Verse 2.161

Sanskrit text and transliteration:

कार्योत्पादात्पुरा सूत्रं मृद्वत्सदविभागवत् ।
कारणं कार्यमुत्पाद्य कार्यतामिव गच्छति ॥ १६१ ॥

kāryotpādātpurā sūtraṃ mṛdvatsadavibhāgavat |
kāraṇaṃ kāryamutpādya kāryatāmiva gacchati || 161 ||

English translation of verse 2.161:

Prior to the origination of its effect (viz., the Virāj), the Sūtrātman remains undifferentiated from Being (i.e., Brahman) which is its cause. After giving rise to the effect, as clay (gives rise to its effect), it becomes as it were the effect.

Notes:

If the Sūtrātman exists prior to the Virāj, why is it, it may be asked, that it is not known to be such? It is only when it gives rise to the Virāj which is its effect that it becomes fit enough to be spoken of as the cause of the Virāj, in the same way as clay when it changes into the form of a pot becomes fit enough to be spoken of as the cause of something. Till then it remains undifferentiated from its own cause, viz.. Brahman, and does not manifest itself as an effect. And so nothing could be said about it till it manifests as the Virāj.