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CHAPTER VII, 27.
269
If again you think your power over our objects is constant", then take in colours by the nose, take in tastes by the eye, take in smells by the ear, take in (objects of) touch by the tongue, and take in sounds by the skin, and also (objects of) touch by the understanding. For those who are powerful have no rules (to govern them); rules are for the weak. You should accept enjoyments unenjoyed before; you ought not to enjoy what has been tasted (by others). As a pupil goes to a preceptor for Vedic learning, and having acquired Vedic learning from him, per. forms the directions of the Vedic texts, so you treat as yours objects shown by us, both past and future", in sleep and likewise wakefulness. Besides, when creatures of little intelligence are distracted in mind, life is scen to be supported, when our objects' perform their functions. And even after having carried on numerous mental operations, and indulged in dreams, a creature, when troubled by desire to enjoy, does run to objects of sense only. One entering upon enjoyments, resulting from mental operations (alone), and not connected with objects
'l.c. if you can enjoy objects independently of the senses, whenever you choose to perform your operations. This, says Argona Misra, meels an objection which might be made, that the mind at the time stated does not desire objects.
· Sic in original. It comes twice.
• Eating what has been tasted by another is a cause of degradaLion. Cf. Khåndogya, p. 81; Maitri, p. 103; and p. 363 infra.
• You incorrectly attribute to yourself the quality of apprebending them.
• I. e. presented before you by us.
• This is not quite clear. Arguna Misra has, 'not past, not future ;' literally, 'not come, not gone!
* Viz. smell, sound, &c.; not by the mere operations of the mind, but by obtaining the objects, is lise supported.
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