Chapter 278

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Of what behaviour must a man be, of what acts, ofwhat kind of knowledge, and to what must he be devoted, for attaining toBrahma’s place which transcends Prakriti and which is unchangeable?’

“Bhishma said, ‘One that is devoted to the religion of Emancipation,frugal in fare, and the master of one’s senses, attains to that highplace which transcends Prakriti and is unchangeable.[1331] Retiring fromone’s home, regarding gain and loss in the same light, restraining thesenses, and disregarding all objects of desire even when they are ready(for enjoyment), one should adopt a life of Renunciation.[1332] Neitherwith eye, nor with word, nor in thought, should one disparage another.Nor should one speak evil of any person either in or out of his hearing.One should abstain from injuring any creature, and conduct oneselfobserving the course of the Sun.[1333] Having come into this life, oneshould not behave with unfriendliness towards any creature. One shoulddisregard opprobrious speeches, and never in arrogance deem oneself assuperior to another. When sought to be angered by another, one shouldstill utter agreeable speeches. Even when calumniated, one should notcalumniate in return. One should not behave in a friendly or anunfriendly way in the midst of human beings. One should not go aboutvisiting many houses in one’s round of mendicancy. Nor should one go toany house having received a previous invitation (to dinner).[1334] Evenwhen bespattered with filth (by others), one should, resting firmly inthe observance of one’s duties, refrain from addressing such bespatterersin disagreeable speeches. One should be compassionate. One should abstainfrom returning an injury. One should be fearless; one should refrain fromself-laudation. The man of restrained senses should seek his dole ofcharity in a householder’s abode when the smoke has ceased to rise fromit, when the sound of the husking rod is hushed, when the hearth-fire isextinguished, when all the inmates have finished their meals, or when thehour is over for setting the dishes.[1335] He should content himself withonly as much as is barely necessary for keeping body and soul together.Even that much of food which produces gratification should not be covetedby him. When he fails to obtain what he wants, he should not sufferhimself to cherish discontent. Success, again, in obtaining what hewants, should not make him glad.[1336] He should never wish for suchthings as are coveted by ordinary men. He should never eat at anybody’shouse when respectfully invited thereto. One like him should reprobatesuch gains as are obtained with honour.[1337] He should never find fault(on account of staleness, etc.) with the food placed before him, norshould he applaud its merits. He should covet a bed and a seat that areremoved from the haunts of men. The places he should seek are such as adeserted house, the foot of a tree, a forest, or a cave. Without allowinghis practices to be known by others, or concealing their real nature byappearing to adopt others (that are hateful or repulsive), he shouldenter his own Self.[1338] By association with Yoga and dissociation fromcompany, he should be perfectly equable, steadily fixed, and uniform. Heshould not earn either merit or demerit by means of acts.[1339] He shouldbe always gratified, well-contented, of cheerful face and cheerfulsenses, fearless, always engaged in mental recitation of sacred mantras,silent, and wedded to a life of Renunciation. Beholding the repeatedformation and dissolution of his own body with the senses that resultfrom and resolve into the elemental essences, and seeing also the adventand departure of (other) creatures, he should become free from desire andlearn to cast equal eyes upon all, subsisting upon both cooked anduncooked food. Frugal in respect of his fare, and subjugating his senses,he achieves tranquillity of Self by Self.[1340] One should control the(rising) impulses of words, of the mind, of wrath, of envy, of hunger,and of lust. Devoted to penances for cleansing his heart, he should neverallow the censures (of others) to afflict his heart. One should live,having assumed a status of neutrality with respect to all creatures, andregard praise and blame as equal. This, indeed, is the holiest and thehighest path of the Sannyasa mode of life. Possessed of high soul, theSannyasin should restrain his senses from all things and keep himselfaloof from all attachments. He should never repair to the places visitedby him and the men known to him while leading the prior modes of life.Agreeable to all creatures, and without a fixed home, he should bedevoted to the contemplation of Self. He should never mingle withhouse-holders and forest-recluses. He should eat such food as he mayobtain without effort (and without having thought of itbeforehand).[1341] He should never suffer joy to possess his heart. Tothose that are wise such a life of Renunciation is the means for theattainment of Emancipation. To those, however, that are fools thepractice of these duties is exceedingly burthensome. The sage Haritadeclared all this to be the path by which Emancipation is to be achieved.He who sets forth from his home, having assured all creatures of hisperfect harmlessness, attains to many bright regions of felicity whichprove unending or eternal.'”