I am not a confuser of the practices
belonging to the different orders. I am firm in the practices that belong
to that mode of life to which I properly belong. I am firm and steady in
my vows. I never utter any word without reflecting on its propriety. I
did not come to thee, without having deliberated properly, O monarch!
Having heard that thy understanding has been purified by the religion of
Emancipation, I came here from desire of some benefit. Indeed, it was for
enquiring of thee about Emancipation that I had come. I do not say it for
glorifying myself and humiliating my opponents. But I say it, impelled by
sincerity only. What I say is, he that is emancipated never indulges in
that intellectual gladiatorship which is implied by a dialectical
disputation for the sake of victory. He, on the other hand, is really
emancipate who devotes himself to Brahma, that sole seat of
tranquillity.[1710] As a person of the mendicant order resides for only
one night in an empty house (and leaves it the next morning), even after
the same manner I shall reside for this one night in thy person (which,
as I have already said, is like an empty chamber, being destitute of
knowledge). Thou hast honoured me with both speech and other offers that
are due from a host to a guest. Having slept this one night in thy
person, O ruler of Mithila, which is as it were my own chamber now,
tomorrow I shall depart.
"Bhishma continued, 'Hearing these words fraught with excellent sense and
with reason, king Janaka failed to return any answer thereto.
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