45. Whereas the external acts of faith <are> entirely devoid of any substantiality or meritoriousness in them, it is no way difficult to get <rid> of them at once; it is solely our spiritual bond which is our chief concern, beside which there is no bond whatsoever.
46. So long there is the dread of the dreadful illusion of this world, as long as you do not attain to your wisdom; and so long do you exhibit your wisdom, that you do not fall into the vertiginous eddy of worldly affairs. Therefore try always, ye men of pure hearts and soul, to acquire your wisdom and learning; because there is no other way of your flying from the fears of the world, save by means of your right understanding.
CHAPTER CXXXXIII.
Ascertainment of Nirvána or Ultimate Extinction.
Argument:—Praise of wisdom and Intellectual knowledge, and arguments in support of the Intellectuality of the world.
The sage continued:—The wise man shines in the assembly of the learned, as the sun illumines the assemblage of lotuses, in his investigation of the duties of religion and ceremonial acts, leading to the welfare of men in both worlds.
2. The heavenly felicity which is attained by the learned and wise by means of their spiritual knowledge, is as an ocean of bliss; before which the prosperity of god Indra even, appears to dwindle away as rotten straws amidst the billows.
3. I find no such felicity or prosperity, in the three regions of this earth or heaven above or in the pátála below, which is greater or comparable with the blissfulness of learning and wisdom.
4. The learned have as clear a sight of the true state of all things, as the moon-light gives a clear view of the sphere of stars in the cloudless sky.
5. The visible world, soon vanishes from sight, and turns to the invisible Brahma, by the sapience of the wise; as a rosary of cord, appearing at first as a snake, is soon found to be a line upon its inspection.
6. That Brahmá—the god is ever situated in his Brahma-hood or godhead is a truth evident by itself; and that it is his nature that gives rise to the terms creation, destruction, body and others. (Gloss: that the words creation &c., appertain to his very nature, and are not distinct from him).