tanding never thinks of the sins
committed by him. Those sins, however, overtake the doer that has fallen
away from the scriptures. As Rahu comes to Chandra (at his proper time),
those sinful acts come to the foolish man.[597] The objects that are
stored with expectation are scarcely enjoyed. Such storing is never
applauded by the wise, for death waits for no one (but snatches his prey
whether the latter be ready or unready). The wise have said that the
righteousness of all creatures is an attribute of the mind. For this
reason, one should, in one's mind, do good to all.[598] One should
practise virtue singly. In the practice of virtue one has no need for the
help of others. If one obtains only the ordinances of the scriptures,
what can an associate do?[599] Righteousness is the origin of mankind.
Righteousness is the ambrosia of the gods. After death, men enjoy,
through Righteousness, eternal happiness."'"

SECTION CXCIV

"'Yudhishthira said, "Tell me, O grandsire, what and of what nature is
that which is called by the name of Adhyatma and which is laid down for
every person.[600] O thou that art acquainted with Brahma, whence has
this universe consisting of mobile and immobile things, been created?
When universal destruction sets in, to whom does it go? It behoveth thee
to discourse to me upon this topic."[601]

"'Bhishma said, "This Adhyatma, O son of Pritha, that thou askest me
about, I will presently discourse upon. It is highly agreeable and
productive of great felicity. Great teachers have (before this) shown the
truths about Creation and the Destruction (of the universe). Knowing
those truths, a person may obtain, even in this world, great satisfaction
and felicity. Such knowledge may lead also to the acquisition of great
fruits, and it is highly beneficial to all creatures. Earth, air, space,
water, and light numbered as the fifth, are regarded as Great Creatures.
These constitute both the origin and the destruction of all created
objects. Unto him from whom these great primal elements take their
origin, they return repeatedly, severing themselves from all creatures
(into whose compositions they enter), even like the waves of the ocean
(subsiding into that from which they seem to take their rise). As the
tortoise stretches its limbs and withdraws them again, even so the
Supreme Soul creates all objects and again withdraws into Himself. The
Creator places the five primal elements in all created objects in