The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 2 eBook

but one should kill that foe as soon as one commandeth sufficient strength, for, if not killed, dangers soon arise from him.  One should, with an effort, control his wrath against the gods, kings, Brahmanas, old men, children, and those that are helpless.  He that is wise should avoid unprofitable quarrels such as fools only engage in.  By this one winneth great fame in this world and avoideth misery and unhappiness.  People never desire him for a master whose grace is fruitless and whose wrath goest for nothing, like women never desiring him for a husband who is a eunuch.  Intelligence doth not exist for the acquisition of wealth, nor is idleness the cause of adversity; the man of wisdom only knoweth, and not others, the cause of the diversities of condition in this world.  The fool, O Bharata, always disregardeth those that are elderly in years, and eminent in conduct and knowledge, in intelligence, wealth, and lineage.  Calamities soon come upon them that are of wicked disposition, devoid of wisdom, envious, or sinful, foul-tongued, and wrathful.  Absence of deceitfulness, gift, observance of the established rules of intercourse, and speech well-controlled, bring all creatures under subjection.  He that is without deceitfulness, he that is active, grateful, intelligent, and guileless, even if his treasury be empty, obtaineth friends, counsellors, and servants.  Intelligence, tranquillity of mind, self-control, purity, absence of harsh speech and unwillingness to do anything disagreeable to friends,—­these seven are regarded as the fuel of prosperity’s flame.  The wretch who doth not give to others their due, who is of wicked soul, who is ungrateful, and shameless, should, O king, be avoided.  The guilty person who provoketh another about him that is innocent, cannot sleep peacefully at night, like a person passing the night with a snake in the same room.  They, O Bharata, who upon being angry endanger one’s possessions and means of acquisition, should always be propitiated like the very gods.  Those objects that depend upon women, careless persons, men that have fallen away from the duties of their caste, and those that are wicked in disposition, are doubtful of success.  They sink helplessly.  O king, like a raft made of stone, who have a woman, a deceitful person, or a child, for their guide.  They that are competent in the general principles of work, though not in particular kinds of work are regarded by men as learned and wise for particular kinds of work, are subsidiary, That man who is highly spoken of by swindlers, mimes and women of ill fame, is more dead than alive, Forsaking these mighty bowmen of immeasurable energy, viz., the son of Pandu, thou hast.  O Bharata, devolved on Duryodhana, the cares of a mighty empire.  Thou shalt, therefore, soon see that swelling affluence fall off, like Vali fallen off from the three worlds.’”


“Dhritarashtra said, ’Man is not the disposer of either his prosperity or adversity.  He is like a wooden doll moved by strings.  Indeed, the Creator hath made man subject to Destiny.  Go on telling me, I am attentive to what thou sayest.’

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