अन्याधिष्ठिते पूर्ववत्, अभिलापात् ॥ २४ ॥
anyādhiṣṭhite pūrvavat, abhilāpāt || 24 ||
anya-adhiṣṭhite—Into what is ruled by another; pūrvavat—as in the previous cases; abhilāpāt—for so the Sruti states.
24. (The descending soul enters) into what is ruled by another (Jiva or soul) as in the previous cases (viz. becoming ether etc.); for so the Sruti states.
A view is put forward that the soul’s passage through the stages of corn etc. is not a mere connection with them, as in the earlier stages with ether etc., but that it is actually born in the form of corn etc. For the Sruti says, “Then he is born as rice” etc. (Chh. 5. 10. 6). It also seems reasonable that those who fall from heaven after having exhausted their good deeds should be born as herbs, plants, etc., owing to their bad Karma such as the killing of animals that remains. So the word ‘born’ is to be taken literally. The Sutra refutes this view and says that the word ‘born’ implies mere connection with corn, herbs, etc., which are animated by other souls actually born as such. For in these stages there is no reference to their Karma, even as in the earlier stages of ether etc. They enter these plants etc. independently of their Karma, and while there, they do not experience the fruits at all. Where birth in the primary sense takes place and experience of the fruits of action begins, it is made clear by a reference to Karma, as in, “Those whose conduct has been good will quickly attain a good birth” (Chh. 5. 10. 7). Therefore the descending souls only dwell, as it were, in plants etc. animated by other souls till they get the opportunity for a new birth.