Chapter 110

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Creatures are seen to be afflicted by diverse meansand almost continually. Tell me, O grandsire, in what way can oneovercome all those difficulties.’

“Bhishma said, ‘Those members of the regenerate class that duly practise,with restrained souls, the duties that have been laid down in thescriptures for the several modes of life, succeed in overcoming all thesedifficulties. They that never practise deceit, they whose behaviour isrestrained by salutary restrictions, and they that control all worldlydesires, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that do not speakwhen, addressed in evil language, they that do not injure others whenthemselves injured, they that give but do not take, succeed in overcomingall difficulties. They that always give hospitable shelter to guests,they that do not indulge in malice, they that are constantly engaged inthe study of the Vedas, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. Thosepersons who, being conversant with duties, adopt that behaviour towardsparents which they should, they that abstain from sleeping during theday, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that do not commit anykind of sin in thought, word, and deed, they that never injure anycreature, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. Those kings that donot, under the influence of passion and covetousness, levy oppressivetaxes, and those that protect their own dominions, succeed in overcomingall difficulties. They that go to their own wedded wives in seasonwithout seeking the companionship of other women, they that are honestand attentive to their Agni-hotras, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. They that are possessed of courage and that, casting awayall fear of death, engage in battle, desirous of victory by fair means,succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that always speak truth inthis world even when life is at stake, and that are exemplars for allcreatures to imitate succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They whoseacts never deceive, whose words are always agreeable, and whose wealth isalways well spent, succeed in, overcoming all difficulties. ThoseBrahmanas that never study the Vedas at hours not intended for study, andthat practise penances with devotion, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. Those Brahmanas that betake themselves to a life ofcelibacy and Brahmacharya, that perform penances, and that are cleansedby learning, Vedic knowledge, and proper vows, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. They that have checked all the qualities that appertain toPassion and Darkness, that are possessed of high souls, and that practisethe qualities that are called Good, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. They of whom no creature stands in fear and those that donot fear any creature themselves, they that look upon all creatures astheir own selves, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. Those bullsamong men that are good, that are never inspired with grief at the sightof other people’s prosperity, and that abstain from all kinds of ignoblebehaviour, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that bow to allthe gods, that listen to the doctrines of all creeds, that have faith,and that are endued with tranquil souls, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. They that do not desire honour for themselves, that givehonours unto others, that bow down unto those that deserve their worship,succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that perform Sraddhas on theproper lunar days, with pure minds, from desire of offspring, succeed inovercoming all difficulties. They that restrain their own wrath andpacify the wrath of others, and that never get angry with any creature,succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that abstain, from theirbirth, from honey and meat and intoxicating drinks, succeed in overcomingall difficulties. They that eat for only supporting life, that seek thecompanionship of women for the sake only of offspring and that open theirlips for only speaking what is true, succeed in overcoming alldifficulties. They that worship with devotion the god Narayana, thatSupreme Lord of all creatures, that origin and destruction of theuniverse, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. This Krishna here, ofeyes red as the lotus, clad in yellow robes, endued with mightyarms,–this Krishna who is our well-wisher, brother, friend, andrelative,–is Narayana of unfading glory. He covers all the worlds like aleathern case, at his own pleasure. He is the puissant Lord, ofinconceivable soul. He is Govinda, the foremost of all beings. ThisKrishna who is ever engaged in doing what is agreeable and beneficial toJishnu, as also to thee, O king, is that foremost of all beings, thatirresistible one, that abode of eternal felicity. They that with devotionseek the refuge of this Narayana, called also Hari, succeed in overcomingall difficulties. They that read these verses about the overcoming ofdifficulties, that recite them to others, and that speak of them untoBrahmanas, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. I have now, O sinlessone, told thee all those acts by which men may overcome all difficultiesboth here and hereafter.'”