brahma; they rise and fall in him according to his will.
6. They enter into the atmospheric air, as the smoke rises and enters
the clouds, and are at last mixed up together by the wind, in the
spirit of Brahma.
7. They are then overtaken by the elementary particles, or atoms flying
in the air, which lay hold on them in a few days; as the demons seize
the host of gods with violence. (These become the living and embodied
souls, joined with the many properties of the elements).
8. Then the air breathes the vital breath in these bodies; which
infuses life and vigour in them.
9. Thus do living beings manifest themselves on earth, while there are
other flyings in the form of smoke as living spirits. (So the
spiritualists view the spirits in the etherial clouds).
10. Some of them appear in their subtle elemental forms in their airy
cells in the sky, and shine as bright as the beams of the luminous
moon. (These are _lingadehas_ or individual spiritual bodies).
11. Then they fall upon the earth like the pale moonbeams falling upon
the milky ocean.
12. There they alight as birds in the groves and forests, and become
stiffened by sipping the juice of fruits and flowers.
13. Then losing their aerial and bright forms of the moon-beams, they
settle on those fruits and flowers: and suck their juice like infants
hanging upon the breasts of their mothers. (These are the protozoa, the
first and embryonic state of living beings).
14. The protozoa are strengthened by drinking the juice of the fruits,
which are ripened by the light and heat of the sun, and then they
remain in a state of insensibility; until they enter the animal body.
15. The animated animalcules, remain in the womb with their undeveloped
desires; in the same manner as the unopening leaves, are contained in
the seed of the _bata_ or Indian fig tree.
16. All lives are situated in the Great God, as fire is inherent in the
wood, and the pot resides in the earth; and it is after many processes
that they have their full development.
17. One that has received no bodily form, and yet moves on without
manifesting itself, is said to be a _satya_ or spiritual being, and has
a large scope of action (as the gods).
18. He is said to have a _sátvika_ birth, who gets his liberation in or
after his life-time; but whoever is obliged to be reborn by his acts,
is said to belong to the _rájas-sátvika_ class.
19. Any one of this class who is born to rule over others, becomes
giddy with pride (tamas), he is said to be of the nature of ignorance
_támasika_, and I will now speak of this class of beings.
20. Those who are born originally with their sátwika nature, are pure
in their conduct and have never to be born again.
21. Men of rája-sátwika temperament have to be reborn on earth; but
being elevated by their reasoning powers, they have no more to be born
in this nether world.
22. Those who have directly proceeded from the Supreme Spirit (without
any intermixture of these natures), are men fraught with every quality,
and are very rare on earth.
23. The various classes of _támasa_ creatures of ignorance, are both
insensible and speechless; and are of the nature of immovable
vegetables and minerals, that need no description.
24. How many among the gods and men, have been reborn to the cares of
the world, owing to the demerit of their past action; and I myself
though fraught with knowledge and reason, am obliged to lead a life of
the rájasa-sátwika kind (owing to my interference in society).
25. It is by your ignorance of the Supreme, that you behold the vast
extension of the world; but by considering it rightly you will soon
find all this to be but the One Unity.
* * * * *
NOTES ON THE SURANIKA, SÁTWIKA &C.
1. The _Vidhyanika_; is the sphere of the eternal laws of God,
presided over by Brahmá, who is thence styled the Vidhi or dispensator
of the laws of the creation of the mundane system.
2. The _Suranika_; is the sphere of the Supernatural powers or the
divine agencies, governing and regulating the management of created
nature. This is the angelic sphere of deities.
3. _Naráníka_; is the sphere of human being, consisting also of the
subordinate orders of beings, placed under the dominion of man. This is
the sublunary sphere wherewith we are concerned.
4. The Sátwika; are righteous men, endued with the quality of goodness.
5. The Rájasika; is the body politic, guided by the laws of society.
6. The Támasika; is the ignorant rabble, and infatuated people.