I do not (now) regard myself as destitute of intelligence.  Having adopted Renunciation in consequence of loss of my property, I can now rest, freed from every kind of fever.  I cast thee off, O Desire, with all the passions of my heart.  Thou shalt not again dwell with me or sport with me.  I shall forgive them that will slander or speak ill of me.  I shall not injure even when injured.  If anybody from aversion speaks disagreeable words of me, disregarding those words I shall address him in agreeable speeches.  In contentment of heart and with all my senses at case, I shall always live upon what may be got by me.  I shall not contribute to the gratification of the wishes entertained by thee that art my foe.  Freedom from attachment, emancipation from desire, contentment, tranquillity, truth, self-restraint, forgiveness, and universal compassion are the qualities that have now I come to me.  Therefore, let Desire, cupidity, thirst, miserliness avoid me.  I have now adopted the path of Goodness.  Having cast off Desire and Cupidity, great is my happiness now.  I shall no longer yield to the influence of Cupidity and no longer suffer misery like a person of uncleansed soul.  One is sure to obtain happiness according to the measure of the desires he may be able to cast off.  Truly, he who yields himself up to Desire always suffers misery.  Whatever passions connected with Desire are cast off by a person, all appertain to the quality of Passion.  Sorrow and shamelessness and discontent all arise from Desire and Wealth.  Like a person plunging in the hot season into a cool lake, I have now entered into Brahma, I have abstained from work.  I have freed myself from grief.  Pure happiness has now come to me.  The felicity that results from the gratification of Desire, or that other purer felicity which one enjoys in heaven, does not come to even a sixteenth part of that which arises upon the abandonment of all kinds of thirst!  Killing the principle of desire, which with the body makes an aggregate of seven, and which is a bitter foe, I have entered the immortal city of Brahma and shall pass my days there in happiness like a king!’ Relying upon such intelligence, Manki freed himself from attachments, casting off all desires and attaining to Brahma that abode of the highest felicity.  Indeed, in consequence of the loss of his two bulls Manki attained to immortality.  Indeed, because he cut the very roots of desire, he attained, through that means, to high felicity.’”

SECTION CLXXVIII

“Bhishma continued, ’In this connection is also cited the old narrative of the verses sung by Janaka the ruler of the Videhas, who had attained to tranquillity of soul.  What the monarch said was, ’Unlimited is my wealth.  At the same time I have nothing, if the whole of (my kingdom) Mithila be consumed in a conflagration, I shall incur no loss.’  In the connection is also cited the speech of Vodhya uttered in respect of this very