Chapter LXVIII: Section I: Exordium (bhúmiká.)

It is both by means of words and lights (_Vágbhábhis_ _i.e._ the words of the scripture and the lights of nature and reason), that the knower of the Great God (Brahmavid), perceives the spirit of Brahma appearing within himself as in a dream. And he also knows him as such, who understands him according to the purport of the holy text. “What this is, that is the self.” (_i.e._ He is all in all).

2. This passage shows in short, the visible world to reside in the vacuous bosom of Brahma at its creation: it is now to be known in length, what this creation is, whence it takes its rise, and wherein it becomes extinct at last.

3. Hear me, O intelligent Ráma! now expound to you all things according to my best knowledge of them, and agreeably to their nature and substance in the order of creation.

4. One conscious of himself as a spiritual and intelligent being, views the passing world as a _Somnum_ (swapnam) dream: and this dreaming simile of the passing world, applies equally to our knowledge of _ego_ and _tu_ or _non-ego_ (which is as false as our cognitions in a dream).

5. Next to the book describing the conduct of the seekers of liberation (_mumukshu-vyavahára_), then follows the book of evolution (_utpatti_), which I am now going to propound to you.

SECTION II.

WORLDLY BONDAGE.

6. Bondage consists in our belief of the reality of the visible world (and our relation with its phenomena, Gloss). So our release depends on the negation of phenomenals. Now hear me tell you how to get rid of the visible (fetters of our minds).

7. Whoever is born in this world, continues to progress, till at last he obtains his final liberation (his _ultimum_ and _optimum_ perfection); or rises towards heaven or falls into hell (under the subjection of his righteous and unrighteous actions (Gloss)).

8. I shall therefore expound for your understanding every thing relating to the production and continuance of things, and their prior states as they were.

9. Hear me Ráma, now give you an abstract of this book in brief, and I will here-after dilate upon it, as you may wish to know more of this (theory of production).