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BOOK 2, LECTURE I.
343
whether an action is good or bad, (&c., see § 18, all down to) hell or not. Everything down to a blade of grass (consists of them). (21)
'And one should know the intermixture1 of the elements by an enumeration of them. Earth is the first element, water the second, fire the third, wind the fourth, and air the fifth. These five elements are not created, directly or indirectly, nor made; they are not effects nor products; they are without beginning and end; they always produce effects, are independent of a directing cause or everything else; they are eternal. Some, however, say that there is a Self besides the five elements. What is, does not perish; from nothing nothing comes. (22)
'All living beings, all things, the whole world consists of nothing but these (five elements). They are the primary cause of the world, even down to a blade of grass. (23)
'A man buys and causes to buy, kills and causes to kill, cooks and causes to cook, he may even sell and kill a man. Know, that even in this case he does not do wrong.'
These (Nâstikas) cannot inform you, (&c., see §§ 15-18, all down to) they stick (as it were) in pleasures and amusements.
Thus I have treated of the second man (who believes that) everything consists of the five elements. (24)
Now I shall treat of the third man (who believes that) the Self is the cause of everything.
1 Samavâya.
2 The word used in the text is îsara =îsvara, but afterwards purisa purusha is used in its place. Both words are synonymous
