Whatever happiness exists here, derivable from the gratification of desire, and whatever heavenly happiness exists of high value, do not come up to even a sixteenth part of the felicity that attends the total disappearance of desire.  As the horns of a cow grow with the growth of the cow itself, after the same manner the thirst for wealth increases with increasing acquisitions of wealth.  Whatever the object for which one feels an attachment, that object becomes a source of pain when it is lost.  One should not cherish desire.  Attachment to desire leads to sorrow.  When wealth has been acquired, one should apply it to purposes of virtue.  One should even then give up desire.[1321] The man of knowledge always looks upon other creatures even as he looks upon himself.  Having cleansed his soul and attained to success, he casts off everything here.[1322] By casting off both truth and falsehood, grief and joy, the agreeable and disagreeable, fearlessness and fear, one attains to tranquillity, and becomes free from every anxiety.  That thirst (for earthly things) which is difficult of being cast off by men of foolish understanding, which wanes not with the wane of the body, and which is regarded as a fatal disease (by men of knowledge), one who succeeds in casting off is sure to find felicity.  The man of virtuous soul, by beholding his own behaviour that has become bright as the moon and free from evil of every kind, succeeds in happily attaining to great fame both here and hereafter.’  Hearing these words of the king, the Brahmana became filled with joy, and applauding what he heard, Mandavya betook himself to the path of Emancipation.’”

SECTION CCLXXVII

“Yudhishthira said, ’Time, that is fraught, with terror unto all creatures, is running his course.  What is that source of good after which one should strive?  Tell me this, O grandsire!’

“Bhishma said, ’In this connection is cited the old narrative of a discourse between a sire and a son.  Listen to it, O Yudhishthira!  Once on a time, O son of Pritha, a regenerate person devoted only to the study of the Vedas had a very intelligent son who was known by the name of Medhavin.  Himself conversant with the religion of Emancipation, the, son one day asked his father who was not conversant with that religion and who was engaged in following the precepts of the Vedas, this question.’

“The son said, ’What should a man of intelligence do, O sire, knowing that the period of existence allotted to men runs fast away?  Tell me this truly and in proper order, O father, so that, guided by thy instructions I may set myself to the acquisition of virtue.’

“The sire said, ’Having studied the Vedas all the while observing the duties of Brahmacharya, O son, one should then desire for offspring for the sake of rescuing one’s sires.  Having established one’s fire then and performing the sacrifices that are ordained, one should then retire into the woods and (having lived as a forest-recluse) one should then become a Muni (by casting off everything and calmly waiting for dissolution).’