r as aquatic
animals when forced to leap on the shore from fear of the roaring Vadava
fire.[1154] This practice of universal harmlessness hath arisen even
thus. One may follow it by every means in one's power. He who has
followers and he who has wealth may seek to adopt it. It is sure to lead
also to prosperity and heaven.[1155] In consequence of their ability to
dispel the fears of others, men possessed of wealth and followers are
regarded as foremost by the learned. They that are for ordinary happiness
practise this duty of universal harmlessness for the sake of fame; while
they that are truly skilled, practise the same for the sake of attaining
to Brahma.[1156] Whatever fruits one enjoys by penances, by sacrifices,
by practising liberality, by speaking the truth, and by paying court to
wisdom, may all be had by practising the duty of harmlessness. That
person who gives unto all creatures the assurance of harmlessness obtains
the merit of all sacrifices and at last wins fearlessness for himself as
his reward. There is no duty superior to the duty of abstention from
injuring other creatures. He of whom, O great ascetic, no creature is
frightened in the least, obtains for himself fearlessness of all
creatures. He of whom everybody is frightened as one is of a snake
ensconced within one's (sleeping) chamber, never acquires any merit in
this world or in the next. The very gods, in their search after it,
become stupefied in the track of that person who transcends all states,
the person, viz., who constitutes himself the soul of all creatures and
who looketh upon all creatures as identical with his own self.[1157] Of
all gifts, the assurance of harmlessness to all creatures is the highest
(in point of merit). I tell thee truly, believe me, O Jajali! One who
betakes himself to acts at first wins prosperity, but then (upon the
exhaustion of his merit) he once more encounters adversity. Beholding the
destruction of (the merits of) acts, the wise do not applaud acts. There
is no duty, O Jajali, that is not prompted by some motive (of happiness).
Duty, however, is very subtile. Duties have been laid down in the Vedas
for the sake of both Brahma and heaven.[1158] The subject of duties hath
many secrets and mysteries. It is so subtile that it is not easy to
understand it fully. Amongst diverse conflicting ordinances, some succeed
in comprehending duty by observing the acts of the good.[1159] Why dost
thou not consume them that emasc