SECTION CCLII

"'"Vyasa said, 'Unto a disciple that wishes to enquire after Emancipation

after having transcended all pairs of opposites and accomplished the

concerns of both profit and religion, an accomplished preceptor should

first recount all that has been said in the foregoing section, which is

elaborate, on the topic of Adhyatma.[1081] Space, wind, light, water and

earth counted as the fifth, and bhava and abhava and time, exist in all

living creatures having the five for their constituent ingredients.[1082]

Space is unoccupied interval. The organs of hearing consist of space. One

conversant with the science of entities endued with form should know that

space has sound for its attribute. The feet (that assist at locomotion)

have wind for their essence. The vital breaths are made of wind. The

sense of touch (skin) has wind for its essence, and touch is the

attribute of wind. Heat, the digestive fire in the stomach, light that

discovers all things, the warmth that is in the body, and eye counted as

the fifth, are all of light which has form of diverse colours for its

attribute. Liquefied discharges, solubility, and all kinds of liquid

matter are of water. Blood, marrow, and all else (in the body) that is

cool, should be known to have water for their essence. The tongue is the

sense of taste, and taste is regarded as the attribute of water. All

solid substances are of earth, as also bones, teeth, nails, beard, the

bristles on the body, hair, nerves, sinews, and skin. The nose is called

the sense of scent. The object of that sense, viz., scent, should be

known as the attribute of earth. Each subsequent element possesses the

attribute or attributes of the preceding one besides its own. [1083] In

all living creatures again are the (three) supplementary entities (viz.,

avidya, kama, and karma).[1084] The Rishis thus declared the five

elements and the effects and attributes flowing from or belonging to

them. The mind forms the ninth in the calculation, and the understanding

is regarded as the tenth. The Soul, which is infinite, is called the

eleventh. It is regarded as this all and as the highest. The mind has

doubt for its essence. The understanding discriminates and causes

certainty. The Soul (which, as already said, is infinite), becomes known

as Jiva invested with body (or jivatman) through consequences derived

from acts.[1085] That man who looketh upon the entire assemblage of

living creatures to be unstained, though endued with all these entities

having time for their essence, has never to recur to acts affected by

error.'"'"[1086]

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 Books 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 · 第 251 / 367 章