12.152
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O best of the Bharatas, I wish to know truly the basis of sin, from which sin arises.
Bhīṣma said.
O king, hear what is the basis of sin. Greed alone is a great crocodile; from greed, sin arises.
Therefore, sin, unrighteousness, and the greatest suffering arise—this indeed is the root, by deceit, by which people become evildoers.
Anger arises from greed; desire proceeds from greed; from greed also come delusion, illusion, and prideful arrogance, all of which are alien to one's true nature.
Absence of forgiveness, loss of modesty, loss of prosperity, decline of righteousness, envy, and even wisdom—all these arise from greed.
Injustice, lack of reasoning, wrongful actions, deceptive knowledge and similar things, as well as pride in one's appearance, wealth, and arrogance—these are described here.
Distrust, dishonesty, hostility, and impropriety towards all beings, as well as stealing others' wealth and touching others' wives.
The impulses of speech, mind, blame, as well as those of the genitals, belly, and death, are all terrible.
The force of envy is strong, the urge for falsehood is hard to give up, the craving for taste is difficult to control, and the impulse to hear is hard to bear.
Reproach, boasting, envy, sin, undertaking difficult deeds, and all actions of rash and improper acts are described here.
From birth, through childhood, boyhood, and youth, a person does not give up their inherent actions, which do not age even as the person ages.
O best of Kurus, greed is never possible to be filled by attainment, just as the ocean, always with deep waters, is not filled by rivers; one does not rejoice by gains, nor is one satisfied by desires.
O king, that greed, which even gods, gandharvas, asuras, great serpents, and all beings cannot truly know, must be conquered along with delusion by one who has mastered himself.
O Kauravya, hypocrisy, deceit, slander, malicious gossip, and envy—these qualities arise in the greedy and those who lack self-mastery.
Even those well-versed in the scriptures bear the burden of vast knowledge; here, those of little understanding and those who resolve doubts are troubled.
Those attached to hatred and anger, excluded from noble conduct, inwardly sharp as razors but sweet in speech, like wells covered with grass; deceivers of righteousness, petty, these warriors plunder the world.
They follow many different paths, relying on the strength of their own reasoning; established in greed and ignorance, they destroy all paths.
Whenever the order of dharma is seized and altered by evil-minded people overcome by greed, that order inevitably meets its consequence.
O descendant of Kuru, pride, anger, arrogance, sleep, excessive joy, sorrow, and excessive pride are always seen in those with greedy minds. Know these unrestrained ones as always associated with greed.
But you should approach and ask those virtuous persons of pure vows whom I shall indicate, in whom there is neither fear for livelihood nor fear of the next world.
There is no attachment towards those who are not dear, nor towards those who are dear or not dear; those in whom the conduct of the virtuous is dear, in whom self-restraint is established.
Those for whom happiness and sorrow are the same, for whom truth is the supreme goal; who are givers, not receivers, and are compassionate as well.
They are always engaged in serving father, deity, and guests; likewise, they are beneficent to all, steadfast, and observers of all duties.
O Bhārata, those who are devoted to the welfare of all beings and are ever-giving cannot be shaken, for they have mastered the practice of dharma.
Their conduct, established by the virtuous in the past, is never broken. They are not fearful, not fickle, not cruel, and remain steadfast on the path of righteousness.
Those in whom non-violence is firmly established, who are free from desire and anger, without possessiveness and ego, steadfast in good vows and conduct—such people should always be served by the virtuous. Approach them with reverence and seek their guidance.
O Yudhiṣṭhira, duty is not for the sake of cows or fame for them; bodily actions are to be necessarily performed as such.
There is no fear, impulsiveness of anger, or sorrow in them. They are not pretenders of righteousness, nor have they adopted any secret.
O son of Kunti, you should associate with those in whom there is no greed or delusion, who delight in truth and straightforwardness, and whose minds are free from negligence.
Those who neither rejoice in gain nor are distressed by loss, who are free from possessiveness and ego, established in purity, and see with equanimity.
O dear one, gain and loss, pleasure and pain, the pleasant and unpleasant, death and life—all these are the same to those of firm courage, whose intellect is established in the self, and whose steadfastness is unwavering.
You should support those who are fond of happiness and of great valor, being subdued and not careless; by fate, all become virtuous, and auspicious or inauspicious words arise as they will.
