Mahabharata (English)

by Kisari Mohan Ganguli | 2,566,952 words | ISBN-10: 8121505933

The English translation of the Mahabharata is a large text describing ancient India. It is authored by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa and contains the records of ancient humans. Also, it documents the fate of the Kauravas and the Pandavas family. Another part of the large contents, deal with many philosophical dialogues such as the goals of life. Book...

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Section LXXIX

"Sukra continued,

'Know, then, O Devayani, that he that minds not the evil speeches of others, conquers everything! The wise say that he is a true charioteer who without slackening holds tightly the reins of his horses. He, therefore, is the true man that subdues, without indulging in his rising wrath. Know you, O Devayani, that by him is everything conquered, who calmly subdues his rising anger.

He is regarded as a man who by having recourse to forgiveness, shakes off his rising anger like a snake casting off its slough He that suppresses his anger, he that regards not the evil speeches of others, he that becomes not angry, though there be cause, certainly acquires the four objects for which we live (viz., virtue, profit, desire, and salvation).

Between him that performs without fatigue sacrifices every month for a hundred years, and him that never feels angry at anything, he that feels not wrath is certainly the higher. Boys and girls, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, quarrel with each other. The wise never imitate them.'

Devayani, on hearing this speech of her father, said,

'O father, I know, also what the difference is between anger and forgiveness as regards the power of each. But when a disciple behaves disrespectfully, he should never be forgiven by the preceptor if the latter is really desirous of benefiting the former. Therefore, I do not desire to live any longer in a country where evil behaviour is at a premium.

The wise man desirous of good, should not dwell among those sinfully inclined men who always speak ill of good behaviour and high birth. But there should one live,—indeed, that has been said to be the best of dwelling places,—where good behaviour and purity of birth are known and respected.

The cruel words uttered by Vrishaparvan’s daughter burn my heart even as men, desirous of kindling a fire, burn the dry fuel. I do not think anything more miserable for a man in the three worlds than to adore one’s enemies blessed with good fortune, himself possessing none. It has been indeed said by the learned that for such a man even death would be better.'"

Other Purana Concepts:

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Discover the significance of concepts within the article: ‘Section LXXIX’. Further sources in the context of Purana might help you critically compare this page with similair documents:

Wise men, Good behaviour, Four objects of life, High birth, Cruel words, Kindling a fire, Performing sacrifice.

Conclusion:

This concludes Section LXXIX of Book 1 (Adi Parva) of the Mahabharata, of which an English translation is presented on this page. This book is famous as one of the Itihasa, similair in content to the eighteen Puranas. Book 1 is one of the eighteen books comprising roughly 100,000 Sanskrit metrical verses.

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