objects of the senses and the three attributes (of Sattwa, Rajas,
and Tamas), have never to incur rebirth. When, O scorcher of foes, shall
we succeed in abandoning sovereignty for adopting a life of renunciation?"

"'Bhishma said, "Everything, O great monarch, hath an end. Everything hath
bounds assigned to it. Even rebirth, it is well-known, hath an end. In
this world there is nothing that is immutable. Thou thinkest, O king,
that this (viz., the affluence with which thou art invested is a fault).
That it is not so is not true, in regard to our present topic of
disquisition. Ye, however, are conversant with virtue, and have
readiness. It is certain, therefore, that ye shall attain to the end of
your sorrow, (viz., Emancipation) in time.[1343] Jiva equipped with body,
O king, is not the author of his merits and demerits (or their fruits as
represented by happiness and misery). On the other hand, he becomes
enveloped by the Darkness (of Ignorance having attachment and aversion
for its essence) that is born of his merits and demerits.[1344] As the
wind impregnated with dust of antimony once again seizes the
efflorescence of realgar and (though itself destitute of colour) assumes
the hues of the substances which it has seized and tinges the different
points of the compass (which represent its own hueless progenitor, viz.,
space), after the same manner, Jiva, though himself colourless, assumes a
hue in consequence of being enveloped by Darkness and variegated by the
fruits of action, and travels from body to body (making his own stainless
and immutable progenitor appear as stained and changeful).[1345] When
Jiva succeeds in dispelling by means of Knowledge, the Darkness that
invests him in consequence of Ignorance, then Immutable Brahma becomes
displayed (in all His glory). The Sages say that reversion to Immutable
Brahma is incapable of being achieved by Acts. Thyself, others in the
world, and the deities too, should reverence them that have achieved
Emancipation. All the great Rishis never desist from culture of
Brahma.[1346] In this connection is cited that discourse which was sung
(by the preceptor of the Daityas) in days of old. Listen, O monarch, with
undivided attention to the course of conduct that was followed by the
Daitya Vritra after he became divested of all his prosperity. Depending
only upon his intelligence, he did not indulge in sorrow, in the midst of
his enemies, although he was deprived of sovereignty, O B