Section LXIX

"Dhritarashtra said,

'How hast you, O Sanjaya, been able to know Madhava as the Supreme Lord of the universe? And how is it that I am unable to know Him as such? Tell me this, O Sanjaya.'

"Sanjaya said,

'Listen, O king! You have no Knowledge, whereas my Knowledge has suffered no diminution. He that is without Knowledge and is shrouded with the darkness of ignorance, knows not Kesava. Aided by my knowledge, O sire, I know the slayer of Madhu to be the union of the Gross, the subtle and the Cause; and that He is the Creator of all, but is Himself increate; and also that, endued with Divinity, it is He from whom everything springs and it is He unto whom all things return.'

"Dhritarashtra said,

'O son of Gavalgana, what is the nature of that Faith which you have in Janardana and in consequence of which you knowest the slayer of Madhu to be the union of the Gross, the Subtle, and the Cause?'

"Sanjaya said,

'Blessed be you, O king, I have no regard for the illusion (that is identified with worldly pleasures) and I never practise the useless virtues (of vows and work without reliance on Him and purity of Soul). Having obtained purity of Soul through Faith, I have known Janardana from the scriptures.

"Dhritarashtra said,

'O Duryodhana, seek you the protection of Janardana, otherwise called Hrishikesa. O child, Sanjaya is one of our trustiest friends. Seek refuge with Kesava.'

"Duryodhana said,

'If the divine son of Devaki united in friendship with Arjuna, were to slay all mankind, I cannot, even then, resign myself to Kesava.'

"Dhritarashtra said,

'This evil-minded son of thine, O Gandhari, is resolved to sink in misery. Envious, wicked-souled, and vain, he sets aside the words of all his superiors.'

"Gandhari said,

'You covetous wretch that disregards the commands of the aged, abandoning your father and myself and giving up prosperity and life, enhancing the joy of your foes, and afflicting me with deep distress, you will, O fool, remember your father’s words, when struck by Bhimasena, you will bite the dust.'

"Vyasa said,

'Listen to me, O king! You, O Dhritarashtra, art the beloved of Krishna. When Sanjaya has been your envoy, he will verily lead you to your good. He knows Hrishikesa,—that ancient and exalted One. If you listenest to him with attention, he will certainly save you from the great danger that hangs upon you. O son of Vicitravirya, subject to wrath and joy, men are entangled in various snares. They that are not contented with their own possessions, deprived of sense as they are by avarice and desire, they repeatedly become subject to Death in consequence of their own acts, like blind men (falling into pits) when led by the blind. The path that is trod by the wise is the only one (that leads to Brahma). They that are superior, keeping that path of view, overcome death and reach the goal by it.'

"Dhritarashtra said,

'Tell me, O Sanjaya, of that path without terrors by which, obtaining Hrishikesa, salvation may be mine.'

"Sanjaya said,

'A man of uncontrolled mind can by no means know Janardana whose soul is under perfect command. The performance of sacrifices without controlling one’s senses is even no means to that end. Renunciation of the objects of our excited senses is due to spiritual light; both spiritual light and abstention from injury arise doubtless from true wisdom. Therefore, O king, resolve to subdue your senses with all possible vigour; let not your intellect deviate from true knowledge; and restrain your heart from worldly temptations that surround it. Learned Brahmanas describe this subjugation of the senses to be true wisdom; and this wisdom is the path by which learned men proceed to their goal. O king, Kesava is not obtainable by men who have not subdued their senses. He that has subdued his senses, desires spiritual knowledge, awakened by the knowledge of scriptures and the pleasure of Yaga-absorption.'