25. The shadow of Súchí which was the only attendant on her devotion, hid herself under her feet for fear of the midday heat, so do people in difficulty find their best friends forsake their company in times of adversity. 26. The union of the three persons of the iron, the ascetic and shadowy Súchí, like the meeting of the three rivers (Asi, Varaná and Gangá from three sides), described a triangle in the form of the sacred city of Benares (or a delta of Gangá or the triune divinity). 27. This union of the three, like the confluence of three rivers of a Trivení (as Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvatí), purifies the sins of men by the three different hues of their waters, _viz._ the blue, black and white. 28. A person becomes acquainted with the unknown cause of all, only by _suchana_ or reasoning in his own mind; and by means of his selfconsciousness (of the truth or untruth of a thing). It is the cogitation of one’s own mind that is best guide in all things or else, O Ráma! there is no other better preceptor for men. CHAPTER LXXV. SÚCHÍ’S REGAINING HER FORMER FRAME. Argument. Brahmá’s appearance, admonition and blessing to Súchí and her resuscitation to life. Vasishtha continued:—After the lapse of a thousand years of long and painful devotion, the great father of creation (Brahmá), appeared to her under his pavilion of the sky, and bade her accept the preferred boon. 2. Súchí who was absorbed in her devotion, and her vital principle of life, remaining dormant in her, wanted the external organs of sense (to give utterance to her prayer), and remained only to cogitate upon the choice she should make. 3. She said to herself: “I am now a perfect being, and am delivered from my doubts; what blessing therefore is it, that I have need of asking (either for myself or others), beyond this state of beatitude; which I already possess in my peace and tranquility, and the bliss of contentment and self-resignation.” 4. I have got the knowledge of all that is to be known, and am set free from the web of errors; my rationality is developed, and what more is requisite to a perfect and rational being? 5. Let me remain seated as I am in my present state, I am in the light of truth; and quite removed from the darkness of untruth; what else is there for me to ask or accept? 6. I have passed a long period in my unreasonableness, and was carried away like a child, by the demon of the evil genius of earthly desires. (As a child wants to have everything he sees, not knowing whether it is good or bad for him to have it). 7. This desire is now brought under subjection by my power of ratiocination, and of what avail are all the objects of my desire to my soul? (There is nothing of any good to the soul, for nothing temporal is of any spiritual good).