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The soul forgets its true nature and remains deprived of it until it conquers it again. Just as the sun is inherently luminous but cannot reveal its form when obscured by clouds, so too is the soul. Just as the sun gradually reappears in its true form when the clouds disperse, so too does the soul, upon the attainment of karma-kṣaya or क्षयोपशम, begin to see its pure nature.
However, to become self-aware in this way, one needs certain means. Just as a seed, even with the potential for a sprout, requires means to manifest it, so too does the soul.
These means are the listening to and contemplation of the Dharma-śāstras. The individual who listens to the Dharma-śāstras and practices them with their own understanding, their soul inevitably leans towards self-manifestation, and they do not face any further significant difficulties on this path. Their situation is like that of a lost person being guided back to the right path.
Even so, why do people find it difficult to turn towards this path? The answer is clear: here, one finds neither praise nor condemnation of enemies. Here, one finds a treasure trove of worldly and otherworldly teachings, the fruits of which are attained only after much practice. No one desires to drink bitter medicine. But those who have the courage to drink it become enamored of its qualities. However, those who have a strong क्षयोपशम naturally gravitate towards this path.
As mentioned earlier, Dharma-śāstras are actually the name given to those texts that do not contain stories of wealth or desire, but rather describe the means of liberation and the true nature of things. This is divided into three sections: theoretical, instructive, and historical. It is also said to have four अनुयोग: द्रव्यानुयोग, चरणकरणानुयोग, गणितानुयोग, and धर्मकथानुयोग. Of these, द्रव्यानुयोग deals with theoretical topics, चरणकरणानुयोग with ethical topics, गणितानुयोग with mathematical knowledge, and धर्मकथानुयोग with historical and instructive topics.