12.213
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
O Bhārata, by doing what does one attain happiness, and by doing what does one obtain sorrow? By doing what does the perfected, fearless one move about in the world?
Bhīṣma said.
Elders and those established in the Vedas praise self-restraint above all, especially in the Brāhmaṇa among all classes.
For the one whose culmination is in sound, the accomplishment of action is truly attained. Action, austerity, and the Vedas—all are founded upon self-restraint.
Self-restraint enhances brilliance; purity is defined as self-restraint. A person who is free from sin, fearless, and self-controlled attains greatness.
The self-controlled person sleeps happily, awakens happily, moves about the world happily, and his mind becomes tranquil.
Energy is maintained by self-control; the harsh person does not achieve this. He always perceives many enemies as separate within himself.
Just as there is always fear of flesh-eaters among beings from the undisciplined, so for their restraint, the king was created by the Self-existent.
Among all the āśramas, self-restraint is especially praised. And whatever greater fruit of dharma exists among them, it is said to be found in the self-restrained.
I will now describe the characteristics of those whose nature is self-restraint: absence of miserliness, calmness, contentment, and faithfulness.
Absence of anger, straightforwardness, constancy, refraining from excessive speech, humility, reverence for the teacher, freedom from envy, compassion towards all beings, and abstaining from slander.
One who abandons public opinion, falsehood, praise, and blame, and who is good and free from desire, does not gain the trust of people.
A wise person who is free from enmity, conducts himself well, remains equal in blame and praise, is well-behaved, endowed with good character, clear-minded, and self-controlled, attains honor in this world and, after death, truly reaches heaven.
One who is engaged in the welfare of all beings, who does not hate anyone out of pride, is like a great, unshakable lake; satisfied in wisdom, he becomes serene.
He from whom all beings have no fear, and who gives fearlessness to all, who is worthy of reverence by all beings, who is self-restrained and possessed of knowledge.
He who neither rejoices in great gain nor grieves in adversity, who is of controlled intellect and self-restrained, is indeed called a twice-born (dvija).
He who is always endowed with self-restraint, whose actions are auspicious and practiced by the virtuous, and who is endowed with learning, enjoys great rewards.
Absence of envy, forbearance, peace, contentment, pleasant speech, truthfulness, charity, and effortlessness — this is not the path of the wicked.
The brāhmaṇa, firm in his vows, having subdued desire and anger, and having conquered his senses, should, after undertaking severe austerities, live among people without causing harm, waiting for the right time, like one who is self-controlled.
