“Bhishma continued, ’All this was said by that high-souled sage unto the ruler of the Videhas, O king, in days of old for his benefit.’”

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“Bhishma said, ’Once again Janaka, the ruler of Mithila, questioned the high-souled Parasara endued with certain knowledge in respect of all duties.’

“Janaka said, ’What is productive of good?  What is the best path (for living creatures)?  What is that which being accomplished is never destroyed?  What is that spot repairing whither one has not to come back?  Tell me all this, O thou of high intelligence!’

“Parasara said, ’Dissociation (from attachments) is the root of what is good.[1558] Knowledge is the highest path.  Penances practised are never destroyed, Gifts also, made to deserving persons, are not lost.  When one, breaking the bonds of sin, begins to take pleasure in righteousness, and when one makes that highest of all gifts, viz., the pledge of harmlessness unto all creatures, then does one achieve success.  He who gives away thousands of kine and hundreds of horses (to deserving persons), and who gives unto all creatures the pledge of harmlessness, receives in return the pledge of harmlessness from all.  One may live in the midst of all kinds of wealth and enjoyment, yet, if blessed with intelligence, one does not live in them:  while he that is destitute of intelligence lives wholly in objects of enjoyment that are even unsubstantial.[1559] Sin cannot attach to a man of wisdom even as water cannot drench the leaves of the lotus.  Sin adheres more firmly to him who is without attachment even as lac and wood adhere firmly to each other.  Sin, which cannot be extinguished except by endurance of its fruits, never abandons the doer.  Verily, the doer, when the time comes, has to endure the consequences arising from it.[1560] They, however, that are of cleansed souls and that realise the existence of Brahma, are never afflicted by the fruits of their acts.  Heedless in respect of one’s senses of knowledge and of action, one that is not conscious of one’s wicked acts, and whose heart is attached to both good and bad, becomes afflicted with great fear.  One who at all times becomes entirely freed from attachments and who completely subjugates the passion of wrath, is never stained by sin even if he lives in the enjoyment of worldly objects.  As a dyke built across a river, if not washed away, causes the waters thereof to swell up, even so the man who, without being attached to objects of enjoyments, creates the dyke of righteousness whose materials consist of the limitations set down in the scriptures, has never to languish.  On the other hand, his merits and penances increase.  As the pure gem (called Suryakanta) absorbs and attracts to itself, the rays of the Sun, even so, O tiger among kings, does Yoga proceed by help of concentrated attention.[1561] As sesame seeds, in consequence of their repeated