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BOOK II: THE PRINCIPLE OF KNOWLEDGE
301
that which is undertaken by the soul; it is said to be manifold; its fruit is either pleasure or pain. (124)
Knowledge is comprehension of objects. What do we mean here by object? Everything which stands out with distinction (vibhaga) between self and other. Clear-distinction (vikalpa) [between self and other) is the presentation of the object's appearance (akara). So we call knowledge the clear-distinction of an object with reference to its own appearance and appearances strange to it, both showing themselves simultaneously as in the interior expanse of a looking-glass.
The deed is the thing done by the self: that positive-existence (sadbhava) which is every moment effected by the self, assuming now this and then that mental-state (bhava), is called a deed (karman); for it is attained (prapyate) by the self. And, though uniform, it is manifold (successful or futile); according as the vicinity of material-karman as a condition (required for the purpose) occurs or does not occur.
The pleasure or pain to be brought about by the deed is the fruit of the deed. The fruit of a deed, when due (insert yad) to the negation of the vicinity of material-karman as an accessory-condition, is characterized by serenity (anakulatva) and is normal (prakrti-bhuta); it is happiness. But the fruit of a deed, when due to the occurrence of the vicinity of material-karman as an accessory-condition, is abnormal (vikrti-bhuta), since the characteristic of happiness is absent; it is misery
Thus we have ascertained the characteristic form of knowledge, deed, and the fruit of deed.
Now he ascertains that knowledge, deed, and the fruit of deed are the self:
II.33. The self is evolvement by nature; this evolution is with reference to knowledge, deed or fruit of the deed; therefore knowledge, deed, and fruit of the deed must be considered to be the self. (125)
Now the self has evolution for self, because we have ourselves stated that “the self is itself evolution.” The evolution, since it has here consciousness for self, is fit to be knowledge, deed, or fruit of the deed, since consciousness consists of these. Therefore, knowledge, deed, and fruit of the deed are the self.
Since with this definition of pure substance no connection with strange substances is possible, and since the modifications are dissolved in the substance, therefore the self consists in pure substance.
