, being
dissociated from everything, cannot enjoy felicity. Hence I desire
nothing.'

"'"Sakra said, 'Tell me the means, O Prahlada, by which this kind of wisdom
may be attained and by which this kind of tranquillity may be made one's
own. I solicit thee.'

"'"Prahlada said, 'By simplicity, by heedfulness, by cleansing the Soul, by
mastering the passions, and by waiting upon aged seniors, O Sakra, a
person succeeds in attaining to Emancipation. Know this, however, that
one acquires wisdom from Nature, and that the acquisition of tranquillity
also is due to the same cause. Indeed, everything else that thou
perceivest is due to Nature.'"

"'"Thus addressed by the lord of the Daityas, Sakra became filled with
wonder, and commended those words, O king, with a cheerful heart. The
lord of the three worlds then, having worshipped the lord of the Daityas,
took his leave and proceeded to his own abode."'"

SECTION CCXXIII

"'Yudhishthira said, "Tell me, O grandsire, by adopting what sort of
intelligence may a monarch, who has been divested of prosperity and
crushed by Time's heavy bludgeon, still live on this earth."

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited the old narrative of the
discourse between Vasava and Virochana's son, Vali. One day Vasava, after
having subjugated all the Asuras, repaired to the Grandsire and joining
his hands bowed to him and enquired after the whereabouts of Vali. Tell
me, O Brahman, where I may now find that Vali whose wealth continued
undiminished even though he used to give it away as lavishly as he
wished. He was the god of wind. He was Varuna. He was Surya. He was Soma.
He was Agni that used to warm all creatures. He became water (for the use
of all). I do not find where he now is. Indeed, O Brahman, tell me where
I may find Vali now. Formerly, it was he who used to illumine all the
points of the compass (as Surya) and to set (when evening came). Casting
off idleness, it was he who used to pour rain upon all creatures at the
proper season. I do not now see that Vali. Indeed, tell me, O Brahmana,
where I may find that chief of the Asuras now.

"'"Brahman said, 'It is not becoming in thee, O Maghavat, to thus enquire
after Vali now. One should not, however, speak an untruth when one is
questioned by another. For this reason, I shall tell thee the whereabouts
of Vali. O lord of Sachi, Vali may now have taken his birth among camels
or bulls or asses or horses, and having become the fo