70. Wisdom serves at first to weaken our passions and enmity, and then uproot them at once, and at last it lessens our desires and endeavours, and gives an appearance of holiness to its possessor.
CHAPTER XIX.
INVESTIGATION INTO THE NATURE OF THE LIVING SOUL.
Argument. The quadruple conditions of the soul in its waking, dreaming, sound sleep and its anaesthesia.
Vasishtha continued:—Brahmá is the seed of life, and remains as empty air everywhere. Hence there are many kinds of living beings, situated in the world within the womb of universal Life. (God is the light and life of all we see).
2. All living beings composed of the dense intellect and soul, contain other living animals under one another, like the manifold crusts of the plantain tree, and the insects contained in the womb of earth. (So also the parasite plants and worms growing upon the bodies of trees and animals).
3. The worms and insects, that grow out of the dirt and scum of earth and water in the hot season, and appear filthy to our sight; are nevertheless full of the particles of intellect, becoming to them as living beings. (Even the dirty worms, are full with the holy spirit of god).
4. According as living beings strive for their progress, so they prosper in their lives, agreeably to the various scope of their thoughts and actions.
5. The worshippers of gods, get to the region of gods, and those of Yakshas meet at the place of Yakshas, and the adorers of Brahmá ascend to Brahmaloka. Resort therefore to what is best and the greatest refuge.
6. So the son of Bhrigu, obtained his liberation at last by the purity of his conscience; though he was enslaved of his own nature to the visibles, at his first sight of them (as of the Apsara and others).
7. The child that is born on earth with the purity of its soul at first, becomes afterwards of the same nature, as the education he gets herein, and not otherwise.