4. The body will surely perish without its egoism, and will be cut short of its durability, as a tree is felled by application of the saw to its root.
5. Now tell me, O most eloquent sir, how I may live by forsaking my egoism (which is myself); give me your answer, according to your right judgment.
6. Vasishtha replied:—O lotus-eyed and respectful Ráma! abandonment of desires, is said to be of two kinds by the wise, who are well acquainted with the subject; the one is called the jneya or knowable and the other is what they style the thinkable (or dhyeya).
7. The knowledge that I am the life of my body and its powers, and these are the supports of my life, and that I am something.
8. But this internal conviction being weighed well by the light of reason, will prove that neither am I related with the external body, nor does it bear any relation with my internal soul.
9. Therefore the performance of one’s duties, with calmness and coolness of his understanding, and without any desire of fruition, is called the abandonment of desire in thought.
10. But the understanding which views things in an equal light, and by forsaking its desires, relinquishes the body without taking any concern for it, and is called the knowing abandonment of desires. (i.e. Of which the Yogi has full knowledge).
11. He who foregoes with ease the desires arising from his egoism, is styled the thinking abjurer of his desires, and is liberated in his life time.
12. He who is calm and even-minded, by his abandonment of vain and imaginary desires; is a knowing deserter of his desires, and is liberated also in this world.
13. Those who abandon the desires in their thought, and remain with listless indifference to everything, are like those who are liberated in their life time.