An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s4.367

c5.s4.367

Space (ether) is the highest of the elements > (i.e. above it is) ahaṃkāra > buddhi > ātman (the soul) > the unmanifest avyaktam > Puruṣa (XIV, 50). Brahmán said: The body is called the carriage of Brahmán, on which the individual soul drives about; the senses are the steeds; the mind is the charioteer, called also the bhūtātman (tho individual soul), because it is the ruler of the elements (bhūtāni); the reins are the buddhi, called also kṣetrajña (the individual soul), because it "proclaims power." The order of the dissolution is: 1, the creatures; 2, their qualities; 3, tho elements; D., men, G., Pç., As., and Rā. have all sprung from Nature (svabhāvataḥ), and not from actions, nor from a cause; [the elements are called] the brahmans, who are creators of the universe [and] are born here again and again; all that springs from them is dissolved in those very five great elements like billows in the ocean; [beyond] those elements that compose the universe (viçvasṛgbhyas tu bhūtebhyaḥ, i.e. the gross elements) are the five great elements (i.e. the subtle elements; read °bhūtās with B.), and higher than these is the way of the emancipated (read mukto with B.); Prajāpati created all this by the mind alone; in the same manner R. attained to [the status of] D. by the aid of penance; (the wonderful effects of penance, which one may be cleansed from the most horrible sins, etc.; men, P., deities, etc., have been crowned with success by penance alone); different degrees of bliss after death (Prajāpati; the great highest region—mahāntaṃ lokam uttamam; the unmanifest accumulation of happiness—sukhopacayam avyaktam; the unmanifest, i.e. the highest region of the great ones—avyaktaṃ mahatāṃ lokam uttamam), according as one performs acts with expectation, being full of egoism (ahaṃkāra-samāyuktāḥ), or is devoid of selfishness (nirmamāḥ), and freed from egoism (nirahaṃkṛtāḥ) through yoga; freed from darkness and passion and adhering only to goodness, one becomes released from every sin and creates all things: such a one should be known to be [perfect] kṣetrajña: he who knows him knows the Veda; that which begins with the unmanifest and ends with the gross qualities (°viçeṣāntam), has ignorance for its indication; selfishness (mama) is death, the reverse (na mama) is the eternal [Brahmán]; the high-minded ancients never applaud action: by action a creature is born with body; the indication of tranquillity is like what takes place in a dream; this is the goal of the emancipated ones who are intent on knowledge. The preceptor said: Thus addressed by Brahmán, Mu. acted accordingly and attained to felicity (lokam). Kṛṣṇa said: The pupil acted accordingly and then attained to emancipation (XIV, 51).