O Yudhishthira. Thou shouldst know that conduct is the root
of prosperity. Conduct is the enhancer of fame. It is conduct that
prolongs life. It is conduct that destroys all calamities and evils.
Conduct has been said to be superior to all the branches of knowledge. It
is conduct that begets righteousness, and it is righteousness that
prolongs life. Conduct is productive of fame, of long life, and of
heaven. Conduct is the most efficacious rite of propitiating the deities
(for bringing about auspiciousness of every kind). The Self-born Brahman
himself has said that one should show compassion unto all orders of
men."'"[485]

SECTION CV

"'Yudhishthira said, "Tell me, O chief of Bharata's race, how the eldest
brother should behave towards his younger brothers and how the younger
brothers should behave towards their eldest brother."

"'Bhishma said, "Do thou, O son, always behave towards thy younger
brothers as their eldest brother should. Thou art always the eldest of
all these thy brothers. That high conduct which the preceptor should
always adopt towards his disciples should be adopted by thee towards thy
younger brothers. If the preceptor happens to be unendued with wisdom,
the disciple cannot possibly behave towards him in a respectful or proper
way. If the preceptor happens to be possessed of purity and highness of
conduct, the disciple also succeeds in attaining to conduct of the same
kind, O Bharata. The eldest brother should at times be blind to the acts
of his younger brothers, and though possessed of wisdom should at times
act as if he does not understand their acts. If the younger brothers be
guilty of any transgression, the eldest brother should correct them by
indirect ways and means. If there be good understanding among brothers
and if the eldest brother seek to correct his younger brothers by direct
or ostensible means, persons that are enemies, O son of Kunti, that are
afflicted with sorrow at the sight of such good understanding and who,
therefore, always seek to bring about a disunion, set themselves to
disunite the brothers and cause dissension among them. It is the eldest
brother that enhances the prosperity of the family or destroys it
entirely. If the eldest brother happens to be unendued with sense and
wicked in behaviour, he brings about the destruction of the whole family.
The eldest brother who injures his younger brothers ceases to be regarded
as the eldest and forfeits his share in the fa