Chapter 79

“Sukra continued, ‘Know, then, O Devayani, that he that mindeth not theevil speeches of others, conquereth everything! The wise say that he is atrue charioteer who without slackening holdeth tightly the reins of hishorses.

He, therefore, is the true man that subdueth, without indulgingin his rising wrath. Know thou, O Devayani, that by him is everythingconquered, who calmly subdueth his rising anger. He is regarded as a manwho by having recourse to forgiveness, shaketh off his rising anger likea snake casting off its slough He that suppresseth his anger, he thatregardeth not the evil speeches of others, he that becometh not angry,though there be cause, certainly acquireth the four objects for which welive (viz., virtue, profit, desire, and salvation) Between him thatperformeth without fatigue sacrifices every month for a hundred years,and him that never feeleth angry at anything, he that feeleth not wrathis certainly the higher. Boys and girls, unable to distinguish betweenright and wrong, quarrel with each other. The wise never imitate them.’Devayani, on hearing this speech of her father, said, ‘O father, I know,also what the difference is between anger and forgiveness as regards thepower of each. But when a disciple behaveth disrespectfully, he shouldnever be forgiven by the preceptor if the latter is really desirous ofbenefiting the former. Therefore, I do not desire to live any longer in acountry where evil behaviour is at a premium. The wise man desirous ofgood, should not dwell among those sinfully inclined men who always speakill of good behaviour and high birth. But there should one live,–indeed,that hath been said to be the best of dwelling places,–where goodbehaviour and purity of birth are known and respected. The cruel wordsuttered by Vrishaparvan’s daughter burn my heart even as men, desirous ofkindling a fire, burn the dry fuel. I do not think anything moremiserable for a man in the three worlds than to adore one’s enemiesblessed with good fortune, himself possessing none. It hath been indeedsaid by the learned that for such a man even death would be better.'”