upraised for striking him, he that hath strength of mind entertaineth no fear.  Exertion, self-control, skill, carefulness, steadiness, memory, and commencement of acts after mature deliberation,—­know that these are the roots of prosperity.  Austerities constitute the strength of ascetics; the Vedas are the strength of those conversant with them; in envy lieth the strength of the wicked; and in forgiveness, the strength of the virtuous.  These eight, viz., water, roots, fruits, milk, clarified butter (what is done at) the desire of a Brahmana, (or at) the command of a preceptor, and medicine, are not destructive of a vow.  That which is antagonistic to one’s own self, should never be applied in respect of another.  Briefly even this is virtue.  Other kinds of virtue there are, but these proceed from caprice.  Anger must be conquered by forgiveness; and the wicked must be conquered by honesty; the miser must be conquered by liberality, and falsehood must be conquered by truth.  One should not place trust on a woman, a swindler, an idle person, a coward, one that is fierce, one that boasts of his own power, a thief, an ungrateful person, and an atheist.  Achievements, period of life, fame, and power—­these four always expand in the case of him that respectfully saluteth his superiors and waiteth upon the old.  Do not set thy heart after these objects which cannot be acquired except by very painful exertion, or by sacrificing righteousness, or by bowing down to an enemy.  A man without knowledge is to be pitied; an act of intercourse that is not fruitful is to be pitied; the people of a kingdom that are without food are to be pitied; and a kingdom without a king is to be pitied.  These constitute the source of pain and weakness to embodied creatures; the rains, decay of hills and mountains; absence of enjoyment, anguish of women; and wordy arrows of the heart.  The scum of the Vedas is want of study; of Brahmanas, absence of vows; of the Earth, the Vahlikas; of man, untruth; of the chaste woman, curiosity; of women, exile from home.  The scum of gold is silver; of silver, tin; of tin, lead; and of lead, useless dross.  One cannot conquer sleep by lying down; women by desire; fire by fuel; and wine by drinking.  His life is, indeed, crowned with success who hath won his friends by gifts, his foes in battle, and wife by food and drink; they who have thousands live; they, who have hundreds, also live.  O Dhritarashtra, forsake desire.  There is none who cannot manage to live by some means or other.  Thy paddy, wheat, gold, animals, and women that are on earth all cannot satiate even one person ..  Reflecting on this, they that are wise never grieve for want of universal dominion.  O king, I again tell thee, adopt an equal conduct towards thy children, i.e., towards the sons of Pandu and thy own sons.’”

SECTION XL