iver filled with the waters of stupefaction, even
so is that man afflicted who falls away from that state in which there is
a union with the Understanding.[1450] Men of knowledge, however,
conversant with Adhyatma and armed with fortitude, are never afflicted,
because they are capable of crossing to the other shore of those waters.
Indeed, Knowledge is an efficient raft (in that river). Men of knowledge
have not to encounter those frightful terrors which alarm them that are
destitute of knowledge. As regards the righteous, none of them attains to
an end that is superior to that of any other person amongst them. Indeed,
the righteous show, in this respect, an equality. As regards the man of
Knowledge, whatever acts have been done by him in past times (while he
was steeped in Ignorance) and whatever acts fraught with great iniquity
he does (after attainment of Knowledge), he destroys both by Knowledge as
his sole means. Then again, upon the attainment of Knowledge he ceases to
perpetrate these two evils, viz., censuring the wicked acts of others and
doing any wicked acts himself under the influence of attachment."'"[1451]

SECTION CCLXXXVII

"'Yudhishthira said, "Living creatures always stand in fear of sorrow and
death. Tell me, O grandsire, how the occurrence of these two may be
prevented."

"'Bhishma said, "In this connection, O Bharata, is cited the old narrative
of the discourse between Narada and Samanga.

"'"Narada said, '(While others salute their superiors by only a bend of the
head) thou salutest thy superiors by prostrating thyself on the ground
till thy chest comes into contact with the ground. Thou seemest to be
engaged in crossing (the river of life) with thy hands.[1452] Thou
seemest to be always free from sorrow and exceedingly cheerful. I do not
see that thou hast the least anxiety. Thou art always content and happy
and thou seemest to sport (in felicity) like a child.'

"'"Samanga said, 'O giver of honours, I know the truth about the Past, the
Present, and the Future. Hence I never become cheerless.[1453] I know
also what the beginning of acts is in this world, what the accession of
their fruits, and how varied are those fruits. Hence I never yield to
sorrow.[1454] Behold, the illiterate, the destitute, the prosperous, O
Narada, the blind, idiots and madmen, and ourselves also, all live.[1455]
These live by virtue of their acts of past lives. The very deities, who
exist freed from diseases, exist