CHAPTER XXXII.

Brahman said:

The ancients who perceived the established (truth) call renunciation 1 penance; and the Brâhmanas dwelling in the seat of the Brahman 2 understand knowledge to be concerned with the Brahman 3. The highest Brahman is very far off 3, and (the attainment of it) depends on Vedic knowledge 4; it is free from the pairs of opposites, devoid of qualities 5, everlasting, of unthinkable qualities, and supreme. The men of talent, who are pure 6, and whose minds are refined, transcending passion, and being untainted, perceive that supreme (principle) by means of knowledge and penance. Those who are constantly devoted to renunciation 7, and understand the Brahman and wish for the supreme, go to the happy path by penance. Penance 8 is said to be a light; (correct) conduct is the means to piety; knowledge verily should be understood to be the highest, and renunciation the best penance. He who understands determinately the self which is unperturbed, which abides in all entities, and which is the essential

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element in knowledge, he is laid down 1 (as being able) to move everywhere. The learned man who perceives, association and dissociation, and likewise unity and diversity 2, is released from misery. He who desires nothing, and despises nothing 3, becomes eligible, even dwelling in this world, for assimilation with the Brahman 4. He who knows the truth about the qualities of Pradhâna 5, and understands the Pradhâna of all entities 6, who is free from (the thought that this or that is) mine, and free from egoism 7, is emancipated, there is no doubt of that. One who is free from the pairs of opposites, free from the (ceremonies of) salutation, free from (the ceremony of) svadhâ 8, attains to that everlasting (principle) which is free from the pairs of opposites, and devoid of qualities, by tranquillity only. Abandoning all action, whether agreeable or disagreeable, developed from the qualities 9, and abandoning both truth and falsehood 10, a creature is emancipated, there is no doubt of that. The great tree of Brahman 11 is

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eternal; a tree which is produced from the unperceived as the seed, which consists of the understanding as its trunk, whose collection of boughs is the great egoism, the sprouts within which are the senses, the great branches of which are the great elements, and the side branches the objects of sense, which is always possessed of leaves, always possessed of flowers, in which agreeable and disagreeable fruits are always produced, and which is fed upon by all creatures. Cutting and piercing this (tree) 1 with the sword of knowledge of the truth, and abandoning the bonds in the shape of attachment, which cause birth, death, and old age 2, a wise man who is free from (the thought that this or that is) mine, and who is devoid of egoism, is emancipated, there is no doubt of that. There are these two birds 3, (which are) unchanging, and which should also be known to be unintelligent 4. But as to that other who is above them, he is called intelligent. (When) the inner self, devoid of knowledge of nature 5, and (as it were) non-intelligent 6, understands that which is

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beyond nature, then understanding the Kshetra 1, and with an understanding comprehending all, and transcending the qualities 2 he is released from all sins.

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