20. My senses have been continually tempting me, and I know not what will be the end of these temptations, which prevent even the wise people, from observing precepts of the sástras.
21. This want of sight or disregard of the sástras, leads to our blindness by kindling our desires, and by blinding our understanding;—
22. Therefore tell me sir, what am I to do in this difficulty, and what is that may conduce to my chief good, that I am asking thee to relate.
23. It is said that, the mist of our ignorance flies like the clouds, at the sight of wise men and purification of our desires; now sir, verify the truth of this saying of wise men, by your enlightening my understanding, and giving peace to my mind.
CHAPTER XXV.
Vasishtha’s Admonition to Manki.
Argument:—The avarana sakti or all-enfolding power of God is called ignorance, his vikshepa sakti or delusive power is the cause of error, and the combination of both cause the world.
Vasishtha said:—Consciousness (of the objects of perception), their reflection, the desire of having them and their imagination, are the four roots of evil in this world; and though these words are meaningless, yet considerable sense is attached to them (as categories of some schools of false philosophy); as the four sources of knowledge.
2. Know that knowledge (of externals) is their reflexion also, which is the seat (or root) of all evils; and all our calamities proceed therefrom, as thickly as vegetation springs out of the vernal juice (or breath of spring).
3. Men garbed in the robes of their desires, walk in the dreary paths of this world, with very many varieties of their actions (both temporal and ritual), as there are circles drawn under a circle (i.e. one circle of duty enclosing many others under it).
4. But these aberrations and wanderings over the earth, are at an end to the wise together with their desires; as the moisture of the ground, is dried up and diminishes at the end of the vernal season.