JDharma.
 

54                          ALBERUNPS INDIA.

the body, the traces of the impressions of the senses
remain in it, and are not completely eradicated, as it
longs for the world of sense and returns towards it.
And since it in these stages undergoes changes entirely
opposed to each other, it is thereby subject to the
influences of the three primary forces. What, therefore,
can the soul do, its wing being cut, if it is not suffi¬
ciently trained and prepared ? "

Vasudeva says : " The best of men is the perfectly

Page 27. wise one, for he loves God and G od loves him. How
many times has he died and been born again ! During
his whole life he perseveringly seeks for perfection till
he obtains it."

vuknw           In the Vislmu-Dharma, Markandeya, speaking of the

spiritual beings, says : " Brahman, Karttikeya, son of
Mahadeva, Lakshmi, who produced the Amrita, Daksha,
who was beaten by Mahadeva, Umadevi, the wife of
Mahadeva, each of them has been in the middle of this
kalpa, and they have been the same already many
times."

Varahamihira speaks of the influences of the comets,
and of the calamities which befall men when they
appear. These calamities compel them to emigrate
from their homes, lean from exhaustion, moaning over
their mishap, leading their children by the hand along
the road, and speaking to each other in low tones,
" We are punished for the sins of our kings ; " where¬
upon others answer, "Not so. This is the retribution
for what we have done in the former life, before we
entered these bodies."

When Mani was banished from Eranshahr, he went
to India, learned metempsychosis from the Hindus, and
transferred it into his own system. He says in the Book
of Mysteries: " Since the Apostles knew that the souls
are immortal, and that in their migrations they array
themselves in every form, that they are shaped in every
animal, and are cast in the mould of every figure, they