When that god exerts himself with propriety, he makes all
living creatures live at their ease. When, however, he exerts improperly,
calamities overtake the creatures of the world. What else can it be than
weakness of understanding which induces thee to thus withhold thy worship
from the god of wind, that foremost of creatures in the universe, that
being deserving of worship? Thou art worthless and of a wicked
understanding. Indeed, thou indulgest only in unmeaning brag. Thy
intelligence being confounded by wrath and other evil passions, thou
speakest only untruths, O Salmali! I am certainly angry with thee for thy
indulging in such speeches. I shall myself report to the god of the wind
all these derogatory words of thine. Chandanas, and Syandanas, and Salas,
and Saralas and Devadarus and Vetavas and Dhanwanas and other trees of
good souls that are far stronger than thou art, have never, O thou of
wicked understanding, uttered such invectives against the Wind. All of
them know the might of the Wind as also the might that is possessed by
each of them. For these reasons those foremost of trees bow down their
heads in respect to that deity. Thou, however, through folly, knowest not
the infinite might of the Wind. I shall, therefore, repair to the
presence of that god (for apprising him of thy contempt for him).'"
SECTION CLVI
"Bhishma continued, 'Having said these words unto the Salmali. that
foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma, viz.
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