Brahman, viz., the eternal Law; after Law, Energy is awake, employed in the act of protection; after Energy, the herbs (offered in sacrifices for supporting the gods and used as food and medicines); after the herbs, the mountains; after the mountains, all kinds of juices and their attributes; after these, the goddess Niriti; after Niriti, the planets and the luminous bodies in heaven; after these, the Vedas; after the Vedas, the puissant form of Vishnu with equine head; after him, the almighty and eternal Grandsire, viz., Brahman; after the Grandsire, the divine and blessed Mahadeva; after Mahadeva, the Viswedevas; after them, the great Rishis; after the Rishis the divine Soma; after Soma, the deities who are all eternal; after the deities, know that the Brahmanas are awake.  After the Brahmanas, the Kshatriyas are righteously protecting all creatures.  The eternal universe, consisting of mobile and immobile creatures, is kept awake by the Kshatriyas.  Creatures are kept awake in this world, and Chastisement is awake among them.  Possessed of splendour resembling that of the Grandsire himself, Chastisement keeps together and upholds everything.[373] Time, O Bharata, is always awake, in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  The master of all the worlds, the lord of all creatures, the puissant and blessed Mahadeva, the god of gods, is always awake.  He is called by these names also, viz., Kapardin, Sankara, Rudra, Bhava, Sthanu and the lord of Uma.  Thus Chastisement also keeps awake in the beginning, the middle, and the end.  A virtuous king should rule properly, guided by Chastisement.’

“Bhishma continued, ’That person who listens to this teaching of Vasuhoma, and having listened to it conducts himself according to its tenure, is sure to obtain the fruition of all his wishes.  I have now, O bull among men, told thee everything as to who Chastisement is, that restrainer of the universe which is governed by righteousness.’”

SECTION CXXIII

“Yudhishthira said, ’I wish, O sire, to hear the settled conclusions on the subject of Virtue, Wealth, and Pleasure.  Depending upon which of these does the course of life proceed?  What are the respective roots of Virtue, Wealth, and Pleasure?  What are again the results of those three?  They are sometimes see n to mingle with one another, and sometimes to exist separately and independently of one another.’

“Bhishma said, ’When men in this world endeavour with good hearts to achieve Wealth with the aid of Virtue, then those three, viz., Virtue, Wealth, and Pleasure, may be seen to co-exist in a state of union in respect of time, cause, and action.[374] Wealth has its root in Virtue, and Pleasure is said to be the fruit of Wealth.  All the three again have their root in Will.  Will is concerned with objects.  All objects, again, in their entirety, exist for gratifying the desire of enjoyment.