Texts 23-24] Fundamental Principles of Material Nature
1089
becomes materially contaminated, however, the more consciousness becomes obscured. In pure consciousness one can perceive a slight reflection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As in clear, unagitated water, free from impurities, one can see everything clearly, so in pure consciousness or Kṛṣṇa consciousness one can see things as they are. One can see the reflection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and one can see his own existence as well. This state of consciousness is very pleasing, transparent and sober. In the beginning, consciousness is pure.
TEXTS 23-24
महत्त्वाद्विकुर्वाणाद्गवद्वीर्यसम्भवात् । 
    कियाशक्तिरहङ्कारस्त्रिविधः समपद्यत ॥२३॥ 
    वैकारिकस्तैजसश्च तामसश्च यतो भवः । 
    मनसश्चेन्द्रियाणां च भूतानां महतामपि ॥२४॥
mahat-tattvāt vikurvāṇād 
    bhagavad-vīrya-sambhavāt 
    kriyā-śaktir ahaṅkāras 
    tri-vidhaḥ samapadyata
vaikārikas taijasaś ca 
    tāmasaś ca yato bhavaḥ 
    manasaś cendriyāṇām ca 
    bhūtāṇām mahatām api
mahat-tattvāt—from the mahat-tattva; vikurvāṇāt—undergoing a change; bhagavat-vīrya-sambhavāt—evolved from the Lord's own energy; kriyā-śaktiḥ—endowed with active power; ahaṅkāraḥ—the material ego; tri-vidhaḥ—of the three kinds; samapadyata—sprang up; vaikārikaḥ—material ego in transformed goodness; taijasaḥ—material ego in passion; ca—and; tāmasaḥ—material ego in ignorance; ca—also; yataḥ—from which; bhavaḥ—the origin; manasaḥ—of the mind; ca—and; indriyāṇām—of the senses for perception and action; ca—and; bhūtāṇām mahatām—of the five gross elements; api—also.
TRANSLATION
The material energy springs up from the mahat-tattva which evolved from the Lord's own energy. The material ego is endowed predominantly with active power of three kinds—good, passionate and ignorant. From