n.[1060] By acquiring such knowledge one really
becomes learned. What else is the indication of a person of knowledge?
Having acquired such knowledge, they that are wise among men regard
themselves crowned with success and become emancipated.[1061] Those
things that become sources of fear unto men destitute of knowledge do not
become sources of fear unto those that are endued with knowledge. There
is no end higher than the eternal end which is obtained by a person
possessed of knowledge. One beholds with aversion all earthly objects of
enjoyment which are, of course, fraught with faults of every kind.
Another, beholding others betake themselves with pleasure to such
objects, is filled with sorrow. As regards this matter, however, they
that are conversant with both objects, behold, viz., that which is
fictitious and that which is not so, never indulge in sorrow and are
truly happy.[1062] That which a man does without expectation of fruits
destroys his acts of a former life. The acts, however, of such a person
both of this and his previous life cannot lead to Emancipation. On the
other hand, such destruction of former acts and such acts of this life
cannot lead to what is disagreeable (viz., hell), even if the man of
wisdom engages in acts.'"'"[1063]
SECTION CCL
"'"Suka said, 'Let thy reverence tell me of that which is the foremost of
all duties, indeed, of that duty above which no higher one exists in this
world.'
"'"Vyasa said, 'I shall now tell thee of duties having a very ancient
origin and laid down by the Rishis, duties that are distinguished above
all others. Listen to me with undivided attention. The senses that are
maddening should carefully be restrained by the understanding like a sire
restraining his own inexperienced children liable to fall into diverse
evil habits. The withdrawal of the mind and the senses from all unworthy
objects and their due concentration (upon worthy objects) is the highest
penance. That is the foremost of all duties. Indeed, that is said to be
the highest duty. Directing, by the aid of the understanding, the senses
having the mind for their sixth, and without, indeed, thinking of worldly
objects which have the virtue of inspiring innumerable kinds of thought,
one should live contented with one's own self. When the senses and the
mind, withdrawn from the pastures among which they usually run loose,
come back for residing in their proper abode, it is then that thou wilt
behold
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