thy acts, good and bad, will follow behind thee when thou
shalt depart from this world for the next. One seeks one's object of
objects by means of learning, acts, purity (both external and internal),
and great knowledge. When that foremost of objects is attained, one
becomes freed (from rebirth). The desire that one feels for living in the
midst of human habitations is like a binding cord. They that are of good
acts succeed in tearing that bond and freeing themselves. Only men of
wicked deeds do not succeed in breaking them. The river of life (or the
world) is terrible. Personal beauty or form constitutes its banks. The
mind is the speed of its current. Touch forms its island. Taste
constitutes its current. Scent is its mire. Sound is its waters. That
particular part of it which leads towards heaven is attended with great
difficulties. Body is the boat by which one must cross that river.
Forgiveness is the oar by which it is to be propelled. Truth is the
ballast that is to steady that boat. The practice of righteousness is the
string that is to be attached to the mast for dragging that boat along
difficult waters. Charity of gift constitutes the wind that urges the
sails of that boat. Endued with swift speed, it is with that boat that
one must cross the river of life. Cast off both virtue and vice, and
truth and falsehood. Having cast off truth and falsehood, do thou cast
off that by which these are to be cast off. By casting off all purpose,
do thou cast off virtue; do thou cast off sin also by casting off all
desire. With the aid of the understanding, do thou cast off truth and
falsehood; and, at last, do thou cast off the understanding itself by
knowledge of the highest topic (viz., the supreme Soul). Do thou cast off
this body having bones for its pillars; sinews for its binding strings
and cords; flesh and blood for its outer plaster; the skin for its outer
case; full of urine and faeces and, therefore, emitting a foul smell;
exposed to the assaults of decrepitude and sorrow; forming the seat of
disease and weakened by pain; possessed of the attribute of Rajas in
predominance: not permanent or durable, and which serves as the
(temporary) habitation of the indwelling creature. This entire universe
of matter, and that which is called Mahat or Buddhi, are made up of the
(five), great elements. That which is called Mahat is due to the action
of the Supreme. The five senses, the three attributes of Tamas, Sattwa,
and Raja