1845.] Veddnta-Sara, or Essence of the Vtd&nta. 117 



This fourth, the soul in its pure state*, if, like a burning iron-ball, 

 not distinguished from the unconsciousness and the soul, in which it 

 is inherent, is the literal meaning of the great sentence, (viz., that 

 art thou, which the teacher first addresses to his pupil) if distinguish- 

 ed, it is the real meaning of the great sentence. 



The unconsciousness possesses two powers, the covering and the il- 



Covering power of un- lusivef . The unconsciousness, though finite, hides 

 by its covering power the infinite, incorporeal soul, 



^H VU*TRb by obstructing the mind of the observer, in the 

 same way, as even a small cloud covers the orb of the sun, which ex- 

 tends many miles, by obstructing the direction of the eye of the ob- 

 server. 



Thus it is said, " As an ignorant man, the eye of whom is cover- 

 ed by a cloud, thinks the sun to be covered by a cloud and without 

 radiance, so the self as soul, which is infinite knowledge, appears be- 

 fore the eye of the ignorant as constrained in limits." 



When the soul is covered by this power, then arises the impression 

 of dominion, possession, happiness, misery and of other notions, con- 

 nected with material things, as from a rope, which is not perceived to 

 be a rope (which is covered by its own ignorance) the idea of a snake 

 Illusive power. \ s produced. — As the ignorance with regard to a 

 R^tTCIT^* rope, produces by its own power (the idea of) a 

 snake and similar things upon a rope which is not perceived to be a 

 rope (which is covered by its own ignorance) so shows the unconsci- 

 ousness (ignorance) by its own power all the expanses of the universe 

 upon the soul, which is covered by ignorance. This power is called 

 the illusive power. 



It is said, " The illusive power of ignorance creates the world from 

 the internal organisms of Bramha's egg." 



* That is to say, considered in its absolute state, in which all differences and at- 

 tributes are annihilated, and which can only be expressed by the notions of infinite 

 existence and knowledge. 



t There is this difference between the two powers, the one is negative, there is 

 an absence of truth, because it is concealed ; the second, however, is a creative 

 power, it creates appearances, illusions which claim to be realities ; the term illu- 

 sive does not fully express the Sanscrit w r ord, but I did not find a more adequate 

 one. 



