). The first question then,
becomes, 'Who is it that exalteth the unpurified soul?' The act
of exaltation implies a raising of the soul from its earthly
connections. The answer to this is, 'Brahma, i.e., Veda or
self-knowledge.' The second question--'What are those that keep
company with the soul during its progress of purification?' The
answer is, 'Self-restraint and other qualities, which are all of
a god-like or divine nature.' The third question is.--Who lead
the soul to its place (state) of rest? The answer is, 'Dharma,
_i.e._, rectitude, morality, and religious observances.' It is
often asserted that one must pass through the observances
(Karma) before attaining to a state of Rest or Truth or Pure
Knowledge. The last question is,--'On what is the soul
established!' The answer, according to all that has been
previously said, is 'Truth or Pure Knowledge.' For the soul that
is emancipated from and raised above all carnal connections, is
no longer in need of observances and acts (Karma) but stays
unmoved in True Knowledge (Janana).
[69] Nilakantha explains both Dhriti and Dwitiya in a spiritual
sense. There is no need, however, of a spiritual explanation
here. By Dhriti is meant steadiness of intelligence; by Dwitiya
lit, a second. What Yudhishthira says is that a steady
intelligence serves the purposes of a helpful companion.
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