“Kapila said, ’Acts only cleanse the body.  Knowledge, however, is the highest end (for which one strives).[1271] When all faults of the heart are cured (by acts), and when the felicity of Brahma becomes established in knowledge, benevolence, forgiveness, tranquillity, compassion, truthfulness, and candour, abstention from injury, absence of pride, modesty, renunciation, and abstention from work are attained.  These constitute the path that lead to Brahma.  By those one attains to what is the Highest.  That the cure of all faults of the heart is the result of acts becomes intelligible to the wise man when these are attained.  That, indeed, is regarded as the highest end which is obtained by Brahmanas endued with wisdom, withdrawn from all acts, possessed of purity and the certitude of knowledge.  One who succeeds in acquiring a knowledge of the Vedas, of that which is taught by the Vedas (viz., Brahma as represented in acts), and the minutiae of acts, is said to be conversant with the Vedas.  Any other man is only a bag of wind.[1272] One who is conversant with the Vedas knows everything, for everything is established on the Vedas.  Verity, the present, past, and future all exist in the Vedas.[1273] This one conclusion is deducible from all the scriptures, viz., that this universe exists and does not exist.  To the man of knowledge this (all that is perceived) is both sat and asat.  To him, this all is both the end and the middle.[1274] This truth rests upon all the Vedas, viz., that when complete Renunciation takes place one obtains what is sufficient.  Then again the highest contentment follows and rests upon Emancipation,[1275] which is absolute, which exists as the soul of all mortal and immortal things, which is well-known as such universal soul, which is the highest object of knowledge as being identical with all mobile and immobile things, which is full, which is perfect felicity, which is without duality, which is the foremost of all things, which is Brahma, which is Unmanifest and the cause also, whence the Unmanifest has sprung, and which is without deterioration of any kind.[1276] Ability to subdue the senses, forgiveness, and abstention from work in consequence of the absence of desire,—­these three are the cause of perfect felicity.  With the aid of these three qualities, men having understanding for their eyes succeed in reaching that Brahma which is uncreate, which is the prime cause of the universe, which is unchangeable and which is beyond destruction.  I bow to that Brahma, which is identical with him that knows it.’"[1277]

SECTION CCLXXI

“Yudhishthira said, ’The Vedas, O Bharata, discourse of Religion.  Profit, and Pleasure.  Tell me, however, O grandsire, the attainment of which (amongst these three) is regarded as superior.’