ma. The
fortnights and months are his body. That body is invested with days and
nights as its robes. The seasons are his senses. The year is his mouth.
Some people, in consequence of their superior intelligence, say that all
this (the entire universe) should be conceived as Brahma. The Vedas,
however, teach, that the five sheaths that invest the Soul should be
regarded as Brahma. Brahma is deep and inaccessible like a vast ocean of
waters. It hath been said that it hath neither beginning nor end, and
that it is both indestructible and destructible.[842] Though it is
without attributes by itself, yet it enters all existent objects and as
such assumes attributes. Those persons that are conversant with truth
regard Brahma as eternal. Through the action of Ignorance, Brahma causes
the attributes of materiality to invest the Chit or Soul which is
immaterial spirit (having knowledge only for its attribute). That
materiality, however, is not the essential attribute of the Soul, for
upon the appearance of a knowledge of the true cause of everything, that
materiality ceases to invest the Soul.[843] Brahma in the form of Time is
the refuge of all creatures. Where wouldst thou go transcending that
Time? Time or Brahma, indeed, cannot be avoided by running nor by staying
still. All the five senses are incapable of perceiving Brahma. Some have
said that Brahma is Fire; some that he is Prajapati; some that he is the
Seasons; some that he is the Month; some that he is the Fortnight; some
that he is the Days; some that he is the Hours; some that he is the
Morning; some that he is the Noon; some that he is the Evening; and some
that he is the Moment. Thus diverse people speak diversely of him who is
single. Know that he is Eternity, under whose sway are all things. Many
thousands of Indras have passed away, O Vasava, each of whom was
possessed of great strength and prowess. Thou also, O lord of Sachi,
shalt have to pass away after the same manner. Thee, too, O Sakra, that
art possessed of swelling might and that art the chief of the deities,
when thy hour comes, all-powerful Time will extinguish! Time sweeps away
all things. For this reason, O Indra, do not brag. Time is incapable of
being quieted by either thee or me or by those gone before us. This regal
prosperity that thou hast attained and that thou thinkest to be beyond
comparison, had formerly been possessed by me. It is unsubstantial and
unreal. She does not dwell long in one plac