03.201
Markandeya said.
Thus, when addressed by the brāhmaṇa, the righteous hunter Yudhiṣṭhira replied as follows to the brāhmaṇa; listen to that, O king. (03-201-1)
The hunter said.
For the sake of knowledge, the mind of men first acts. After attaining it, it engages in desire and anger, O best of the twice-born. (03-201-2)
Thereafter, for that purpose, he exerts himself, undertakes great actions, and engages repeatedly in practices concerning desired forms and scents. (3-201-3)
From that arises attachment, and immediately after, aversion. From that arises greed, and immediately after, delusion. (03-201-4)
For one who is overcome by greed, who is stricken by attachment and aversion, understanding about dharma does not arise; and he practices dharma deceitfully. (03-201-5)
Using deceit, one conducts oneself with righteousness and finds pleasure in wealth through deceit. When wealth is acquired by such means, O best of twice-born, the mind becomes attached to it and then desires to commit sin. (03-201-6)
O best of the twice-born, being restrained by friends and learned men, he gives an answer closely associated with the scriptures, in accordance with the śruti. (03-201-7)
Unrighteousness in three forms increases in him because of the fault of attachment. He thinks of sin, also speaks it, and acts upon it. (03-201-8)
Of one engaged in unrighteous acts, his good qualities are destroyed; the virtuous, devoted to a single path, form friendships with those who do evil. (03-201-9)
By that, he obtains unhappiness and is ruined in the next world; thus, he becomes a wicked-souled one. But now listen to me about the gain of righteousness. (03-201-10)
But he who, by wisdom, perceives these faults beforehand, is skilled in both happiness and sorrow, and also serves the virtuous; from his virtuous undertakings, intellect concerning righteousness arises. (03-201-11)
The Brāhmaṇa said.
You speak noble and truthful dharma, whose speaker is not known. In my eyes, you are indeed a very great sage endowed with divine power. (03-201-12)
The hunter said.
Brāhmaṇas are indeed greatly fortunate, fathers, and always the first to receive offerings; in the world, the wise should do what is pleasing to them with all their being. (03-201-13)
O best of twice-born, I shall tell you that which is dear to them. Having bowed to the Brāhmaṇas, learn the divine knowledge from me. (03-201-14)
O Brahman, this whole universe, this entire world, which is invincible in every way and comprised of the great elements—there is nothing higher than this. (03-201-15)
The great elements are space, air, fire, water, and earth; and their qualities are sound, touch, form, taste, and smell. (03-201-16)
Of those also, all qualities act mutually as qualities. All former qualities pass successively into the three subjects possessing qualities. (3-201-17)
The sixth is called consciousness, known as mind. The seventh is intellect, above which is ego. (03-201-18)
The senses and the five (elements), as well as passion, purity, and darkness—thus, this seventeenfold aggregate is known as the 'unmanifest'. (03-201-19)
Here, all is well enveloped by the sense objects, manifest and unmanifest. This principle, called the twenty-fourth, is composed of the manifest and unmanifest. All this has been told to you; what more do you wish to hear? (03-201-20)
