Chapter 176

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Tell me, O grandsire, whence and how happiness andmisery come to those that are rich, as also those that are poor, but wholive in the observance of different practices and rites.'[521]

“Bhishma continued, ‘In this connection is cited the old narrative ofwhat was sung by Sampaka who had obtained tranquillity and achievedemancipation for himself. In former times a certain Brahmana, renderedmiserable by a bad wife, bad dress, and hunger, and living in theobservance of the vow of renunciation, told me these verses,[522]’Diverse kinds of sorrow and happiness overtake, from the day of birththe person that is born on the earth. If he could ascribe either of themto the action of Destiny, he would not then feel glad when happiness cameor miserable when sorrow overtook him. Though thy mind is divested ofdesire, thou bearest yet a heavy load. Thou dost not seek to achieve thygood (i.e., emancipation). Art thou not successful in controlling thymind? If thou goest about, having renounced home and desirablepossessions, thou shalt taste real happiness. A person divested ofeverything sleepeth in happiness, and awaketh in happiness. Completepoverty, in this world, is happiness. It is a good regimen, it is thesource of ‘blessings, it is freedom from danger. This foeless path isunattainable (by persons cherishing desire) and is easily attainable (bythose that are freed from desire). Casting my eyes on every part of thethree worlds, I do not behold the person who is equal to a poor man ofpure conduct and without attachment (to worldly things). I weighedpoverty and sovereignty in a balance. Poverty weighed heavier thansovereignty and seemed to possess greater merits. Between poverty andsovereignty there is this great distinction, viz., that the sovereign,possessed of affluence, is always agitated by anxiety and seems to bewithin the very jaws of death. As regards, however, the poor man, who inconsequence of the divestment of all wealth has freed himself from hopesand emancipated himself, neither fire, nor foe, nor death, nor robbers,can get the better of him. The very gods applaud such a man who wandersabout according to his sweet will, who lies down on the bare ground withhis arm for a pillow, and who is possessed of tranquillity. Affected bywrath and cupidity, the man of affluence is stained by a wicked heart. Hecasts oblique glances and makes dry speeches.–He becomes sinful, and hisface is always darkened with frowns. Biting his lips, and excited withwrath, he utters harsh and cruel words. If such a man desires to evenmake a gift of the whole world, who is there that would like even to lookat him? Constant companionship with Prosperity stupefies a person of weakjudgment. It drives off his judgment like the wind driving off theautumnal clouds. Companionship with Prosperity induces him to think,–Iam possessed of beauty! I am possessed of wealth! I am high-born! I meetwith success in whatever I undertake! I am not an ordinary humanbeing!–His heart becomes intoxicated in consequence of these threereasons. With heart deeply attached to worldly possessions, he wastes thewealth hoarded by his sires. Reduced to want, he then regards theappropriation of other people’s wealth as blameless. At this stage, whenhe transgresses all barriers and beings to appropriate the possessions ofothers from every side, the rulers of men obstruct and afflict him likesportsmen afflicting with keen shafts a deer that is espied in the woods.Such a man is then overwhelmed with many other afflictions of a similarkind that originate in fire and weapons. Therefore, disregarding allworldly propensities (such as desire for children and wives) togetherwith all fleeting unrealities (such as the body, etc.,) one should, aidedby one’s intelligence, apply proper medicine for the cure of thosepainful afflictions. Without Renunciation one can never attain tohappiness. Without Renunciation one can never obtain what is for one’shighest good. Without Renunciation one can never sleep at case.Therefore, renouncing everything, make happiness thy own. All this wassaid to me in past times at Hastinapur by a Brahmana about what Sampakahad sung. For this reason, I regard Renunciation to be the foremost ofthings.'”