19. Another Vipaschit, that was wandering all about in the universal sphere, could not come to the end of his ignorance (avidyá), in his course of a millennium.
20. Ráma said:—How was it, sir, that he could not reach to the utmost pole of the universe, nor could he pierce its vault to get out of it? Please explain this fully to me, which you have not yet done.
21. Vasishtha replied:—When Brahma was born at first in mundane egg, he broke the shell with both his hands, into the upper and lower halves.
22. Hence the upper valve of the shell, rose too far upwards from the lower half; and so the lower valve, descended as far below the upper part.
23. Then there are the circles of earth, water and air, which are supported upon these valves; while these two serve as bases for the support of other spheres.
24. In the midst of these there is the vacuous sky, which is infinite in its extent, and which appears unto us, as the blue vault of heaven.
25. It is not bounded by the circles of earth and water, but is a pure void, and basis of all other spheres that rest upon it.
26. He passed by that way into the infinite void, as the circles of the starry frame revolve amidst the same; in order to examine the extent of ignorance and to obtain his release from it, as he was taught to find.
27. But this avidyá or ignorance being coalescent with Brahma, is as infinite as the Deity himself; and there she is as unknowable as God, as yet nobody has been able to know her nature. (God and Nature are both unknowable).
28. Vipaschit continuing to mount afar and higher in the heavens, found the nature of avidyá or ignorance to be coextensive with the extent of the worlds, through which he traversed on high.