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.  The self-restrained man becomes desirous of emancipation and, quietly bearing present joys and griefs, is never exhilarated or depressed by prospective ones.  Destitute of vindictiveness and all kinds of guile, and unmoved by praise and blame, such a man is well-behaved, has good manners, is pure of soul, has firmness or fortitude, and is a complete master of his passions.  Receiving honours in this world, such a man in afterlife goes to heaven.  Causing all creatures to acquire what they cannot acquire without his aid, such a man rejoices and becomes happy.[830] Devoted to universal benevolence, such a man never cherishes animosity for any one.  Tranquil like the ocean at a dead calm, wisdom fills his soul and he is never cheerful.  Possessed of intelligence, and deserving of universal reverence, the man of self-restraint never cherishes fear of any creature and is feared by no creature in return.  That man who never rejoices even at large acquisitions and never feels sorrow when overtaken by calamity, is said to be possessed of contented wisdom.  Such a man is said to be self-restrained.  Indeed, such a man is said to be a regenerate being.  Versed with the scriptures and endued with a pure soul, the man of self-restraint, accomplishing all those acts that are done by the good, enjoys their high fruits.  They, however, that are of wicked soul never betake themselves to the path represented by benevolence, forgiveness, tranquillity, contentment, sweetness of speech, truth, liberality and comfort.  Their path consists of lust and wrath and cupidity and envy of others and boastfulness.  Subjugating lust and wrath, practising the vow of Brahmacharya and becoming a complete master of his senses, the Brahmana, exerting himself with endurance in the austerest of penances, and observing the most rigid restraints, should live in this world, calmly waiting for his time like one seeming to have a body though fully knowing that he is not subject to destruction.’”

SECTION CCXXI

“Yudhishthira said, ’The three regenerate classes, who are given to sacrifices and other rites, sometimes eat the remnants, consisting of meat and wine, of sacrifices in honour of the deities, from motives of obtaining children and heaven.  What, O grandsire, is the character of this act?’

“Bhishma said, ’Those who eat forbidden food without being observant of the sacrifices and vows ordained in the Vedas are regarded as wilful men.  (They are regarded as fallen even here).  Those, on the other hand, who eat such food in the observance of Vedic sacrifices and vows and induced by the desire of fruits in the shape of heaven and children, ascend to heaven but fall down on the exhaustion of their merits.’[831]