Arjun said - "You have greatly obliged me to explain the knowledge of Brahm to me." Vaasudev said - "There is a discourse regarding Brahm, between a preceptor and his disciple. Once upon a time a disciple questioned his preceptor Braahman - "What is the highest good? I wish to know it." So preceptor said to his disciple - "I shall explain you everything to clear your doubts." At this the disciple asked - "Where am I? Where are you? Explain me the highest truth. From what source have sprung all these creatures - mobile or immobile? How do these creatures sustain themselves? What is their age? What is truth? What is penance? What attributes are called good? What paths are called as auspicious? What is happiness, and what is sin? Please answer my questions truly and correctly. Afraid of worldly life we have become desirous of achieving Emancipation."

Vaasudev said - "When that disciple asked his preceptor these questions, he duly answered these questions to him. The preceptor said - "In ancient times, Brahmaa himself told this. This is practiced by foremost Rishi and depending on the knowledge of Ved it involves as what constitutes the real entity. We regard the knowledge as the highest object, and renunciation as the best penance. He who knows the true object of the knowledge with certainty, which is incapable of being changed by circumstances can go anywhere he wishes and is regarded as the highest.

That man who sees the residence of all beings at one place, and who sees the unity in diversity, gets freed from misery. Who does not consider anything as "mine" even residing in this world, is regarded as Brahm. Who knows the truth about the qualities of Pradhaan (Nature), creation of all objects and is not proud of anything, without doubt is Emancipated. Who knows the great tree which has unmanifest for its seed sprout; understanding for its trunk; high consciousness of self for its branches; senses for the cell for its twigs; the five great elements as its flower-buds; the gross elements for its smaller boughs which always have leaves on them, which always bear flowers, upon which all existent objects depend, whose seed is Brahm who is eternal, he attains the immortality.

The men of wisdom, who understand them attain success. In olden days , Rishi Brihaspati, Bharadwaaj, Gautam, Bhaargav, Vashishth, Kashyap, Vishwaamitra and Atri gathered together under the leadership of Angiraa's son after getting tired of one another's actions and proceeded to ask Brahmaa Jee, "What is the highest good? How should a good man act? How one can be released from sin? What paths are auspicious for us? What is truth, what is sin? By what actions the two paths, northern and the southern are obtained? What is destruction? What is emancipation? What is birth and death of all existing objects?" I tell you, O Disciple, what Brahmaa Jee said to them.

Brahmaa Jee said - "It is from Truth that all creatures are born. They live by penance of action. In consequence of their own actions only, they live disassociated from their origin (when their acts seize, they return to their origin - Brahm). For Truth, when united with qualities, becomes always possessed with five indications. Brahm is Truth, penance is Truth, Prajaapati is Truth. It is from Truth that all creatures have sprung up. Truth is the Universe. It is for this Braahman who always devote their lives to Yog. Who have wrath and sorrow take refuge in Truth.

Now I tell you about those Braahman who are restrained by one another, who possess knowledge and who belong to four modes of life. Wise men say that religion or duty is one having four quarters. Now I will tell you about the path which is auspicious and good. That path has been trod over by many ;learned men to achieve Brahm. It is the highest and most difficult to understand. if you will be able to understand it, you are highly blessed. The first step is to adopt the mode of life of Brahmchaaree. The second step is domesticity. After this is residing in woods. Next one is the highest step - relating to Adhyaatm. One sees Light, space, Sun, wind, Indra and Prajaapati as long as Brahm is not seen.

Now I tell you the way how to attain Brahm. First you to understand them. The forest mode of life followed by life in woods subsisting on fruits and roots is laid down for the three classes (Varn). The domestic mode of life is for all the orders. Learned people say that Religion or duty has faith for its indication. Thus these are the paths leading to Devtaa. These paths are adopted by those who are good and wise by acts. The person of rigid vows who adopts any one of these modes separately, always succeeds in time to understand the production and destruction of creatures.

Now I will tell you accurately and with reasons, the elements which resides in parts in all objects. The great soul, the unmanifest, the egoism (consciousness of identity), eleven Indriyaan (Karm and Gyaan - action and knowledge), the five great elements, the five specific characteristics of five great elements (smell to earth, sound to space, taste to water, air, and fire) - these constitute the eternal creation. These elements are said to be 24 in number plus one. The person who understands the production and destruction of all these elements never meets with delusion. He who understands all the elements accurately, all the qualities, and all Devtaa (Devtaa of Indriyaan) is cleansed from all sins."

Brahmaa Jee further said - "That who is unmanifest, all-pervading, everlasting, immutable, should be known as the city of nine portals (read City of Eleven Gates), possessed of three qualities ( three Gun), consisting of five ingredients ( Panch Tattwa). Encompassed by eleven, including mind, which helps in distinguishing objects and having Understanding as the ruler, aggregating eleven (three qualities, five elements, Indriyaan as one, egoism and Understanding). The three ducts in it constantly support it. These are the three Nadee (rivers) - they run continually and have three qualities for their essence - Darkness, Passion and Goodness. These are called the three qualities. These are coupled with one another and depend on one another. They take refuge in one another, and follow each other. They are also joined with one another. The five principal elements are characterized by these three qualities. Goodness is the match of Darkness and Goodness is the match of Passion. Where Darkness is not there, Passion is seen to flow. Where Passion is not there, Goodness is seen to flow. Darkness should be known to have the night (obscurity) for its essence.

Darkness has three characteristics and is called delusion. Darkness has unrighteousness (sin) also for its indication, and it is always present in all sinful acts. This is the nature of Darkness. Passion is said to have activity for its essence (characteristics). It is the cause of further acts. When it prevails, its indication is production in all beings. Splendor, lightness, and faith are the forms of Goodness among all creatures and it is regarded by all good men.

Now I will tell you the true nature of their characteristics with reasons jointly and individually. Darkness - Complete delusion, ignorance, indecision in actions, sleep, haughtiness, fear, greed, grief, loss of memory, immature judgments, violation of rules of all conduct, blindness, boastfulness, unfriendliness or hostility, absence of faith, stupid reasoning, crookedness, sinful action, senselessness, solidity, absence of self-control etc characteristics belong to Darkness. other states of mind, connected with delusion, exist in the worlds all belong to Darkness. Frequent ill-speaking of others, disrespect of Braahman and Devtaa, vanity, wrath, un-forgiveness, vain eating, also belong to Darkness. Whoever men are characterized by these and other faults of similar kind belong to Darkness. They are ordained to go to Hell, they are born in lower orders. They become immobile entities, animals or beasts of burden, snakes, worms, insects, birds, or lunatics, or deaf and dumb human beings. Their course is always downward. I will tell you how they can improve and go upward.

Such people, by growing up in religious ceremonies, succeed through the rites of purification to go upward. Struggling to improve themselves, they at last attain the same regions as of Braahman. Ved say so. Born in other orders than human beings, and growing doing their own actions, they return to human beings order. Coming to sinful births, becoming Chaandaal, deaf, etc they attain higher and higher caste one after the other.

Attachment to objects of desires is called delusion. Rishi, Muni, Devtaa also become deluded, being desirous of pleasure. Darkness, delusion, the great delusion, great obscurity called wrath and the blinding obscurity called death - these are the five great afflictions. Wrath (not aversion or hatred as it is sometimes included in the list) is a great obscurity. I have already told you regarding to the color (nature), the characteristics, the source of Darkness accurately and in due order, but who is there who can understand it truly? Who is that truly sees it? In fact that is the quality of Darkness - seeing the reality in what is not real. The man who always bears these characteristics in mind will surely get freed from them."

Brahmaa Jee further said  - "Now I tell you about the Passion. Injuring, beauty, pleasure and pain, cold and heat, war, peace, arguments, dissatisfaction, endurance, might, pride, wrath, exertion, quarrel, jealousy, desire, buying and selling, cruelty, anxiety, false speech, boasting, vows and regulations, officiating at the sacrifices of others, wakefulness, attachment, devotion etc have been said to belong passion. These people who meditate on past, present and future; who are devoted to religion, wealth and pleasure (Dharm, Arth and Kaam); and who act out of impulse of desires are said to be enveloped by passion. These men also have downward course, they repeatedly born and are after pleasure. They desire for pleasure (which is of this world) and fruits (which belong to the other world). Whoever understands these qualities, can always uplift himself from lower order."

Brahmaa Jee said - "Now I will tell you the excellent quality, the third one, the Goodness. It is beneficial to all creatures and constitutes the conduct that good. Joy, satisfaction, nobility, enlightenment, happiness, fearlessness, contentment, forgiveness, courage, truth, straightforwardness, purity, cleverness, freedom from desires - these constitute the eternal religion of the Good. Confidence, modesty, renunciation, absence of cruelty and delusion, compassion to all creatures, believing that gifts, sacrifices, vows, penances, observance of duties, conduct, service, mode of life - all are worthless; whoever Braahman has these virtues he is surely wise and posses correct vision. They are like Devtaa capable of changing the things. Attaining to Heaven, they change all things by their very nature. They get whatever they desire for and enjoy them. The man who understands these characteristics, he enjoys everything without being attached to them."