ipation, thou art not conscious of that knowledge due to intuition
although it has arisen in thy mind. After one's doubts have been
dispelled by persons like us, one succeeds in opening the knots of one's
heart and then, by a righteous exertion one attains to and becomes
conscious of that knowledge. As regards thyself, thou art one that hast
already acquired knowledge. Thy intelligence is steady and tranquil. Thou
art free from covetousness. For all that, O Brahmana, one never succeeds
in attaining to Brahma, which is the highest object of acquisition,
without exertion. Thou seest no distinction between happiness and misery.
Thou art not covetous. Thou hast no longing for dancing and song. Thou
hast no attachments. Thou hast no attachment to friends. Thou hast no
fear in things that inspire fear. O blessed one, I see that thou castest
an equal eye upon a lump of gold and a clod of earth. Myself and other
persons possessed of wisdom, behold thee established in the highest and
indestructible path of tranquillity. Thou stayest, O Brahmana, in those
duties which obtain for the Brahmana that fruit which should be his and
which is identical with the essence of the object represented by
Emancipation. What else hast thou to ask me?'"'"

SECTION CCCXXVIII

"'Bhishma said, "Having heard these words of king Janaka, Suka of cleansed
soul and settled conclusions began to stay in his Soul by his Soul,
having of course seen Self by Self.[1746] His object being accomplished,
he became happy and tranquil, and without putting further questions to
Janaka, he proceeded northwards to the mountains of Himavat with the
speed of the wind and like the wind.[1747] These mountains abounded with
diverse tribes of Apsaras and echoed with many lofty sounds. Teeming with
thousands of Kinnaras and Bhringarajas[1748] it was adorned, besides,
with many Madgus and Khanjaritas and many Jivajivakas of variegated hue.
And there were many peacocks also of gorgeous colours, uttering their
shrill but melodious cries. Many bevies of swans also, and many flights
of gladdened Kokilas too, adorned the place. The prince of birds, viz.,
Garuda, dwelt on that summit constantly. The four Regents of the world,
the deities, and diverse classes of Rishis, used always to come there
from the desire of doing good to the world. It was there that the
high-souled Vishnu had undergone the severest austerities for the object
of obtaining a son. It was there that the celestia