What, O sage, is thy wisdom, what
thy learning, and what thy behaviour (in consequence of which all this
becomes possible)? Tell me this without delay, if, O Brahmana, thou
thinkest it will do me good!'
"Bhishma continued, 'That intelligent Brahmana who was well-conversant
with the duties of the world, thus questioned by Prahlada, answered him
in sweet words of grave import. Behold, O Prahlada, the origin of
creatures, their growth, decay, and death, are traceable to no
(intelligible) cause. It is for this that I do not indulge in either joy
or sorrow.[536] All the propensities (for action) that exist in the
universe may be seen to flow from the very natures of the creatures (to
which they inhere). All things (in the universe) are depended on their
respective natures. Hence, I am not delighted with anything.[537] Behold,
O Prahlada, all kinds of union have an aptitude for disunion. All
acquisitions are certain to end in destruction. Hence I never set my
heart upon the acquisition of any object. All things possessed of
attributes are certain to meet with destruction. What remains there for a
person then to do who (like me) is conversant with both the origin and
the end of things? Of all things, large or small, born in the ocean of
waters, the end is noticeable. I see also the death, which is manifest, O
chief of Asuras, of all things, mobile and immobile, belonging to the
land. O best of Danavas, death comes in season unto even the strongest of
winged creatures which range the sky.
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