e success that attaches to yoga commenced (according to rules) by
him who looks within his own self.[910] The Yogin, that abandons his
gross body, following the instructions of his preceptor, beholds his soul
displaying the following forms in consequence of its subtility. To him in
the first stage, the welkin seems to be filled with a subtile substance
like foggy vapour.[911] Of the Soul which has been freed from the body,
even such becomes the form. When this fog disappears, a second (or new)
form becomes visible. For, then, the Yogin beholds within himself, in the
firmament of his heart, the form of Water. After the disappearance of
water, the form of Fire displays itself. When this disappears, the form
that becomes perceivable is that of Wind as effulgent as a well-tempered
weapon of high polish. Gradually, the form displayed by Wind becomes like
that of the thinnest gossamer. Then having acquired whiteness, and also,
the subtlety of air, the Brahman's soul is said to attain the supreme
whiteness and subtlety of Ether. Listen to me as I tell thee the
consequences of these diverse conditions when they occur. That Yogin who
has been able to achieve the conquest of the earth-element, attains by
such lordship to the power of Creation. Like a second Prajapati endued
with a nature that is perfectly imperturbable, he can from his own body
create all kinds of creatures. With only his toe, or with his hand or
feet, that person can singly cause the whole Earth to tremble who has
achieved the lordship of the Wind. Even this is the attribute of the Wind
as declared in the Sruti. The Yogin, who has achieved the lordship of
Space, can exist brightly in Space in consequence of his having attained
to uniformity with that element, and can also disappear at will. By
lordship over Water, one can (like Agastya) drink up rivers, lakes, and
oceans. By lordship over Fire, the Yogin becomes so effulgent that his
form cannot be looked at. He becomes visible only when he extinguishes
his consciousness of individuality,--these five elements come within his
sway. When the Understanding, which is the soul of the five elements and
of the consciousness of individuality,[912] is conquered the Yogin
attains to Omnipotence, and perfect Knowledge (or perception freed from
doubt and uncertainty with respect to all things), comes to him. In
consequence of this, the Manifest becomes merged into the Unmanifest or
Supreme Soul from which the world emanates an