16. Know, O strong armed Ráma! that reliance on the world, is the fetter of the soul to it; it does not behove any body to join the perishable and imperishable together like the water and its froth. (The one being lasting and the other a transient thing).
17. Although the soul is the agent (or source) of all actions, yet it remains as no agent at all; it is unconnected with its actions, as the lamp with its light. (The mind being the doer of actions and not the soul).
18. Doing all it does nothing, but like the sun directs the business of the day without doing anything by itself. It moves like the sun without moving from its place, but retains its station in its own orbit. (The sun is the causal agent of diurnal duties, but men are the active agents of their actions).
19. There is some other hidden cause guiding the course of the world, beside the soul and body; as there is an unknown cause of the course of the Aruna river, notwithstanding its being blocked by stones.
20. When you have known this for certain, O Ráma by your own proficience, and have well ascertained this truth by its clearest evidence:—
21. You ought no more to place any reliance on material things, which are as false as an ambient flame, or a vision in dream, or as any falsehood whatever.
22. As a stranger is not to be taken into your friendship, on his first appearance; so you must never trust or rely on anything of this world through your ignorance.
23. Never place your reliance on anything of this world, with that fond desire, as the heated man looks to the moon, the cold stricken to the sun, and the thirsty doth to the water in the mirage.
24. Do you look upon this ideal world (which is born of your brain), as you view a creature of your conception, a vision in your dream, or an apparition or the appearance of two moons in the sky, by your visual deception.
25. Shun your reliance on the fair creation of your imagination (the objects of sight &c.), and without minding what you are, conduct yourself cheerfully in your sphere.