And love contempt, as if he quaffed A sweet celestial nectar-draught. Though scorned, the wise man sweetly sleeps; XCIV. The real ascetics. b Mahabharata iii. 13448 f.; xii. 343 ff.; xii. 2979. The high-souled men who never sin In thought, or word, or action—they, What virtue's in a shrivelled skin? XCV. The recluse less meritorious than virtuous men who live in the world. Mahabharata xii. 12126. From every vicious taint though pure, A hermit's virtue cannot vie With theirs who ne'er from trials fly, But face, and conquer, every lure. XCVI. Retirement from the world not necessary for self-control. Mahabharata xii. 5961; (Comp. v. 1680.) Why, pray, to forests wild repair, XCVII. Bhima's Condemnation of Premature Asceticism. Mahābhārata xii. 293 ff. When old and grey, when strength decays, By foes when crushed, in evil days, From fortune's heights when downward hurled,— But not in days of youth and health, When crowned with glory, blest with wealth. Those scripture texts which praise as best A life ascetic, lone, unblest, Dragged sadly on in gloomy woods, And dreary, doleful solitudes, Are fictions hatched in squalid schools By needy unbelieving fools, Which look like truth, but proved, are found To savage beasts it is not given When men no pleasure feel, nor pain, Abandon, then, thy vain design; See how by acts all mortals strive Their ends to gain, through effort thrive. From strenuous deeds alone it springs. XCVIII. that determines the Character of Actions. "Tis from the soul, the man within, No outward state, whate'er it be, Would he not sin, a Brahman sage Bring gifts no fruit, howe'er profuse, XCIX. The inefficacy of mere theological knowledge. No varied store of sacred texts has power His lore forsakes him in his final hour, As birds, full-fledged, their native nests desert. C. Austerities and rites unavailing without inward purity. The triple staff, long matted hair, CI. Truth better than sacrifice. Mahabharata i. 3094 ff.; xii. 6002; xiii. 3650 ff. By weighing truth and sacrifice appraise, CII. The Same. Mahābhārata xiii. 1544; (Comp. xiii. 6073 ff). In one scale truth, in the other lay I doubt if all that pile so high, Even half as much as truth would weigh. CIII. Results of Truth and Falschood. Those noble men who falsehood dread, As flames with greater brightness glow, But like to flames with water drenched, Till all their lustre soon is quenched. CIV. Sweet savour of Good Deeds: Falsehood to be shunned. Taittiriya Aranyaka x. 9. As far and wide the vernal breeze So, too, the grateful savour speeds As one expert in daring feats The chasm to cross, but soon retreats, CV. Loss of Dirtue the only real Loss. Mahabharata v. 1289. Thy virtue guard at any cost. Wealth none can trust; it comes and goes: The good survive misfortune's blows; But virtue lost, and all is lost. CVI. The Righteous always Prosper. Mahabharata v. 1381; 1223 (comp. v. 4157 ff.). Whoe'er would wealth abundant earn, Should first to practise virtue learn. As nectar aye the blessed sates. CVII. Righteousness more valuable than Riches. Mahabharata xii. 9810. Wealth little satisfaction brings : The highest bliss from virtue springs. |