“Bhishma said, ’Hearing these words of his son, the sire acted in the way that was pointed out, O king!  Do thou also act in the same way, devoted to the religion of Truth.’”

SECTION CCLXXVIII

“Yudhishthira said, ’Of what behaviour must a man be, of what acts, of what kind of knowledge, and to what must he be devoted, for attaining to Brahma’s place which transcends Prakriti and which is unchangeable?’

“Bhishma said, ’One that is devoted to the religion of Emancipation, frugal in fare, and the master of one’s senses, attains to that high place which transcends Prakriti and is unchangeable.[1331] Retiring from one’s home, regarding gain and loss in the same light, restraining the senses, and disregarding all objects of desire even when they are ready (for enjoyment), one should adopt a life of Renunciation.[1332] Neither with eye, nor with word, nor in thought, should one disparage another.  Nor should one speak evil of any person either in or out of his hearing.  One should abstain from injuring any creature, and conduct oneself observing the course of the Sun.[1333] Having come into this life, one should not behave with unfriendliness towards any creature.  One should disregard opprobrious speeches, and never in arrogance deem oneself as superior to another.  When sought to be angered by another, one should still utter agreeable speeches.  Even when calumniated, one should not calumniate in return.  One should not behave in a friendly or an unfriendly way in the midst of human beings.  One should not go about visiting many houses in one’s round of mendicancy.  Nor should one go to any house having received a previous invitation (to dinner).[1334] Even when bespattered with filth (by others), one should, resting firmly in the observance of one’s duties, refrain from addressing such bespatterers in disagreeable speeches.  One should be compassionate.  One should abstain from returning an injury.  One should be fearless; one should refrain from self-laudation.  The man of restrained senses should seek his dole of charity in a householder’s abode when the smoke has ceased to rise from it, when the sound of the husking rod is hushed, when the hearth-fire is extinguished, when all the inmates have finished their meals, or when the hour is over for setting the dishes.[1335] He should content himself with only as much as is barely necessary for keeping body and soul together.  Even that much of food which produces gratification should not be coveted by him.  When he fails to obtain what he wants, he should not suffer himself to cherish discontent.  Success, again, in obtaining what he wants, should not make him glad.[1336] He should never wish for such things as are coveted by ordinary men.  He should never eat at anybody’s house when respectfully invited thereto.  One like him should reprobate such gains as are obtained with honour.[1337] He should never find fault (on account