ords would like to
lead me, and marking that the happiness which is connected with these is
both difficult of acquisition and fleeting in respect of duration, I
follow this vow with a pure heart. Learned men possessed of great
intelligence, desirous of proclaiming their own feats, have while
establishing their own theories and censuring those of others, said this
and that on this topic which is incapable of being settled by
disputation. Foolish men fail to understand this vow in a proper light.
I, however, see it to be destructive of Ignorance. Regarding it also as
fraught with immortality and as a remedy against diverse kinds of evil, I
wander among men, having subdued all faults and having freed myself from
thirst (after worldly goods)!'"

"'Bhishma continued, "That high-souled person who, having freed himself
from attachments and divested himself of fear, cupidity; foolishness, and
wrath, follows this Ajagara vow, or indulges in this sport, as it may be
called, certainly succeeds in passing his days in great delight."'"

SECTION CLXXX

"'Yudhishthira said, "Which of these, O grandsire, viz., kinsmen, or acts,
or wealth, or wisdom should be the refuge of a person? Questioned by me,
answer me this!"

"'Bhishma said, "Wisdom is the refuge of creatures. Wisdom is regarded as
the highest of acquisitions. Wisdom is the highest felicity in the world.
Wisdom is heaven in the estimation of the good and virtuous. It was
through wisdom that Vali, Prahlada, Namuchi, and Manki, when they lost
their (earthly) prosperity, succeeded in acquiring felicity. What is
there that is superior to wisdom? In this connection is cited the old
story of the discourse between Indra and Kasyapa. Listen to it, O
Yudhishthira! Once on a time a prosperous Vaisya, in the enjoyment of
prosperity, and proud of his affluence, threw down, by negligently
driving his car, a Rishi's son of rigid vows named Kasyapa, devoted to
penances. Prostrated on the ground, the young man, in exceeding pain,
gave way to his wrath; and under the influence of despair resolved,
saying, 'I shall cast off my life. A poor man has no need of life in this
world.' While the Brahmana was lying in that state, silent and agitated,
deprived of energy and at the point of death, Indra appeared on the scene
in the form of a jackal and addressing him, said, 'All (inferior)
creatures covet birth in the human race. Among men again, the status of a
Brahmana is much desired. Thou, O K