"God's form is composed of _sat_, _chit_ and _ananda_; and yet you assert that form to be a corruption of the _satwa_ quality! He is a wretch who denies form to God; touch not, behold not that slave of Death. The Buddhists are atheists from not respecting the Vedas. Atheism in a believer of the Vedas is a worse heresy than Buddhism. Vyas composed his aphorisms for the salvation of men, but the interpretation of these aphorisms by the 'school of illusion' (_máyá-vádi_) is the cause of perdition. "Vyas's aphorisms accept the theory of effect (_parinám_). God is an incomprehensible power, but He is manifested as creation. The philosopher's stone produces gold without undergoing any change in itself, similarly God takes the form of creation without suffering any corruption. Objecting to this aphorism as an error of Vyas, you have set up the theory of _bivarta_ by a fanciful interpretation [of it]. Error consists in a creature imagining I am one with the Creator. But creation is not unreal, it is only perishable. The great word _Pranaba_ is the image of God; from that _Pranaba_ all the Vedas have sprung in this world. The words Thou art That (_tat-twam asi_) when applied to creation are only fractional (_prádeshika_), but you, without minding the _Pranaba_, call these words the supreme truth." Thus did the Master find a hundred faults with the fanciful interpretation [of the Vedantists]. The Bhattáchárya supported his own position, using refutation, feint, pressure, and other logical devices. But the Master answered them all and established His own view. The Vedas [he maintained] assert only three things about God, _viz._, our relation to Him, devotional exercises, and love (our need) as the fruit of devotion. All the rest [attributed to Him] is mere conjecture. The words of the Veda are self-evident, and should not be interpreted with the help of conjecture. But Sárvabhauma was not to blame for it; he was merely carrying out God's will, in expounding atheistical philosophy based on fancy. _Vide_ the _Padma Puran_, Part II. canto 62, verse 31. The Bhattáchárya was speechless and motionless with wonder as he heard these words. The Master addressed him, "Marvel not, O Bhattáchárya! The supreme manhood consists in faith in God. Even those who directly commune with God (_átmáram_) adore Him, the Supreme Being's attributes are so incomprehensible! Witness the _Bhágabat_, I. vii. 10, Suta's words to Saunaka and others: _'Such are the attributes of Hari that even mystical and passionless recluses feel for Him unreasoning devotion.'_