12.268
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
Brothers, fathers, sons, kinsmen, and friends alike have been killed for the sake of wealth by us, the cruel ones with sinful minds.
O grandsire, how can we turn away from this desire that arises from wealth? Indeed, we have been caused to sin by desire.
Bhīṣma said.
Here too, they recount this ancient story, told by the king of Videha to Māṇḍavya when he was questioned.
"I live very happily indeed, for I possess nothing. Even when Mithilā is ablaze, nothing of mine is burned."
Abundant wealth indeed causes great suffering for the wise; but even lack of wealth always deludes the unwise.
All the pleasures of desire in this world and even the greatest divine happiness are not equal to even a sixteenth part of the happiness that comes from the cessation of craving.
Just as the horn of a cow grows with time, so too does desire increase as wealth increases.
Whenever even a little is conceived with a sense of 'mineness', that very thing, upon its loss, brings sorrow once more.
One should not pursue desires; suffering is indeed the result of attachment to desires. For the sake of attainment, one may employ desire, but in matters of dharma, desire should be avoided.
Among all beings, the learned person is like tiger's flesh; having fulfilled his purpose and with a pure mind, he indeed abandons everything together.
Having abandoned both truth and untruth, sorrow and joy, the pleasant and the unpleasant, and fear and absence of fear, one who is completely tranquil becomes free from affliction.
That craving which is hard to give up by those of evil mind, which does not age even as the person ages, which is the fatal disease—for one who abandons that craving, there is happiness.
One who observes his own character, which is as pure and flawless as the moon, attains fame and happiness both in this world and after death.
Hearing the king's words, the Brahmin was delighted; after honoring those words, Māṇḍavya sought liberation.
