Chapter 31

“The Brahmana said, ‘There are three foes in the world. They are said tobe ninefold, agreeably to their qualities. Exultation, satisfaction, andjoy,–these three qualities appertain to Goodness.[84] Cupidity, wrath,and hatred, these three qualities are said to appertain to Passion.Lassitude, procrastination, and delusion, these three qualities appertainto darkness. Cutting these with showers of arrows, the man ofintelligence, free from procrastination, possessed of a tranquil soul,and with his senses under subjection, ventures to vanquish others.[85] Inthis connection, persons conversant with (the occurrence of) ancientcycles recite some verses which were sung in days of old by kingAmvarisha who had acquired a tranquil soul. When diverse kinds of faultswere in the ascendant and when the righteous were afflicted, Amvarisha ofgreat fame put forth his strength for assuming sovereignty.[86] Subduinghis own faults and worshipping the righteous, he attained to greatsuccess and sang these verses.–I have subdued many faults. I have killedall foes. But there is one, the greatest, vice which deserves to bedestroyed but which has not been destroyed by me! Urged by that fault,this Jiva fails to attain to freedom from desire. Afflicted by desire,one runs into ditches without knowing it. Urged by that fault, oneindulges in acts that are forbidden. Do thou cut off, cut off, thatcupidity with sharp-edged swords. From cupidity arise desires. Fromdesire flows anxiety. The man who yields to desire acquires manyqualities that appertain to passion. When these have been acquired, hegets many qualities that appertain to Darkness. In consequence of thosequalities, he repeatedly takes birth, with the bonds of body united, andis impelled to action. Upon the expiration of life, with body becomingdismembered and scattered, he once meets with death which is due to birthitself.[87] Hence, duly understanding this, and subduing cupidity byintelligence, one should desire for sovereignty in one’s soul. This is(true) sovereignty. There is no other sovereignty here. The soul,properly understood, is the king. Even these were the verses sung by kingAmbarisha of great celebrity, on the subject of sovereignty which he keptbefore him,–that king who had cut off the one foremost fault viz.,cupidity.'”