by
decrepitude, they that are afflicted by disease, and they that are
weakened and emaciated, have no relish for enjoyments of any kind, after
the same manner have I ceased to feel any relish for wealth or pleasure
or enjoyments. When a person fears nothing and himself is not feared,
when he cherishes no desire and hath no aversion for anything, he is then
said to attain to Brahma. When a person does not conduct himself sinfully
towards any creature in thought, word, or deed, then is he said to attain
to Brahma. There is no past, no future. There is no morality or
righteousness. He who is not an object of fear with any creature succeeds
in attaining to a state in which there is no fear.[1150] On the other
hand, that person who for harshness of speech and severity of temper, is
a source of trouble unto all creatures even as death itself, certainly
attains to a state which abounds with fear. I follow the practices of
high-souled and benevolent men of advanced years who with their children
and children's children live in the due observance of the ordinance laid
down in the scriptures.[1151] The eternal practices (laid down in the
Vedas) are entirely given up by one who suffers himself to be stupefied
by some errors that he may have noticed in the conduct of those that are
admittedly good and wise. One, however, that is endued with learning, or
one that has subdued one's senses, or one that is possessed of strength
of mind, succeeds in attaining to Emancipation, guided by that very
conduct.[1152] That wise man who, having restrained his senses,
practiseth, with a heart cleansed from all desire of injuring others, the
conduct that is followed by those called good, is sure, O Jajali, to
acquire the merit of righteousness (and Emancipation which is its
fruits). In this world, as in a river, a piece of wood that is being
borne away by the current as it pleases, is seen to come into contact
(for some time) with another piece that is being similarly borne away.
There, on the current, other pieces of wood that had been joined
together, are seen again to separate from one another. Grass, sticks, and
cowdung cakes are seen to be united together. This union is due to
accident and not to purpose or design.[1153] He of whom no creature is
frightened in the least is himself, O ascetic, never frightened by any
creature. He, on the other hand, O learned man, of whom every creature is
frightened as of a wolf, becomes himself filled with fea