ry, betakes himself to the eternal path (of
the religion of Nivritti or abstention from all acts) succeeds in avoiding
birth and death. Destruction overtakes all creatures. All creatures seem to
be ceaselessly borne along the infinite current of time. Those that are
borne along the infinite current of time which is without a raft (to
rescue) and which is infested by those two mighty alligators, viz.,
decrepitude and death, sink down without anybody coming to their
assistance. As one is swept along that current, one fails to find any
friend for help and one fails to be inspired with interest for any one
else. One meets with spouses and other friends only on one's road. One
had never before enjoyed this kind of companionship with any one for any
length of time. Creatures, as they are borne along the current of time,
become repeatedly attracted towards one another like masses of clouds
moved by the wind meeting one another with loud sound. Decrepitude and
death are devourers of all creatures, like wolves. Indeed, they devour
the strong and the weak, the short and the tall. Among creatures,
therefore, which are all so transitory, only the Soul exists eternally.
Why should he, then, rejoice when creatures are born and why should he
grieve when they die? Whence have I come. Who am I? Whither shall I go?
Whose am I? Before what do I rest? What shall I be? For what reason then
dost thou grieve for what? Who else then thou wilt behold heaven or hell
(for what thou doest)? Hence, without throwing aside the scriptures, one
should make gifts and perform sacrifices!'"'"

SECTION CCCXXI

"'Yudhishthira said, "Without abandoning the domestic mode of life, O
royal sage of Kuru's race, who ever attained to Emancipation which is the
annihilation of the Understanding (and the other faculties)? Do tell me
this! How may the gross and the subtile form be cast off? Do thou also, O
grandsire, tell me what the supreme excellence of Emancipation is."

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection is cited the old narrative of the
discourse between Janaka and Sulabha, O Bharata! In days of yore there
was a king of Mithila, of the name of Dharmadhyaja, of Janaka's race. He
was devoted to the practices of the religion of Renunciation. He was well
conversant with the Vedas, with the scriptures on Emancipation, and with
the scriptures bearing on his own duty as a king. Subjugating his senses,
he ruled his Earth. Hearing of his good behaviour in the world,