Verse 31

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The I-maker in three kinds· Verses 23–31

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From the great principle as it changed, which had come out of the strength of the Bhagavan, I-making came to be, the power of doing, and it is of three kinds: the kind that turns into change, the fiery kind and the dark kind, and out of it comes the being of the mind, of the senses, and of the great elements too. It is the Person of a thousand heads whom they plainly call the Endless, whose name is Sankarsana, and who is made of the elements, the senses and the mind. Being the doer, being the instrument and being the thing done: that is the mark of I-making; or else being at peace, being terrible and being dulled.

From the changing kind as it altered, the principle of mind came to be, and by its intending and its wavering desire arises. This they know as the one named Aniruddha, the ruler over the senses, dark as the autumn waterlily, to be won slowly by those who hold to yoga. From the fiery kind as it altered came the principle of understanding, good woman: it is the knowing of things as they show themselves, and a help to the senses. Doubt, then mistaking, then certainty, then remembering, and sleep as well: these are called the marks of understanding, each by its own working. The senses too are of the fiery kind, divided into acting and knowing. The power of acting belongs to the breath, and the power of knowing to the understanding.