senses of persons like yourselves have their
functions and objects. Tell me, in what then, if we are to investigate
the question of happiness, does pure felicity consist for all the four
orders of men and all the four modes of life who and which have, as
regards their inclinations, the same resting ground.'

"'"Kapila said, 'Whatever the Sastras according to which one performs the
acts one feels inclined to do, the ordinances laid down in it for
regulating those acts never become fruitless. Whatever again the school
of opinion according to which one may conduct oneself, one is sure to
attain to the highest end by only observing the duties of self-restraint
of Yoga. Knowledge assists that man in crossing (this interminable river
of life and death) who pursues knowledge. That conduct, however, which
men pursue after deviating from the path of knowledge, afflicts them (by
subjecting them to the evils of life and death). It is evident that ye
are possessed of knowledge and dissociated from every worldly object that
may produce distress. But have any of you at any time succeeded in
acquiring that knowledge in consequence of which everything is capable of
being viewed as identical with one Universal Soul?[1252] Without a
correct apprehension of the scriptures, some there are, fond only of
disputation, who, in consequence of being overwhelmed by desire and
aversion, become the slaves of pride and arrogance. Without having
correctly understood the meaning of scriptural declarations, these
robbers of the scriptures, these depredators of Brahma, influenced by
arrogance and error, refuse to pursue tranquillity and practise
self-restraint.[1253] These men behold fruitlessness on every side, and
if (by chance) they succeed in obtaining the puissance of knowledge they
never impart it to others for rescuing them. Made up entirely of the
quality of Tamas, they have Tamas only for their refuge. One becomes
subject to all the incidents of that nature which one imbibes.
Accordingly, of him who hath Tamas for his refuge, the passions of envy,
lust, wrath, pride, falsehood, and vanity, continually grow, for one's
qualities have one's nature for their spring. Thinking in this strain and
beholding these faults (through the aid of instructions secured from
preceptors), Yatis, who covet the highest end, betake themselves to Yoga,
leaving both good and ill.'[1254]

"'"Syumarasmi said, 'O Brahmana, all that I have said (about the laudable
chara