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Srimad Bhagvata Mahapurana: Book 10: Chapter 54: Verses 43-53
By the Lord's Maya (deluding potency) is engendered this self-deception in the mind of thosewho are identified with the body, that a certain individual is your friend, another your enemy and a third,neutral to you. Indeed the transcendent Self, which is but common to all
embodied beings, is perceived by the ignorant as varied, even as a luminary (such as thesun or the moon) is viewed as different (in relation to the different vessels full of water in which the luminary is reflected), or as the sky is conceived as different (in relation to the different apartments or jars in which it is enclosed). This (objective) body (psycho-physical organism), constituted as it is of physical substances (the five gross elements), the (five)senses and the objects of their perception (viz., sound, touch, sight, taste and smell), and
has a beginning and an end, and which has been projected through ignorance on the Self, subjects the soul (which is essentially free from birth and death) to metempsychosis. There is no union or disunion of the Self with or from any other substance (such as the body, or the eye with which it is perceived), there being no such substance (other than the Self), O virtuous lady, and the appearance of such other substances (as the body or the eyes) being attributable to the Self (alone), (just) as there is no union or disunion of the sun with or from the eye and colour (both of which owe their existence and appearance to the sun itself). Changes commencing from birth (and ending in death) pertain to the body alone and never to the soul, (just) as waxing and waning etc., pertain to the phases (of the moon) and not to the moon itself (which is ever the same). And indeed death (of the body) is attributed to the soul in the same way as the total disappearance of illumination is spoken of as Amavasya (denoting the disappearance of the moon itself). (Just) as a dreaming man perceives his own self (as invested with a body etc.,) as well as the objects of perception (sound, taste and so on), and also experiences pleasure, pain etc. as the fruit of his past doings), even though none of these (really) exists (not even the body through which he seems to enjoy the pleasures etc., his actual body lying inert all the while), so does the ignorant Jiva undergo transmigration. Therefore, completely getting rid-through realization of Truth-of grief born of ignorance, that withers and infatuates the soul, be consoled, 0 young lady of beautiful smiles ! Sri Suka went on : Shaking off disconsolation when thus comforted by Lord Balarama,. the slim lady eased her mind by recourse to reason. Allowed to escape with life alone, his army as well as his glory having been smashed by his enemies (the Yadus), and his own hopes belied, and brooding over his disfigurement, Rukmi built for his residence a large city, Bhojakata by name. (Solemnly) declaring that he would not (re-) enter Kundinapura without killing the evil-minded Krsna and recovering Rukmini (his younger sister), he lived there in a spirit of indignation. Having thus completely routed (hostile) kings and brought Rukmini (the daughter of Bhismaka) to Dwaraka, the Lord espoused her with due ceremony, 0 jewel among the Kurus !
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