46. The speech which is without suitable comparisons and graceful phraseology, which is inaudible or clamorous, and has inappropriate words and harsh sounding letters, cannot take possession of the heart, but is thrown away for nothing, like butter poured upon the burnt ashes of an oblation, and has no power to kindle the flame.
The blemishes of speech are all comprised in the following couplet in the Mahábháshya of Patánjala:—ग्रस्तं निरस्तं प्रबिलम्वितं द्रुतमीम्वु कूतं ध्मानमथबिकम्पितं । बिस्रस्तमेणी कृतमङ्गकं हतं बिकीर्ण मेताष्ठस्वरदोषभाबनाः ॥
47. Whatever narrative and tales there are in any language on earth, and whatever compositions are adorned with measured sentences and graceful diction; all these are rendered perspicacious by conspicuous comparisons, as the world is enlightened by the cooling beams of the moon. Hence every sloka almost in this work, is embellished with a suitable comparison.
CHAPTER LXXXV.
Interview of Brahmá and the Sun.
Argument.—Brahmá intending to create the world, sees the orbs of light, and invokes the luminous Sun.
Vasishtha continued:—I will relate to you Ráma, agreeably to your request, the story that was narrated to me of old by Brahmá himself (the personified mind of God and the lord of creatures). The manas or mind produced Manu—the progeny of the mind; who begat the Manujas otherwise called mánavas or manushyas, or men—the offspring of the mind.
2. I had asked the lotus-born god once before, to tell me how these hosts of creation had come to being. (Vasishtha the offspring of Brahmá, had his communion with his father—the first great patriarch of mankind).
3. Then Brahmá the great progenitor of men, granted my request, and related to me the apologue of Aindava in his sonorous voice. (The oracles of God were delivered in the loud noise of thunders—brihad-vachas).
4. Brahmá said:—All this visible world is the manifestation of the divine mind, like the circling whirl-pools and rippling curls of water on the surface of the sea. (Referring to the revolutions of heavenly bodies in the air).
5. Hear me tell you, said he, how I (the personified mind), awoke at first on the day of creation in a former kalpa, with my volition to create (expand) myself. (The volitive mind rose out of the sleeping intelligence on the dawning day of creation).