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 166 THE ARAB AL-BIRUNI ON HINDU RELIGION senses remain in it and are not completely eradicated, as it longs for 'the world of sense and returns toward it. And since in these stages it undergoes changes entirely opposed to each other, it is thereby subject to the influences of the three primary forces. What, there- RUINS AT UJJAIN, SAID TO HAVE BEEN THE NATIVE TOWN OF VAKAHAMIHIRA. fore, can the soul do, its wing being cut, if it is not sufficiently trained and prepared? " In the Vishnu-Dharma, Markandeya, speaking of the spiritual beings, says: " Brahma, Karttikeya, son of Mahadeva, Lakshmi, who produced the Ambrosia, Daksha, who was beaten by Mahadeva, and Umadevi, the wife of Mahadeva, each of them has lived in the middle of this present age, and they have already been the same many times." In similar vein the astronomer Varahamihira speaks of the influences of the comets,