“Yudhishthira said, ’What should a man do in order to pass pleasantly through this and the other world.  How, indeed, should one conduct oneself?  What practices should one adopt with this end in view?’

“Bhishma said, ’One should avoid the three acts that are done with the body, the four that are done with speech, the three that are done with the mind, and the ten paths of action.  The three acts that are done with the body and should be wholly avoided are the destruction of the lives of other creatures, theft or appropriation of what belongs to other persons, and the enjoyment of other people’s wives.  The four acts that are done with speech, O king, and that should never be indulged in or even thought of, are evil conversation, harsh words, publishing other people’s faults, and falsehood.  Coveting the possessions of others, doing injury to others, and disbelief in the ordinances of the Vedas, are the three acts done with the mind which should always be avoided.[31] Hence, one should never do any evil act in word, body, or mind.  By doing good and evil acts, one is sure to enjoy or endure the just consequences thereof.  Nothing can be more certain than this.’”

SECTION XIV

“Yudhishthira said, ’O son of the River Ganga, thou hast heard all the names of Maheshwara, the Lord of the universe.  Do thou tell us, O grandsire, all the names that are applied, O puissant one, unto Him who is called Isa and Sambhu.  Do thou tell us all those names that are applied unto Him who is called Vabhru or vast, Him that has the universe for his form, Him that is the illustrious preceptor of all the deities and the Asuras, that is called Swayambhu (self-creating) and that is the cause of the origin and dissolution of the universe.  Do thou tell us also of the puissance of Mahadeva.’

“Bhishma said, ’I am quite incompetent to recite the virtues of Mahadeva of highest intelligence.  He pervades all things in the universe and yet is not seen anywhere.  He is the creator of universal self and the Pragna (knowing) self and he is their master.  All the deities, from Brahman to the Pisachas, adore and worship him.  He transcends both Prakriti and Purusha.  It is of Him that Rishis, conversant with Yoga and possessing a knowledge of the tattwas, think and reflect.  He is indestructible and Supreme Brahman.  He is both existent and non-existent.  Agitating both Prakriti and Purusha by means of His energy, He created therefrom the universal lord of creatures, viz., Brahma.  Who is there that is competent to tell the virtues of that god of gods, that is endued with supreme Intelligence?  Man is subject to conception (in the mother’s womb), birth, decrepitude, and death.  Being such, what man like me is competent to understand Bhava?  Only Narayana, O son, that bearer of the discus and the mace, can comprehend Mahadeva.  He is without deterioration.  He is the foremost of all beings