Argument. All knowledge is derived by one’s own attention and personal exertion, joined with his reliance on the grace of God. Ráma said:—Sir, your knowledge of all truths, and the light of your holy discourses, have gratified me as much, as the cooling moon-beams gratify the medicinal plants (whence the moon is called _oshadhísa_ or lord of medicinal drugs). 2. Your gentle and purifying words are as gratifying to my ears, as the beautiful and sweet flowers delight the external senses (by their colours and odours). (Sweet words are often compared with flowers by Persian and Urdu poets: as, _guleazrouzeijaved. Elahikar sakhur meriko up phol_.) 3. Sir, if the exertions of men, as you said, be the causes of their success, how was it that Prahláda came to be enlightened without his effort or attempt? (in obtaining his divine knowledge without his learning or help of a preceptor). 4. Vasishtha replied:—Yes Ráma, it was by his manly exertion, that the highminded Prahláda had acquired his divine knowledge; and there was no other cause (of his knowing and having whatever he knew and possessed). 5. The soul of man is the same as the spirit of Náráyana, (which means abiding in man); and there is no difference between them, as there is none between the oil and the sesamum seed; and as the cloth and its whiteness, and the flower and its fragrance are not distinct things. (Because the spirit of God was breathed into the nostrils of man. Náráyana and Purusha both mean the spirit dwelling in man). 6. And Vishnu is the same with his spirit or the soul of man, and the human soul is the same with Vishnu (which means the inherent spirit); Vishnu and the soul are synonymous terms as the plant and the vegetable. 7. Prahláda came at first to know the soul by himself (of his own intuition), it was afterwards by means of his intellectual power, that he was led to the persuasion and made many proselytes after his own example. 8. It was by his own desert, that Prahláda obtained his boon from Vishnu; and it was by the exercise of his own reasoning, that he came to the knowledge of the eternal Mind. 9. Sometimes the soul is awakened of itself by one’s own intuition, and at others it is roused by the grace of the personal god Vishnu, owing to one’s faith in his person. (As it is said: “Thy faith will save thee”). 10. And though this god may be pleased with his prolonged service and devout worship, yet he is unable to confer spiritual knowledge to one devoid of his reasoning faculty. (Or to one who has no understanding. Hence gross idolators can have no salvation, which is to be had by spiritual knowledge only. Blind faith is of no good, without the light of reason).