spect of the
Unmanifest (Cause), the Manifest (Effects), and of the Truth (or Brahma)
that is in, but unattached to them, as also of the acts of the self-born
Narayana, as they are known to thy understanding."

"'Bhishma said, "Beholding his son Suka living fearlessly as ordinary men
do in practices that are considered harmless by them, Vyasa taught him
the entire Vedas and then discoursed to him one day in these words:
Vyasa said, 'O son, becoming the master of the senses, do thou subdue
extreme cold and extreme heat, hunger and thirst, and the wind also, and
having subdued them (as Yogins do), do thou practise righteousness. Do
thou duly observe truth and sincerity, and freedom from wrath and malice,
and self-restraint and penances, and the duties of benevolence and
compassion. Rest thou on truth, firmly devoted to righteousness,
abandoning all sort of insincerity and deceit. Do thou support thy life
on what remains of food after feeding gods and guests. Thy body is as
transitory as the froth on the surface of water. The Jiva-soul is sitting
unattached in it as a bird on a tree. The companionship of all agreeable
object is exceedingly short-lived. Why then, O son, dost thou sleep in
such forgetfulness? Thy foes are heedful and awake and ever ready (to
spring on thee) and always watchful of their opportunity. Why art thou so
foolish as not to know this?[1712] As the days are going one after
another, the period of thy life is being lessened. Indeed when thy life
is being incessantly shortened, why dost thou not run to preceptors (for
learning the means of rescue)? Only they that are destitute of faith (in
the existence of next life) set their hearts on things of this world that
have the only effect of increasing flesh and blood. They are totally
unmindful of all that is concerned with the next world. Those men that
are stupefied by erroneous understandings display a hatred for
righteousness. The man who walks after those misguided persons that have
betaken themselves to devious and wrong paths is afflicted equally with
them. They however, that are contented, devoted to the scriptures, endued
with high souls, and possessed of great might, betake themselves to the
path of righteousness. Do thou wait upon them with reverence and seek
instruction from them. Do thou act according to the instructions received
from those wise men whose eyes are set upon righteousness. With
understanding cleansed by such lessons and rendered sup