46. The intelligent soul is compared to a solid rock, compact and without any gap in it. It is the sun of intelligence which enlightens all people, and dispels the darkness of ignorance.
47. (This soul) though so very luminous, has become grossly darkened (in its nature), by being confined to the vile fooleries of the world, and wasted by the malady of its cravings.
48. When freed from the chimera of its egoism, it becomes incorporeal even in its embodied state, and beholds (the glory of) the whole world as it was placed at the point of one of the myriads of hairs (on its body), or like a bee sitting on a flower upon the Sumeru mountain.
49. The intelligent and vacuous soul contains and beholds in its sphere a thousand glories of the world, shining in each atom, as it was in a mirror.
50. It is not even possible to thousands of Haris, Haras and Brahmás, to equal the great minded sage in the extent of his comprehensive soul; because the liberated have their chief good (of internal joy) stretched to a far greater limit than any.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Ascertainment of the Example Or Major Proposition
Vasishtha said:—
The several parts of this work as already related, give rise to the understanding, as seeds sown in a good field never fail to produce good fruitage.
2. Even human compositions are acceptable when they are instructive of good sense; otherwise the Vedas also are to be renounced (as unreliable); because men are required always to abide by reason.
3. Words conformable with reason are to be received even if spoken by boys; otherwise they are to be rejected as straws though pronounced by the lotus-born (Brahmá himself).