20. That all this variety is no variety at all, nor all these any entity in reality; all apparent realities are mere unrealities, and it is the end of all our conceptions and inductions, that is the only reality (_i.e._ God the first and last of all--the Alpha and Omega). 21. The entire nihility of the visible world, is the state of its _nirvána_ or extinction; and the settled knowledge of this in any one, constitutes his supreme felicity. 22. This state is attainable by one’s pure understanding, and his habit of constant reconsideration; joined with a knowledge of the _sástras_, and scrutiny into the right sense of significant words and their significates. 23. This work is the best guide to liberation, by means of its constant study; or else it is attainable by no other means, save by enlightenment of the understanding. ज्ञानतोमुक्तिरेब । 24. Neither pilgrimage nor charity, nor sacred ablutions or learning; nor meditation or Yoga contemplation, nor religious austerities nor sacrifice of any kind (is liberation ever attainable by mankind, except by means of divine knowledge). 25. The world is only a delusion, causing the unreal <to> appear as real; it is the empty vacuum only which presents the appearance of the world, which is as a dream in the vacancy of the Intellect. 26. No religious austerity nor pilgrimage, is ever able to remove our error of the world; they can at the best procure for us the reward of heaven, but never secure unto us our liberation or final beatitude. 27. Our error is extirpated only, by the light of the _sástras_ and of our good understanding; but above all, it is spiritual knowledge alone, which is the best means to our liberation and final salvation. 28. But it is the vivid light of the scriptures, which is sure to destroy our error of the world; as the sunshine serves to dispel the gloom of night. 29. The light, clearness and shade, of creation, preservation and destruction respectively, appear by turns in the clear vacuous mirror of the Intellect; as the ventilation of breeze in air, and fluctuation of waves in water. 30. As the rudiment of the future form, is contained in the heart or embryo of every thing; and as the air contains in its incessant motion (_sadágati_) within itself; such is the existence of the world, inherent in the Divine Intellect, and so has it its evolution and dissolution therein, like the rise and fall of wind in empty air. CHAPTER CLXXV. PARAMÁRTHA GÍTÁ OR LECTURE ON TRANCENDENTALISM OR THE SOLITY. Argument:--The appearance of the world in our Ignorance, and its Disappearance before the light of true knowledge. Vasishtha continued:--The vacuity of the Intellect which presented the shadow of a dream at first, could not possibly assume the form of a causal and sensible body (as that of Brahmá), in order to be visible and form the visible world. For how is it possible for the intellectual vacuum, to have a bodily form at all.