are its boundary line. Death is its storm-wave. The knowledge of Vedanta
is its island (capable of affording refuge to those that are tossed upon
its waters). Acts of compassion towards all creatures constitute its
life-buoys,[1588] and Emancipation is the priceless commodity offered to
those voyaging on its waters in search of merchandise. Like its
substantive prototype with its equine head disgorging flames of fire,
this ocean too has its fiery terrors. Having transcended the liability,
that is so difficult to transcend, of dwelling within the gross body, the
Sankhyas enter into pure space.[1589] Surya then bears, with his rays,
those righteous men that are practicers of the Sankhya doctrines. Like
the fibres of the lotus-stalk conveying water to the flower into which
they all converge, Surya, drinking all things from the universe, conveys
them unto those good and wise men.[1590] Their attachments all destroyed,
possessed of energy, endued with wealth of penances, and crowned with
success, these Yatis, O Bharata, are borne by that wind which is subtile,
cooling, fragrant, and delicious to the touch, O Bharata! In fact, that
wind which is the best of the seven winds, and which blows in regions of
great felicity, conveys them, O son of Kunti, to that which is the
highest end in space.[1591] Then space into which they are carried, O
monarch, conveys them to the highest end of Rajas.[1592] Rajas then bears
them to the highest end of Sattwa. Sattwa then bears them, O thou of pure
soul, to the Supreme and puissant Narayana. The puissant and pure-souled
Narayana at last, through himself, bears them to the Supreme Soul. Having
reached the Supreme Soul, those stainless persons who have (by that time)
become the body of (what is called) That attain to immortality, and they
have never afterwards to return from that position, O King! That is the
highest end, O son of Pritha, which is attained by those high-souled men
who have transcended the influence of all pairs of opposites."

"'Yudhishthira said, "O sinless one, have those persons of firm vows after
they have attained to that excellent position which is fraught with
puissance and felicity, any recollection of their lives including birth
and death? It behoveth thee to tell me properly what the truth is in
respect, O thou of Kuru's race. I do not think it proper to question any
one else than thee! Observing the scriptures bearing upon Emancipation, I
find this great fault in the