[1737] Having studied all the Vedas together with all their
mysteries and abstracts, as also all the histories and the science of
government, O puissant monarch, the great ascetic returned home, after
giving his preceptor the tuition fee. Adopting the vow of a Brahmacharin,
he then commenced to practise the austerest penances concentrating all
his attention thereon. In even his childhood, he became an object of
respect with the gods and Rishis for his knowledge and penances. The mind
of the great ascetic, O king, took no pleasure in the three modes of life
with the domestic among them, keeping in view, as he did, the religion of
Emancipation."'"

SECTION CCCXXVI

"'Bhishma said, "Thinking of Emancipation, Suka approached his sire and
possessed as he was of humility and desirous of achieving his highest
good, he saluted his great preceptor and said,--'Thou art well versed in
the religion of Emancipation. Do thou O illustrious one, discourse to me
upon it, so that supreme tranquillity of mind, O puissant one, may be
mine!'--Hearing these words of his son, the great Rishi said unto him,--'Do
thou study, O son, the religion of Emancipation and all the diverse
duties of life!'--At the command of his sire, Suka, that foremost of all
righteous men, mastered all the treatises on Yoga, O Bharata, as also the
science promulgated by Kapila. When Vyasa beheld his son to be possessed
of the resplendence of the Vedas, endued with the energy of Brahma, and
fully conversant with the religion of Emancipation, he addressed him,
saying,--'Go thou to Janaka the ruler of Mithila. The king of Mithila will
tell thee everything for thy Emancipation.'--Bearing the command of his
sire, O king, Suka proceeded to Mithila for enquiring of its king about
the truth of duties and the Refuge of Emancipation. Before he set out,
his sire further told him,--'Do thou go thither by that path which
ordinary human beings take. Do not have recourse to thy Yoga-puissance
for proceeding through the skies.'--At this Suka was not at all surprised
(for he was humble by nature). He was further told that he should proceed
thither with simplicity and not from desire of pleasure.--'Along your way
do not seek for friends and spouses, since friends and spouses are causes
of attachment to the world. Although the ruler of Mithila is one in whose
sacrifices we officiate, still thou shouldst not indulge in any feeling
of superiority while living with him. Thou shouldst l