born.  All of them obeyed the eternal law of the Supreme God Observing all the rites, in detail, that were ordained in honour of the deities and the Pitris, all those foremost of regenerate persons acquired all those objects which they sought.  The incorporeal denizens of Heaven itself bow to that Supreme deity and through His grace they attain to those fruits and that end which He ordains for them.  This is the settled conclusion of the scriptures that these persons freed from these seven and ten attributes, (viz., the five senses of knowledge, the five senses of action, the five vital breaths, and mind and understanding), who have cast off all acts, and are divested of the five and ten elements which constitute the gross body, are said to be Emancipate.  That which the Emancipate attain to as their ultimate end is called by the name of Kshetrajna.  He is regarded (in the scriptures) as both possessed of and free from all the attributes.  He can be apprehended by Knowledge alone.  We two have sprung from Him.  Knowing him in that way, we adore that eternal Soul of all things.  The Vedas and all the modes of life, though characterised by divergences of opinion, all worship Him with devotion.  It is He who, speedily moved to grace, confers on them high ends fraught with felicity.  Those persons in this world who, filled with His spirit, become fully and conclusively devoted to Him, attain to ends that are much higher, for they succeed in entering Him and becoming merged in his Self.  I have now, O Narada, discoursed to thee on what is high mystery moved by the love I bear to thee for thy devotion to me.  Indeed, in consequence of that devotion which thou professest towards me, thou hast succeeded in listening to this my discourse!”

SECTION CCCXXXVI

“Bhishma said, ’Addressed by Narayana, that foremost of beings, in these words, Narada, the foremost of men, then said these words unto Narayana for the good of the world.

“Narada said, Let that object be accomplished for which thou, O self-born Being, hast taken birth in four forms in the house of Dharma!  I shall now repair (to the White Island) for beholding thy original nature.  I always worship my seniors.  I have never divulged the secrets of others.  O lord of the universe, I have studied the Vedas with care.  I have undergone austere penances.  I have never spoken an untruth.  As ordained in the scriptures, I have always protected the four that should be protected.[1793] I have always behaved equally towards friends and foes.  Wholly and conclusively devoted to Him, that first of deities, viz., the Supreme Soul, I incessantly adore Him.  Having cleansed my soul by these acts of special merit, why shall I not succeed in obtaining a sight of that Infinite Lord of the universe?—­Hearing these words of Parameshthi’s son, Narayana, that protector of the scriptures, dismissed him, saying,—­Go, O Narada!—­Before dismissing him, however,