know this, becomes confounded when confronted by an
actual instance of the kind. Before the occasion comes, one should, O
Bharata, comprehend the circumstances under which righteousness and its
reverse become confused. Having acquired this knowledge, a wise king
should, when the occasion comes, act accordingly, aided by his judgment.
The acts he does at such a time are misunderstood by ordinary people.
Some persons are possessed of true knowledge. Some persons have false
knowledge. Truly ascertaining the nature of each kind of knowledge, a
wise king derives knowledge from them that are regarded as good. They
that are really breakers of morality find fault with the scriptures. They
that have themselves no wealth proclaim the inconsistencies of the
treatises on the acquisition of wealth. Those who seek to acquire
knowledge for the object only of carrying their sustenance by it, O king,
are sinful besides being enemies of morality. Wicked men, of immature
understandings, can never know things truly, even as persons unconversant
with scriptures are unable in all their acts to be guided by reason. With
eyes directed to the faults of the scriptures, they decry the scriptures.
Even if they understand the true meaning of the scriptures, they are
still in the habit of proclaiming that scriptural injunctions are
unsound. Such men, by decrying the knowledge of others proclaim the
superiority of their own knowledge. They have words for their weapons and
words for their arrows and speak as if they are real masters of their
sciences. Know, O Bharata, that they are traders in learning and
Rakshasas among men. By the aid of mere pretexts they cast off that
morality which has been established by good and wise men. It has been
heard by us that the texts of morality are not to be understood by either
discussion or one's own intelligence. Indra himself has said that this
is the opinion of the sage Vrihaspati. Some are of opinion that no
scriptural text has been laid down without a reason. Others again, even
if they properly understand the scriptures, never act according to them.
One class of wise men declare that morality is nothing else than the
approved course of the world. The man of true knowledge should find out
for himself the morality laid down for the good. If even a wise man
speaks of morality under the influence of wrath or confusion of
understanding or ignorance, his deliverances go for nothing. Discourses
on morality made with th