The acquirement of happiness and misery

By doing what does one gain happiness, and what is that by doing which one meets with misery? What also is that, O Bharata, by doing which one becomes freed from fear and sojourns here successfully,

Bhishma said The ancients who had there minds, directed to the Shrutis, spoke highly of the duty of selfcontrol for all the castes in general, but for the Brahmanas in especial.

One who is not self-controlled never enjoys success in religious rites. Religious rites, penances, truth, all these depend upon selfcontrol.

Self-control increases one's energy. Self-। control is said to be sacred. The man of selfcontrol becomes sinless and fearless and acquires great results.

One who is self-controlled sleeps happily and wakes happily. He lives happily in the world and his mind always remains cheerful

Every sort of excitement is quietly controlled by self-control. One who is not selfcontrolled fails in a similar endeavour. The self-controlled man sees his numberless focs (such as lust, desire, and anger, etc.') as if these dwell in a separate body.

Like tigers and other carnivorous animals, persons shorn of self-control always strike all creatures with fear. For controlling these men, the Self-create (Brahma) created kings.

In all the modes of life, the practice of selfcontrol is distinguished above all other virtues. The fruits of self-control are much greater than those obtainable in all the modes of life.

I shall now describe the characteristic marks of those persons who value self-control highly. They are nobility, calmness of nature, contentment, faith, forgiveness, invariable simplicity, the absence of talk-activeness, humility, reverence for elders, benevolence, mercy for all creatures, frankness, abstention from talk upon kings and men in authority, from all false and useless topics, and from applause and censure of others. The selfcontrolled man becomes desirous of liberation and, quietly bearing present joys and griefs, is never overjoyed or depressed by prospective (Ones.

Shom of vindictiveness and all sorts of guile, and unaffected by praise and censure, such a man is well-behaved, has good manners is pure of soul, had fortitude, and is a complete master of his passions.

Gaining honours in this world, such a man in after life goes to heaven. Making all creatures gain what they cannot acquire without his help, such a man rejoices and becomes happy.

Devoted to universal benevolence, such a man never feels animosity for any one. Tranquil like a calm ocean, wisdom feels his soul and he is ever cheerful.

Endued with intelligence, and deserving of universal reverence, the self-controlled man never fears any creature and is feared by no creature in return.

That man who never rejoices even at large accessions and never feels sorrow when overtaken by misfortune, is said to be endued with contented wisdom. Such a man is said to he self-controlled. Indeed, such a man is said to be a twice-born man.

Well-read in the scriptures and gifted with a pure soul, the man of self-controi, performing all those acts that are done by the good, enjoys their high fruits.

The wicked men, however, never follow the path of benevolence, forgiveness, tranquillity, contentment, sweetness of speech, trutli, liberality, and comfort.

They follow the path of lust, anger, cupidity, envy of others, and boastfulness. Overcoming lust and anger, practising the vow of Brahmacharya and becoming a complete master of his senses, the Brahman practising patiently the austerest penances, and observing the most rigid restraints, should live in this world, calmly waiting for his time like one seeming to have a body through fully knowing that he is not subject to destruction.