should create by one's acts a path for
attaining to emancipation, without wishing for regions of felicity (in
the next world).[728] As gold, when united with iron, loses its purity
and fails to shine, even so Knowledge, when existing with attachment to
earthly objects and such other faults, fails to put forth its
splendour.[729] He who, influenced by cupidity and following the dictates
of desire and wrath, practises unrighteousness, transgressing the path of
righteousness, meets with complete destruction.[730] One who is desirous
of benefiting oneself should never follow, with excess of attachments,
earthly possessions represented by the objects of the senses. If one does
it, wrath and joy and sorrow arise from one another (and make one
miserable). When every one's body is made up of the five original
elements as also of the three attributes of Goodness, Passion, and
Darkness, whom shall one adore and whom shall one blame with what words?
Only they that are fools become attached to the objects of the senses. In
consequence of folly they do not know that their bodies are only
modifications.[731]

"'"As a house made of earth is plastered over with earth, even so this body
which is made of earth is kept from destruction by food which is only a
modification of earth. Honey and oil and milk and butter and meat and
salt and treacle and grain of all kinds and fruit and roots are all
modifications of earth and water. Recluses living in the wilderness,
giving up all longing (for rich and savoury food), take simple food, that
is again unsavoury, for only supporting the body. After the same manner,
a person that dwells in the wilderness of the world, should be ready for
labour and should take food for passing through life, like a patient
taking medicine.[732] A person of noble soul, examining all things of an
earthly nature that come upon him, by the aid of truth, purity, candour,
a spirit of renunciation, enlightenment, courage, forgiveness, fortitude,
intelligence, reflection, and austerities, and desirous of obtaining
tranquillity, should restrain his senses. All creatures, stupefied, in
consequence of Ignorance, by the attributes of Goodness and Passion and
Darkness, are continually revolving like a wheel. All faults, therefore,
that are born of Ignorance, should be closely examined and the idea of
Self which has its origin in Ignorance, and which is productive of
misery, should be avoided. The fivefold elements, the senses, th