Mr. H. T. CoLEBROOKE 0)1 the Philosophj/ of the Hindus. 41 



to them ; some involved in error ; others seeking knowledge. Souls there- 

 fore are numerous. " Qualities affect differently :" one is happy ; another 

 miserable; and again, another stupid, The gods are ever happy ; man, un- 

 happy ; inferior animals, dull. Were there but one soul, all would be 

 alike. 



The attributes of the several principles, material and immaterial, discrete 

 and undiscrete, perceptible and imperceptible, are compared and contrasted. 

 " A discrete principle," as is affirmed by the Sand hy as,* " is causable :" 

 it is uneternal " inconstant," one while apparent, at another time evanescent : 

 it is " unpervading," not entering into all; for effect is possessed with its 

 cause, not cause with its effect : it is acted upon, and " mutable," changing 

 from one body to another: it is " multitudinous;" for there are so many 

 minds, intellects, &c., as there are souls animating bodies : it is " supported," 

 resting upon its cause : it is involvable, " merging" one into another, and 

 implying one, the other : it is " conjunct," consisting of parts or qualities, as 

 sound, taste, smell, &c.: it is "governed," or dependent on another's will. 



" The undiscrete principle" is in all these respects the reverse : it is cause- 

 less ; eternal ; all pervading ; immutable, or unacted upon ; single, as being 

 the one cause of three orders of beings ; unsupported (relying but on 

 itself) ; uninvolvable (not merging, or implying) ; unconjunct, consisting of 

 no parts ; self-ruled. 



Discrete principles, as well as the undiscrete one, have the three qualities 

 of goodness, foulness, and darkness : the one (nature) having them in its 

 own right, as its form or properties ; the rest, because they are its effects : 

 as black yarn makes black cloth. They are undiscriminating, or " indiscri- 

 minate ;" not distinguishing quahty from quality, and confounding nature 

 with qualities : for nature is not distinct/from itself; nor are qualities sepa- 

 rate from it. They are " objects" of apprehension and enjoyment for every 

 soul, external to discriminative knowledge, but subjects of it. They are 

 " common" like an utensil, or like a harlot. They are " irrational" or unsen- 

 tient ; unaware of pain or pleasure : from an insensible lump of clay comes 

 an insensible earthen pot. They are "prolific;" one producing or gene- 

 rating another : nature producing intellect, and intellect generating con- 

 sciousness, and so forth. 



» Cdr. 10, 11. 



Vol. I. G 



