also of disorders and diseases, is emancipated.  That man becomes emancipated who always recollects that this body, when overtaken by decrepitude, becomes assailed by wrinkles and white hairs and leanness and paleness of complexion and a bending of the form.  That man who recollects his body to be liable to loss of virility, and weakness of sight, and deafness, and loss of strength, is emancipated.  That man who knows that the very Rishis, the deities, and the Asuras are beings that have to depart from their respective spheres to other regions, is emancipated.  That man who knows that thousands of kings possessed of even great offence and power have departed from this earth, succeeds in becoming emancipated.  That man who knows that in this world the acquisition of objects is always difficult, that pain is abundant, and that the maintenance of relatives is ever attended with pain, becomes emancipated.[1487] Beholding the abundant faults of children and of other men, who is there that would not adore Emancipation?  That man who, awakened by the scriptures and the experience of the world, beholds every human concern in this world to be unsubstantial, becomes emancipated.  Bearing in mind those words of mine, do thou conduct thyself like one that has become emancipated, whether it is a life of domesticity that thou wouldst lead or pursue emancipation without suffering thy understanding to be confounded.’[1488] Hearing these words of his with attention, Sagara, that lord of earth, acquired those virtues which are productive of Emancipation and continued, with their aid to rule his subjects.’”

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“Yudhishthira said, ’This curiosity, O sire, is always dwelling in my mind.  O grandsire of the Kurus, I desire to hear everything about it from thee.  Why was the celestial Rishi, the high-souled Usanas, called also Kavi engaged in doing what was agreeable to the Asuras and disagreeable to the deities?  Why was he engaged in diminishing the energy of the deities?  Why were the Danavas always engaged in hostilities with the foremost of the deities?  Possessed of the splendour of an immortal, for what reason did Usanas obtain the name of Sukra?  How also did he acquire such superior excellence?  Tell me all about these things.  Though possessed of great energy, why does he not succeed in travelling to the centre of the firmament?  I desire, O grandsire, to learn everything about all these matters.’[1489]

“Bhishma said, ’Listen, O king, with attention to all this as it occurred actually.  O sinless one, I shall narrate these matters to thee as I have heard and understood them.  Of firm vows and honoured by all, Usanas, that descendant of Bhrigu’s race, became engaged in doing what was disagreeable to the deities for an adequate cause.[1490] The royal Kuvera, the chief of the Yakshas and the Rakshasas, is the lord of the treasury of Indra, that master of the universe.[1491] The great ascetic Usanas, crowned