fraught with learning.’  The mendicant Rishi answered, ’Ye immortals, it hath been heard by me that by untying all the knots in the heart by the aid of tranquillity, and by mastery over all the passions, and observance of true religion, one should regard both the agreeable and the disagreeable like his own self.  One should not return the slanders or reproaches of others for the pain that is felt by him who beareth silently, consumeth the slanderer; and he that beareth, succeedeth also in appropriating the virtues of the slanderer.  Indulge not in slanders and reproaches.  Do not humiliate and insult others.  Quarrel not with friends.  Abstain from companionship with those that are vile and low.  Be not arrogant and ignoble in conduct.  Avoid words that are harsh and fraught with anger.  Harsh words burn and scorch the very vitals, bones, heart, and the very sources of the life of men.  Therefore, he, that is virtuous, should always abstain from harsh and angry words.  That worst of men is of harsh and wrathful speech, who pierceth the vitals of others with wordy thorns, beareth hell in his tongue, and should ever be regarded as a dispenser of misery to men.  The man that is wise, pierced by another’s wordy arrows, sharp-pointed and smarting like fire or the sun, should, even if deeply wounded and burning with pain, bear them patiently remembering that the slanderer’s merits become his.  He that waiteth upon one that is good or upon one that is wicked, upon one that is possessed of ascetic merit or upon one that is a thief, soon taketh the colour from that companion of his, like a cloth from the dye in which it is soaked.  The very gods desire his company, who, stung with reproach, returneth if not himself nor causeth others to return it, or who being struck doth not himself return the blow nor causeth other to do it, and who wisheth not the slightest injury to him that injureth him.  Silence, it is said, is better than speech, if speak you must, then it is better to say the truth; if truth is to be said, it is better to say what is agreeable; and if what is agreeable is to be said, then it is better to say what is consistent with morality.  A man becometh exactly like him with whom he liveth, or like him whom he regardeth, or like that which he wisheth to be.  One is freed from those things from which one abstaineth, and if one abstaineth from everything he hath not to suffer even the least misery.  Such a man neither vanquisheth others, nor is vanquished by others.  He never injureth nor opposeth others.  He is unmoved by praise or blame.  He neither grieveth nor exalteth in joy.  That man is regarded as the first of his species who wisheth for the prosperity of all and never setteth his heart on the misery of others, who is truthful in speech, humble in behaviour, and hath all his passions under control.  That man is regarded as a mediocre in goodness who never consoleth others by saying what is not true; who giveth having promise; and who keepeth an eye over the weakness