SECTION CLXII

“Yudhishthira said, ’Brahmanas and Rishis and Pitris and the gods all applaud the duty of truth.  I desire to hear of truth.  Discourse to me upon it, O grandsire!  What are the indications, O king, of truth?  How may it be acquired?  What is gained by practising truth, and how?  Tell me all this.’

“Bhishma said, ’A confusion of the duties of the four orders is never applauded.  That which is called Truth always exists in a pure and unmingled state in every one of those four orders.  With those that are good, Truth is always a duty.  Indeed, Truth is an eternal duty.  One should reverentially bow unto Truth.  Truth is the highest refuge (of all).  Truth is duty; Truth is penance; Truth is Yoga; and Truth is the eternal Brahma.  Truth has been said to be Sacrifice of a high order.[464] Everything rests upon Truth.  I shall now tell thee the forms of Truths one after another, and its indications also in due order.  It behoveth thee to hear also as to how Truth may be acquired.  Truth, O Bharata, as it exists in all the world, is of thirteen kinds.  The forms that Truth assumes are impartiality, self control, forgiveness, modesty, endurance, goodness, renunciation, contemplation, dignity, fortitude, compassion, and abstention from injury.  These, O great monarch, are the thirteen forms of Truth.  Truth is immutable, eternal, and unchangeable.  It may be acquired through practices which do not militate against any of the other virtues.  It may also be acquired through Yoga.  When desire and aversion, as also lust and wrath, are destroyed, that attribute in consequence of which one is able to look upon one’s own self and one’s foe, upon one’s good and one’s evil, with an unchanging eye, is called impartiality.  Self-control consists in never wishing for another man’s possessions, in gravity and patience and capacity to allay the fears of others in respect to one’s own self, and immunity from disease.  It may be acquired through knowledge.  Devotion to the practice of liberality and the observance of all duties are regarded by the wise as constituting goodwill.  One comes to acquire universal goodwill by constant devotion to truth.  As regards non-forgiveness and forgiveness, it should be stated that the attribute through which an esteemed and good man endures both what is agreeable and disagreeable, is said to be forgiveness.  This virtue may well be acquired through the practice of truthfulness.  That virtue in consequence of which an intelligent man, contented in mind and speech, achieves many good deeds and never incurs the censure of others, is called modesty.  It is acquired through the aid of righteousness.  That virtue which forgives for the sake of virtue and profit is called endurance.  It is a form of forgiveness.  It is acquired through patience, and its purpose is to attach people to one’s self.  The casting off of affection as also of all earthly possessions,