ces. Listen to me as
I discourse on the topic. It is generally seen, O king, that in
consequence of sentiments fraught with Rajas and Tamas, the sense of
meum, born of attachment, springs up in the heart of the householder.
Betaking oneself to the domestic mode of life, one acquires kine, fields,
wealth of diverse kinds, spouses, children, and servants. One that
becomes observant of this mode of life continually casts one's eye upon
these objects. Under these circumstances, one's attachments and aversions
increase, and one ceases to regard one's (transitory) possessions as
eternal and indestructible. When a person becomes overwhelmed by
attachment and aversion, and yields himself up to the mastery of earthly
objects, the desire of enjoyment then seizes him, taking its rise from
heedlessness, O king. Thinking that person to be blessed who has the
largest share of enjoyments in this world, the man devoted to enjoyment
does not, in consequence of his attachment thereto, see that there is any
other happiness besides what waits upon the gratification of the senses.
Overwhelmed with cupidity that results from such attachment, he then
seeks to increase the number of his relatives and attendants, and for
gratifying these latter he seeks to increase his wealth by every means in
his power. Filled with affection for children, such a person commits, for
the sake of acquiring wealth, acts that he knows to be evil, and gives
way to grief if his wealth be lost. Having earned honours and always
guarding against the defeat of his plans, he betakes himself to such
means as would gratify his desire of enjoyment. At last he meets with
destruction as the inevitable consequence of the conduct he pursues. It
is well-known, however, that true felicity is theirs that are endued with
intelligence, that are utterers of the eternal Brahma, that seek to
accomplish only acts that are auspicious and beneficial, and that abstain
from all acts that are optional and spring from desire alone.[1532] From
loss of all such objects in which are centred our affections, from loss
of wealth, O king, and from the tyranny of physical diseases add mental
anguish, a person falls into despair. From this despair arises an
awakening of the soul. From such awakening proceeds study of the
Scriptures. From contemplation of the import of the scriptures, O king,
one sees the value of penance. A person possessed of the knowledge of
what is essential and what accidental, O kin