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The method of Nature's operation
Karika XVI
There is the Unmanifest as the cause (gone before); it operates through the three Attributes, by blending and modification, like water, on account of the difference arising from the predominance of one or the other of the Attributes.
TATTVA-KAUMUDI
Through the Attributes
[XVI116
(116) "Operates through the three Attributes".-At the time of the cosmic dissolution, each of the three Attributes, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, continues its homogeneous modifications. Modification forms the very nature of the Attributes; and as such, they can never, for a moment, remain unmodified. Hence even at the time of dissolution, each of the Attributes, Sattva and the rest, operates through its own particular form* [This is at the period of dissolution].
By a blending of
the Attributes
(117) Another method of operation (which comes in at the creative period) is next stated-" By blending". The term 'samudaya' signifies samet ya udaya', appearing in combination, i. e., blending. This blending of the Attributes is not possible. without some sort of relative subserviency among them; and this relative subserviency again is not possible without some diversity among the Attributes;-this diversity again is not possible without one being suppressive of the other ( i. e., unless the Attributes are so constituted that they suppress one another).-This is the second method of operation which brings about the Great Principle and other products.**
*This is the state of equilibrium of the Attributes, during which no evolution is possible.
** The various evolutions from Nature are due to the disturbance of equilibrium among the Attributes, which rouses the hitherto dormant, evolving energy of Nature, whence issue forth the various manifestations -Intellect and the rest.
