न विद्यते या सा माया विद्याऽविद्या पराऽपरा ।
तमः प्रधानं प्रक्रतिर्बहुधा सैव भासते ॥ १ ॥
That which does not exist, that is illusive relativity, as knowledge, non-knowledge, the supreme, the non-supreme,
Darkness, prime matter, (and) Nature, so this manifoldly shines forth.
Commentary
The sage shows seven types of appearance that are caused by Illusive relativity, and which shine forth erroneously as reality. Illusive relativity is the greatest force causing error in the mind. The mind itself is a form of illusive relativity, because if it wasn't for the mind illusive relativity would not have the power it does have over the human mind. The spiritual texts give us many illustrations of illusive relativity:
In the Markandeya Purana we read: "The divine Goddess forcibly draws away the minds of even sages, and leads (them) into confusion."
The Brahma Naradiya Purana further declares: "That Supreme Sakti of this Vishnu, capable of absorbing the cosmos, in the form of existence and non-existence, is sung as knowledge and non-knowledge."
The Devi Purana describes the activities of illusive relativity: "It is called illusive relativity because it is the instrument of marvellous actions, producing unheard of results like dreams or jugglery."
The Ganesapurvatapini Upanishad (II.2) says: "So this illusive relativity is everywhere emanated by Vainayaki (Sakti)."
And finally the Bhagavad Gita (XVIII. 61) declares: "A Powerful God dwells in the heart region of all beings, O Arjuna, whirling all beings (as if) mounted on a machine by illusive relativity."
This is how the human mind is deluded by illusive relativity. The marvellous activity before our eyes, or in our minds, is limited with no absolute reality. No doubt it is wonderful to behold, but from a spiritual point of view it is tricky. The Absolute is forgotten and humans sink deeper and deeper into relative existence which never gives them any lasting peace of mind. The Bhagavad Gita (VII.14) offers this advice: "Indeed this divine composition of qualitative strands of nature is My illusive relativity, difficult to cross over: only those who enter into Me (the Absolute) cross over this illusive relativity." The sage puts illusive relativity into seven categories, while in Tantra-Maya is Five Fold, known as Pancha-Kanchuva (Five bindings) which are: Kala (time), niyati (restraint), raga (passion), vidya (relative knowledge) and kala (cleavage).
Crossing over to the Absolute means that one is free from the conditionings imposed by illusive relativity. As the Gita sage points out, this is difficult. The human mind is weak and impressionable. Narayana Guru has declared that illusive relativity does not exist, that is to say, it had no permanent existence, but shines forth creating confusion. The Drigdrisyaviveka (verse 13 ff.) also explains the workings of illusive relativity.