fear can never inspire fear in persons of Knowledge.  There is no higher end for anybody (than Emancipation).  In consequence, however, of the excess or otherwise of good qualities, the sages say that differences are observable in respect of the degree of Emancipation.  A person by acting without expectation of fruits succeeds (by those acts) in annihilating his sinful acts of a former period.  To one possessed of wisdom, the acts of a former period (thus washed off) and those of this life also (which are accomplished without expectation of fruit), do not become productive of any disagreeable consequence (such as immurement in hell).  But how can acts, if he continues to be engaged in accomplishing acts, bring about what is agreeable (viz., Emancipation)?[615] People censure a person that is afflicted (with lust, envy, and other evil passions).  Those vices hurl the person in his next life into diverse kinds of inferior orders.[616] Mark with close attention the vicious in this world who grieve exceedingly for the loss of their possessions (such as sons and wives, etc.).  Behold also those that are gifted with judgment and who never grieve when thrown into similar circumstances.  Those that are conversant with both (i.e., with gradual Emancipation and immediate Emancipation), deserve to be called truly wise.’"[617]

SECTION CXCV

“Bhishma said, ’I shall now, O son of Pritha, discourse to thee upon the four kinds of yoga meditation.  The great Rishis, obtaining a knowledge of the same, attain to eternal success even here.  Great Rishis gratified with knowledge, with hearts set upon Emancipation, and conversant with yoga, act in such a way that their yoga meditation may get on properly.  These, O son of Pritha, being freed from the faults of the world, never come back (for rebirth).  Liberated from liability to rebirth, they live in their original Soul-state.[618] Freed from the influence of all pairs of opposites (such as heat and cold, joy and sorrow, etc.), ever existing in their own (original) state, liberated (from attachments), never accepting anything (in gift), they live in places free from the companionship of wives and children, without others with whom disputes may arise, and favourable to perfect tranquillity of heart.  There such a person, restraining speech, sits like a piece of wood, crushing all the senses, and with mind undividedly united by the aid of meditation (with the Supreme Soul).  He has no perception of sound through the ear; no perception of touch through the skin; no perception of form through the eye; no perception of taste through the tongue.  He has no perception also of scents through the organ of smell.  Immersed in yoga, he would abandon all things, rapt in meditation.  Possessed of great energy of mind, he has no desire for anything that excites the five senses.  The wise man, withdrawing his five senses into the mind, should then fix the