ay in
fear, I do not wish to pass from a state of happiness to one of woe.'"

"'Bhishma continued, "Thus addressed, the Island-born Vyasa said, 'O worm,
whence can be thy happiness? Thou belongest to the intermediate order of
being. I think, death would be fraught with happiness to thee! Sound,
touch, taste, scent, and diverse kinds of excellent enjoyments are
unknown to thee, O worm! I think, death will prove a benefit to thee!'

"'"The worm said, 'A living creature, in whatever situation he may be
placed, becomes attached to it. In even this order of being I am happy, I
think, O thou of great wisdom! It is for this that I wish to live. In
even this condition, every object of enjoyment exists for me according to
the needs of my body. Human beings and those creatures that spring from
immobile objects have different enjoyments. In my former life I was a
human being. O puissant one, I was a Sudra possessed of great wealth. I
was not devoted to the Brahmanas. I was cruel, vile in conduct, and a
usurer. I was harsh in speech. I regarded cunning as wisdom. I hated all
creatures. Taking advantage of pretexts in compacts made between myself
and others, I was always given to taking away what belonged to others.
Without feeding servants and guests arrived at my house, I used to fill,
when hungry, my own stomach, under the impulse of pride, covetous of good
food. Greedy I was of wealth, I never dedicated, with faith and
reverence, any food to the deities and the Pitris although duty required
me to dedicate food unto them. Those men that came to me, moved by fear,
for seeking my protection, I sent adrift without giving them any
protection. I did not extend my protection to those that came to me with
prayers for dispelling their fear. I used to feel unreasonable envy at
seeing other people's wealth, and corn, and spouses held dear by them,
and articles of drink, and good mansions. Beholding the happiness of
others, I was filled with envy and I always wished them poverty.
Following that course of conduct which promised to crown my own wishes
with fruition, I sought to destroy the virtue, wealth, and pleasures of
other people. In that past life of mine, I committed diverse deeds
largely fraught with cruelty and such other passions. Recollecting those
acts I am filled with repentance and grief even as one is filled with
grief at the loss of one's dear son. In consequence of these acts of mine
I do not know what the fruits are of good