Brahmanas in especial. Success in respect of
religious rites never occurs in the case of one that is not
self-restrained. Religious rites, penances, truth,--all these are
established upon self-restraint. Self-restraint enhances one's energy.
Self-restraint is said to be sacred. The man of self-restraint becomes
sinless and fearless and wins great results. One that is self-restrained
sleeps happily and wakes happily. He sojourns happily in the world and
his mind always remains cheerful. Every kind of excitement is quietly
controlled by self-restraint. One that is not self-restrained fails in a
similar endeavour. The man of self-restraint beholds his innumerable foes
(in the form of lust, desire, and wrath, etc.), as if these dwell in a
separate body. Like tigers and other carnivorous beasts, persons
destitute of self-restraint always inspire all creatures with dread. For
controlling these men, the Self-born (Brahman) created kings. In all the
(four) modes of life, the practice or self-restraint is distinguished
above all other virtues. The fruits of self-restraint are much greater
than those obtainable in all the modes of life. I shall now mention to
thee the indications of those persons who prize self-restraint
highly.[829] They are nobility, calmness of disposition, contentment,
faith, forgiveness, invariable simplicity, the absence of garrulity,
humility, reverence for superiors, benevolence, compassion for all
creatures, frankness, abstention from talk upon kings and men in
authority, from all false and useless discourses, and from applause and
censure of others.
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