ect, whatever it may
be in respect of which the idea of meum is cherished, becomes a source of
grief and heart-burning. Whatever objects, amongst things that are
desired, are cast off, become sources of happiness. The man that pursues
objects of desire meets with destruction in course of the pursuit.
Neither the happiness that is derived from a gratification of the senses
nor that great felicity which one may enjoy in heaven, approaches to even
a sixteenth part of the felicity which arises from the destruction of all
desires. The acts of a former life, right or wrong, visit, in their
consequences, the wise and the foolish, the brave and the timid. It is
even thus that joy and sorrow, the agreeable and the disagreeable,
continually revolve (as on a wheel) among living creatures. Relying upon
such an understanding, the man of intelligence and wisdom lives at ease.
A person should disregard all his desires, and never allow his wrath to
get the better of him. This wrath springs in the heart and grows there
into vigour and luxuriance. This wrath that dwells in the bodies of men
and is born in their minds, is spoken of by the wise as Death. When a
person succeeds in withdrawing all his desires like a tortoise
withdrawing all its limbs, then his soul, which is self-luminous,
succeeds in looking into itself.[508] That object, whatever it may be, in
respect of which the idea of meum is cherished, becomes a source of grief
and heart-burning.[509] When a person himself feels no fear, and is
feared by no one, when he cherishes no desire and no aversion, he is then
said to attain to the state of Brahma. Casting off both truth and
falsehood, grief and joy, fear and courage, the agreeable and the
disagreeable, thou mayst become of tranquil soul. When a person abstains
from doing wrong to any creature, in thought, word, or deed, he is then
said to attain to a state of Brahma. True happiness is his who can cast
off that thirst which is incapable of being cast off by the misguided,
which does not decay with decrepitude, and which is regarded as a fatal
disease. In this connection, O king, are heard the verses sung by Pingala
about the manner in which she had acquired eternal merit even at a time
that had been very unfavourable. A fallen woman of the name of Pingala,
having repaired to the place of assignation, was denied the company of
her lover through an accident. At that time of great misery, she
succeeded in acquiring tranquillity of s