this foremost of mountains should thus be suddenly shaken by that wind which has begun to blow.  This wind is the breath of Vishnu’s nostrils.  When urged forth with speed, it begins to blow with great force at which the whole universe becomes agitated.  Hence, when the wind begins to blow with violence, persons conversant with the Vedas do not recite the Vedas.  The Vedas are a form of wind.  If uttered with force, the external wind becomes tortured.”

“Having said these words, the puissant son of Parasara bade his son (when the wind had ceased) to go on with his Vedic recitation.  He then left that spot for plunging into the waters of the celestial Ganga.’"[1755]

SECTION CCCXXX

“Bhishma said, ’After Vyasa had left the spot, Narada, traversing through the sky, came to Suka employed in studying the scriptures.  The celestial Rishi came for the object of asking Suka the meaning of certain portions of the Vedas.  Beholding the celestial Rishi Narada arrived at his retreat, Suka worshipped him by offering him the Arghya according to the rites laid down in the Vedas.  Pleased with the honours bestowed upon him, Narada addressed Suka, saying,—­Tell me, O foremost of righteous persons, by what means, O dear child, may I accomplish what is for thy highest good!—­Hearing these words of Narada, Suka, said unto him, O Bharata, these words:—­It behoveth thee to instruct me in respect of that which may be beneficial to me: 

’Narada said, In days of yore the illustrious Sanatkumara had said these words unto certain Rishis of cleansed souls that had repaired to him for enquiring after the truth.  There is no eye like that of knowledge.  There is no penance like renunciation.  Abstention from sinful acts, steady practice of righteousness, good conduct, the due observance of all religious duties,—­these constitute the highest good.  Having obtained the status of humanity which is fraught with sorrow, he that becomes attached to it, becomes stupefied:  such a man never succeeds in emancipating himself from sorrow.  Attachment (to things of the world) is an indication of sorrow.  The understanding of person that is attached to worldly things becomes more and more enmeshed in the net of stupefaction.  The man who becomes enmeshed in the net of stupefaction attains to sorrow, both here and hereafter.  One should, by every means in one’s power, restrain both desire and wrath if one seeks to achieve what is for one’s good.  Those two (viz., desire and wrath) arise for only destroying one’s good.[1756] One should always protect one’s penances from wrath, and one’s prosperity from pride.  One should always protect one’s knowledge from honour and dishonour and, one’s soul from error.[1757] Compassion is the highest virtue.  Forgiveness is the highest might.  The knowledge of self is the highest knowledge.  There is nothing higher than truth.  It is always proper to speak the truth.  It is better again to speak what is beneficial