88. Now consider, O Ráma! if there is any stability of any thing in this revolutionary world, beside its being a maze of continuous delusion.
89. The revolution of the world resembles the hallucination of Dásúra’s mind; it is a phantasia without any solidity in it.
90. The world appearing so extensive and thickly peopled, is but a fancied unreality like the erroneous appearance of two moons in the sky. It is made of unreality though appearing as real, and is not worth reliance by our ignorance of its nature.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
STORY OF DÁSÚRA.
Argument. Description of the vanity of worldly enjoyments, illustrated in the tale of Dásúra.
Vasishtha continued:—All worldly men that are engaged in a variety of business, and are perverted in their understandings with a desire of opulence and enjoyments; can never learn the truth, until they get rid of their worldliness.
2. He only who has cultivated his understanding, and subdued his sensual organs, can perceive the errors of the world, as one knows a bel fruit held in his hand (i.e. as one knows the places on earth in a small globe).
3. Any rational being, who scans well the errors of the world, forsakes his delusion of egoism, as a snake casts off his slough.
4. Being thus paralysed (unconscious) of his selfishness, he has no more to be born; as a fried grain can never germinate, though it is sown in the field, and lies for ever in it.
5. How pitiable is it that ignorant men take so much pains for the preservation of their bodies, which are ever subject to diseases and dangers; and liable to perish to-day or to-morrow at the expense of their souls.