what.  They that are highly stupid and they that are masters of their souls enjoy happiness here.  They however, that occupy an intermediate place suffer misery.  This, O Yudhishthira, is what Senajit of great wisdom said, that person who was conversant with what is good or bad in this world, with duties, and with happiness and misery.  He who is grieved at other people’s griefs can never be happy.  There is no end of grief, and grief arises from happiness itself.  Happiness and misery, prosperity and adversity, gain and loss, death and life, in their turn, wait upon all creatures.  For this reason the wise man of tranquil soul should neither be elated with joy nor be depressed with sorrow.  To be engaged in battle has been said to be the Sacrifice for a king; a due observance of the science of chastisement is his Yoga; and the gift of wealth in sacrifices in the form of Dakshina is his Renunciation.  All these should be regarded as acts that sanctify him.  By governing the kingdom with intelligence and policy, casting off pride, performing sacrifices, and looking at everything and all persons with kindness and impartiality, a high-souled king, after death, sports in the region of the gods.  By winning battles, protecting his kingdom, drinking the Soma juice, advancing his subjects, wielding judiciously the rod of Chastisement, and casting off his body at last in fight, a king enjoys happiness in heaven.  Having studied all the Vedas and the other scriptures duty, having protected the kingdom properly, and having caused all the four orders to adhere to their respective duties, a king becomes sanctified and finally sports in heaven.  He is the best of kings whose conduct, even after his death, is applauded by the inhabitants of city and country and by his counsellors and friends.”

SECTION XXVI

Vaisampayana said, “In this connection, the high-souled Yudhishthira said unto Arjuna these words fraught with reason.  ’Thou thinkest, O Partha, that there is nothing superior to wealth, and that the poor man can neither have heaven, nor happiness, nor the acquisition of his wishes.  This, however, is not true.  Many persons are seen that have been crowned with success through sacrifice in the shape of Vedic study.  Many sages are seen by devotion to penances to have acquired eternal regions of bliss.  They, O Dhananjaya, who always observe the practices of the Rishis by betaking themselves to Brahmacharya and who become acquainted with all duties, are regarded by the gods as Brahmanas.  O Dhananjaya, thou shouldst always regard those Rishis that are devoted to the study of the Vedas and those that are devoted to the pursuit of true knowledge as persons that are truly virtuous.  O son of Pandu, all our acts depend upon those that are devoted to the acquisition of true knowledge.[76] We know this to be the opinion of the Vaikhanasas, O puissant one!  The Ajas, the Prishnis, the Sikatas, O Bharata, the Arunas,