The sages said, “O foremost among those who know everything, please explain the nature of bondage and liberation.” Sūta said, “I shall explain bondage, liberation and the means of liberation. Please listen attentively. A jīva is said to be in bondage if he is tied up by the noose of the eightfold primary tattvas: prakṛti etc. When freed from them he is called liberated. Perfect control and subjugation of prakṛti and its offshoots is mokṣa (salvation). A jīva when freed from bondage is called a liberated soul. The set of eight that binds is: prakṛti, buddhi (cosmic intellect), ahaṁkāra (cosmic ego) of the nature of attributes, and the five tanmatras—the cosmic principles of earth, water, air, fire and space. The body is evolved out of these eight. The body carries on activities. The activities generate the body. Thus birth and activities continue in a mutually-generating series.”