[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Indian literature](https://indike.org/pramana/in) › [Epic, Poetry, Drama & Narrative](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit) › [The Mahābhārata and its versions](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata) › [The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa) › 12.204.14 # The Great Epic of the Bhārata dynasty 12.204.14 Mahābhārata 12.204.14 - **Language:** Sanskrit ### [12.204.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204.14) sarajasko'rajaskaśca sa vai vāyuryathā bhavet | tathaitadantaraṃ vidyātkṣetrakṣetrajñayorbudhaḥ | abhyāsātsa tathā yukto na gacchetprakṛtiṃ punaḥ || 14 || > Like dust following the wind that moves it, the creature-Soul, divested of body, but endued still with inclinations born of Passion and Darkness and with principles of causes constituted by the acts of the life that is over, moves on, following the direction that the Supreme Soul gives it. The Soul, however, is never touched by those inclinations and propensities. Nor are these touched by the Soul that is superior to them. The wind, which is naturally pure, is never stained by the dust it bears away. As the wind is truly separate from the dust it bears away, even so, the man of wisdom should know, is the connection between that which is called existence or life and the Soul. No one should take it that the Soul, in consequence of its apparent union with the body and the senses and the other propensities and beliefs and unbeliefs, is really endued therewith as its necessary and absolute qualities. On the other hand, the Soul should be taken as existing in its own nature. Thus did the divine Rishi solve the doubt that had taken possession of his disciple's mind. Notwithstanding all this, people depend upon means consisting of acts and scriptural rites for casting off misery and winning happiness. Seeds that are scorched by fire do not put forth sprouts. After the same manner, if everything that contributes to misery be consumed by the fire of true knowledge, the Soul escapes the obligation of rebirth in the world.' > — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa - [Previous: 12.204.13](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204.13) - [Next: 12.204.15](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204.15) - [Up: 12.204](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204) ## Translations (1) - [The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa~en-ganguli.12.211.1.3) — Kisari Mohan Ganguli 1883, English ## Other recensions (2) - [Southern recension](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*southern.12.213.20) — Sanskrit - [Vulgate (Nīlakaṇṭha's text)](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa*vulgate.12.211.15) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204.14](https://indike.org/pramana/in.lit.mahabharata.vyasa.12.204.14) · Pramāṇa