What use hast thou, O Brahmana, of wealth or kinsmen
and relatives, of wives, when thou shalt have to die? Seek thy Self which
is concealed in a cave. Where are thy grandsires and where thy sire?'[520]
"Bhishma continued, 'Do thou also, O monarch, conduct thyself in that way
in which the sire (in this story), conducts himself, devoted to the
religion of Truth, after having listened to the speech of his son.'
SECTION CLXXVI
"Yudhishthira said, 'Tell me, O grandsire, whence and how happiness and
misery come to those that are rich, as also those that are poor, but who
live in the observance of different practices and rites.'[521]
"Bhishma continued, 'In this connection is cited the old narrative of
what was sung by Sampaka who had obtained tranquillity and achieved
emancipation for himself. In former times a certain Brahmana, rendered
miserable by a bad wife, bad dress, and hunger, and living in the
observance of the vow of renunciation, told me these verses,[522]
'Diverse kinds of sorrow and happiness overtake, from the day of birth
the person that is born on the earth. If he could ascribe either of them
to the action of Destiny, he would not then feel glad when happiness came
or miserable when sorrow overtook him. Though thy mind is divested of
desire, thou bearest yet a heavy load. Thou dost not seek to achieve thy
good (i.e., emancipation). Art thou not successful in controlling thy
mind? If thou goest about, having renounced home and desirable
possessions, thou shalt taste real happiness.
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