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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 11: Chapter 3: Verses 37-42
That which was one before creation became known as Pradhana (or Prakrti) of triple nature, consisting of Sattva, Rajas and Tamas. Then by itsactive power it became known as the Sutratma and by its power of understanding it became known as the Mahat-tattva. (Again,) as a condition investing the Jiva or individual soul it
became known as Ahankara (the ego). The incomprehensible Brahma alone shines as the deities presiding over the senses, the senses and the objects of senses and the experience of pleasure and pain. The (gross) effect and the (subtle) cause are all Brahma, because It
is the Cause of both. This Atma (Brahma) was never born and will never die, it neither
grows nor undergoes decay, because It is the witness of the different states of those objects which come into existence and die away. It is omnipresent and eternally abiding pure consciousness; yet like Prana (life-breath) It appears as many under the influence. of the
senses. The vital air, as a matter of fact, follows everywhere the Jiva, whether born of egg, womb, sweat or sprung out of soil, and itself remains unchanged in the different bodies. (Even so) the Atma too remains unaffected (in the state of sound sleep) when the senses are oblivious and also when the ego is dormant, i.e., the subtle body has become functionless. (Its continuity even atthattime is proved by the fact that) we remember the Atma (on waking as the witness of the enjoyment of sound sleep). Just as the light of the sun shines to clear eyes, so the truth of the Self is directly revealed to the pure heart of the man who is earnestly devoted to the Lord and intensely desires to obtain His holy feet, and has thus freed his mind from the impurities born of qualities and actions. (40)
The king submitted : (Pray) describe for us that Yoga of action through which man in his present life soon destroys his Karma and, thus purified, attains that supreme knowledge which follows dissociation from all actions. Formerly, in the presence of my father
(Ikswaku) I put this question to the Rsis (Sanatkumara etc.); but those Rsis (sons of Brahma) did not answer it. (Pray,) tell me why they did not reply.
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