others,
learning, teaching, making gifts, and receiving gifts), has been regarded
as deserving of gifts. Righteousness becomes unrighteousness, and
unrighteousness becomes righteousness, according to the character of the
doer, of time, and of place.[1640] Sin is cast off like the filth on
one's body,--a little with a little exertion and a greater quantity when
the exertion is greater. A person, after purging his bowels, should take
ghee, which operates most beneficially on his system (as a healthy
tonic). After the same manner, when one has cleansed oneself of all
faults and sets oneself to the acquisition of righteousness, that
righteousness, in the next world, proves to be productive of the highest
happiness. Good and evil thoughts exist in the minds of all creatures.
Withdrawing the mind from evil thoughts, it should always be directed
towards good thoughts. One should always reverence the practices of one's
own order. Do thou strive, therefore, to act in such a way that thou
mayst have faith in the practices of thy own order. O thou that art
endued with an impatient soul, betake thyself to the practice of
patience. O thou that art of a foolish understanding, seek thou to be
possessed of intelligence! Destitute of tranquillity, seek thou to be
tranquil, and bereft of wisdom as thou art, do thou seek to act wisely!
He who moves in the companionship of the righteous succeeds, by his own
energy, in acquiring the means of accomplishing what is beneficial for
him both in this and the next world. Verily, the root of the benefit
(which thus becomes his here and hereafter) is unwavering firmness. The
royal sage Mahabhisha, through want of this firmness, fell from heaven.
Yayati, also, though his merits had become exhausted (in consequence of
his boastfulness and thought was hurled down from heaven) succeeded in
regaining regions of felicity through his firmness. Thou art sure to
attain to great intelligence, as also to what is for thy highest good, by
paying court to virtuous and learned persons possessed of ascetic merit.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "Hearing these words of the sage, king Vasuman,
possessed of a good disposition, withdrawing his mind from the pursuits
of desire, set it upon the acquisition of Righteousness."'"

SECTION CCCXI

"'Yudhishthira said, "It behoveth thee, O grandsire, to discourse to me on
that which is freed from duty and its reverse, which is freed from every
doubt, which transcends birth and