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II ADHYAYA, 2 PÂDA, 9.
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superimposition ; for error and superimposition both are of the nature of change. And, on the other hand, they also cannot belong to Prakriti, since they are attributes of intelligent beings. For by superimposition we understand the attribution, on the part of an intelligent being, of the qualities of one thing to another thing; and this is the doing of an intelligent being, and moreover a change. Nor is it possible that superimposition and the like should take place in the soul only if it is in approximation to Prakriti. - They may take place just on account of the non-changing nature of the soul — Then, we reply, they would take place permanently. And that mere proximity has no effective power we have already shown under II, 1, 4. And if it is maintained that it is Prakriti only that migrates, is bound and released, how then can she be said to benefit the soul, which is eternally released ? That she does so the Sânkhyas distinctly assert, By manifold means Prakriti, helpful and endowed with the gunas, without any benefit to herself, accomplishes the purpose of the soul, which is thankless and not composed of the gunas' (Sarkhya Kå. 60).—The Sankhyas further teach that Prakriti, on being seen by any soul in her true nature, at once retires from that soul -'As a dancer having exhibited herself on the stage withdraws from the soul, so Prakriti withdraws from the soul when she has manifested herself to it' (59); "My opinion is that there exists nothing more sensitive than Prakriti, who knowing “I have been seen " does not again show itself to the soul' (61). But this doctrine also is inappropriate. For, as the soul is eternally released and above all change, it never sees Prakriti, nor does it attribute to itself her qualities; and Prakriti herself does not see herself since she is of non-intelligent nature; nor can she wrongly impute to herself the soul's seeing of itself as her own seeing of herself, for she herself is non-intelligent and the soul is incapable of that change which consists in seeing or knowing.-Let it then be said that the 'seeing' means nothing more than the proximity of Prakriti to the soul !—But this also does not help you; for, as said above, from that there would follow eternal seeing, since the two are in eternal
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