hat course of conduct art thou devoted?
Whose art thou? Whence hast thou come? After finishing thy business here,
whither wilt thou go? No one can, without questioning, ascertain
another's acquaintance with the scriptures, or age, or order of birth.
Thou shouldst, therefore, answer these questions of mine, when thou has
come to me. Know that I am truly freed from all vanity in respect of my
royal umbrella and sceptre. I wish to know thee thoroughly. Thou art
deserving I hold, of my respect.[1679] Do thou listen to me as I speak to
thee on Emancipation for there is none else (in this world) that can
discourse to thee on that topic. Hear me also. I tell thee who that person
is from whom in days of old I acquired this distinguishing
knowledge.[1680] I am the beloved disciple of the high-souled and
venerable Panchasikha, belonging to the mendicant order, of Parasara's
race. My doubts have been dispelled and am fully conversant with the
Sankhya and the Yoga systems, and the ordinances as in respect of
sacrifices and other rites, which constitutes the three well-known paths
of Emancipation.[1681] Wandering over the earth and pursuing the while
the path that is pointed out by the scriptures, the learned Panchasikha
formerly dwelt in happiness in my abode for a period of four months in
the rainy season. That foremost of Sankhyas discoursed to me, agreeably
to the truth, and in an intelligible manner suited to my comprehension,
on the several kinds of means for attaining to Emancipation. He did not,
however, command me to give up my kingdom. Freed from attachments, and
fixing my Soul on supreme Brahma, and unmoved by companionship, I lived,
practising in its entirety that triple conduct which is laid down in
treatises on Emancipation. Renunciation (of all kinds of attachments) is
the highest means prescribed for Emancipation. It is from Knowledge that
Renunciation, by which one becomes freed, is said to flow. From Knowledge
arises the endeavour after Yoga, and through that endeavour one attains
to knowledge of Self or Soul. Through knowledge of Self one transcends
joy and grief. That enables one to transcend death and attain to high
success. That high intelligence (knowledge of Self) has been acquired by
me, and accordingly I have transcended all pairs of opposites. Even in
this life have I been freed from stupefaction and have transcended all
attachments. As a soil, saturated with water and softened thereby, causes
the (sown) see