It
is well-known, however, that true felicity is theirs that a e endued with
intelligence, that are utterers of the eternal Brahma, that seek to
accomplish only acts that are auspicious and beneficial, and that abstain
from all acts that are optional and spring from desire alone.[1532] From
loss of all such objects in which are centred our affections, from loss
of wealth, O king, and from the tyranny of physical diseases add mental
anguish, a person falls into despair. From this despair arises art
awakening of the soul. From such awakening proceeds study of the
Scriptures. From contemplation of the import of the scriptures, O king,
one sees the value of penance. A person possessed of the knowledge of
what is essential and what accidental, O king, is very rare,--he, that
is, who seeks to undergo penances, impressed with the truth that the
happiness one derives from the possession of such agreeable objects as
spouses and children leads ultimately to misery.[1533] Penances, O child,
are for all. They are ordained for even the lowest order of men (viz.,
Sudras). Penances set the self-restrained man having the mastery over all
his senses on the way to heaven. It was through penances that the
puissant Lord of all creatures, O, king, observing vows at particular
intervals created all existent objects. The Adityas, the Vasus, the
Rudras, Agni, the Aswins, the Maruts, the Viswedevas, the Saddhyas, the
Pitris, the Maruts, the Yakshas, the Rakshasas, the Gandharvas, the
Siddhas and the other denizens of heaven, and, indeed, all other
celestials whatever, O child, have all been crowned with success through
their penances.
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