The Essence of the Tantra· 8.68 / 93

The Essence of the Tantra8.68

8.68

बुद्धितत्त्वात् अहङ्कारो येन बुद्धिप्रतिबिम्बिते वेद्यसम्पर्के कलुषे पुम्प्रकाशे अनात्मनि आत्माभिमानः शुक्तौ रजताभिमानवत्

Transliteration (IAST)

buddhitattvāt ahaṅkāro yena buddhipratibimbite vedyasamparke kaluṣe pumprakāśe anātmani ātmābhimānaḥ śuktau rajatābhimānavat

— from the principle of intellect ; — the I-maker (ego-principle) ; — reflected in the intellect ; — defiled by contact with the knowable object ; — the conceit of selfhood in the non-self ; — like the conceit of silver in mother-of-pearl

From the principle of intellect arises the I-maker (ahaṅkāra), by which there is, in the light of the soul reflected in the intellect and defiled by contact with the knowable, the conceit of selfhood in what is not the self — like the conceit of silver in mother-of-pearl.