This wrath that dwells in the bodies of men
and is born in their minds, is spoken of by the wise as Death. When a
person succeeds in withdrawing all his desires like a tortoise
withdrawing all its limbs, then his soul, which is self-luminous,
succeeds in looking into itself.[508] That object, whatever it may be, in
respect of which the idea of meum is cherished, becomes a source of grief
and heart-burning.[509] When a person himself feels no fear, and is
feared by no one, when he cherishes no desire and no aversion, he is then
said to attain to the state of Brahma. Casting off both truth and
falsehood, grief and joy, fear and courage, the agreeable and the
disagreeable, thou mayst become of tranquil soul. When a person abstains
from doing wrong to any creature, in thought, word, or deed, he is then
said to attain to a state of Brahma. True happiness is his who can cast
off that thirst which is incapable of being cast off by the misguided,
which does not decay with decrepitude, and which is regarded as a fatal
disease. In this connection, O king, are heard the verses sung by Pingala
about the manner in which she had acquired eternal merit even at a time
that had been very unfavourable. A fallen woman of the name of Pingala,
having repaired to the place of assignation, was denied the company of
her lover through an accident. At that time of great misery, she
succeeded in acquiring tranquillity of soul.'
"Pingala said, 'Alas, I have for many long years lived, all the while
overcome by frenzy, by the side of that Dear Self in whom there is
nothing but tranquillity.
Pages:
1720
1721
1722
1723
1724
1725
1726
1727
1728
1729
1730
1731
1732
1733
1734
1735
1736
1737
1738
1739
1740
1741
1742
1743
1744