79. Though we have a clear conception of the world, yet it is a false sight together with that of its beholder—the living soul; it is as false as the dream of one’s own death in his sleep, and his hearing the wailing of his friend at his demise.
CHAPTER CLXXVI.
Brahma Gíta. Account of Brahmánda or Mundane System.
Argument:—The world resembling a dream and an atom of the Divine mind, and Brahmá’s account of it.
Ráma rejoined:—There <are> innumerable worlds in the universe, many of which have gone before, many are in existence, and many as yet to be; how then is it sir, that you persuade me to the belief of their nullity.
2. Vasishtha replied:—you well know, Ráma, the relation which the world bears to a dream, in that they both mean a passing scene; and this sense of it, can be denied by no one of this audience.
3. The words which are spoken by the wise, who know their application and sense; are neither understood nor received in the hearts of common people, though they are in common use.
4. When you will come to know the knowledge <of> One, then you will discern the three times clearly and behold them as present before you.
5. As it is the intellect alone, that displays itself in the form of the world in our dream; so doth the Divine Intellect also, exhibit the worlds in itself, in the beginning of creation; and there is no other cause of their production.
6. Hence there are innumerable worlds, revolving like atoms in the infinite space of air; and there is no one who can count their number, and descry their modes and natures.
7. It was of old that my venerable sire—the lotus-born Brahmá, and all besmeared with the fragrant dust of that flower, has delivered a discourse on this subject, which I will now relate unto you.