12.277
Yudhiṣṭhira said.
How should a liberated king like us conduct himself in the world? By being always endowed with what qualities is one freed from the bonds of attachment?
Bhīṣma said.
Here, I will tell you the ancient story that Ariṣṭanemi told to Sagara when he asked.
Sagara said.
O Brāhmaṇa, what is the supreme good, by doing which one attains happiness here? How can one neither grieve nor be disturbed? I wish to know this.
Bhīṣma said.
After these words were spoken, Tārkṣya, the expert in all śāstras, having realized the excellent prosperity and the good words, spoke as follows.
People in this world do not understand the happiness of liberation; being attached to sons, cattle, and overwhelmed by wealth and grain.
A person whose intellect is attached and whose mind is restless cannot be cured; one who is bound by the ties of affection and is deluded is not fit for liberation.
Listen as I explain to you the bonds born of affection; those of mine can be cut by the wise with a head adorned with ear-ornaments.
After considering your sons, and in due time establishing those who are in their youth, and knowing them to be capable in their livelihood, you may live freely and comfortably.
Having recognized a wife who is aged, cherished, and affectionate towards her son, and who has a son, you should abandon her at the proper time, considering the interests of another.
Whether you have offspring, are without offspring, or are liberated, act as is comfortable. Experience the sense-objects with your senses according to the prescribed rule.
Having satisfied your curiosity among them, move about freely as you please; by reasoning, be equanimous in what is attained and in gains.
Thus far, I have described to you in summary. Now, I shall again explain in detail the purpose of liberation; listen to that.
Liberated and fearless men move happily in the world; men with attachment perish—there is no doubt about this.
Those who accumulate food, as well as insects and ants, those who are unattached are happy in the world, but those who are attached are indeed perishable.
One intent on liberation should not worry about their own people. These people, without me, will manage; do not think, 'How will they be without you?'
A being is born by its own actions, grows by itself; likewise, it experiences happiness, sorrow, and ultimately attains death by itself.
In this world, food, clothing, and support from mother and father are obtained only by one's own actions; nothing is ever gained without effort, even in the past.
All beings whose food is ordained by the Creator move about the earth in this world, protected by their own actions.
For one who is always dependent, who himself has become like a lump of clay, what reason is there for a steadfast person to nourish or protect his own people?
When death takes away your own people before your eyes, even after making great effort, one must understand this by oneself.
If you abandon him while he is still alive, without completing his maintenance and protection, you will die afterwards as well.
When you are dead and can no longer recognize your own people in any way, whether they are happy or unhappy, this is something you must truly understand for yourself.
Whether you are dead or alive, if a person indeed enjoys the results of their own actions, then, having understood this, one should do what is beneficial for oneself.
Thus, having understood in this world who belongs to whom, and being firmly resolved, direct your mind towards liberation and again reflect upon this.
He whose states such as hunger and thirst are conquered here, whose anger, greed, and delusion are also subdued—he, being steadfast, is indeed liberated.
He who does not become careless out of delusion in gambling, drinking, with women, or hunting is always truly liberated.
He who is always anxious, thinking day after day, night after night, "It must be eaten," and is distressed with a fault-finding mind, is called one with a critical disposition.
He who always sees the essence of self and liberation in women, again and again, and remains properly united, is indeed liberated.
He who truly knows the origin, destruction, and activities of beings in this world is indeed liberated.
Whoever sees the place of the couch in the palace, even among thousands of vehicles and crores for the purpose of journey, is liberated.
He who perceives the world as struck by death, afflicted by diseases, and emaciated by lack of livelihood is liberated.
He who, whether seeing or not seeing, remains happy and content and is not disturbed; and he who is content with even a little in this world, he indeed is truly liberated.
Whoever sees all this as Agni and Soma, is untouched by wondrous conditions and is truly liberated.
He who regards couch, bed, and ground as equal, and to whom rice and bad food are the same, he indeed is liberated.
He who regards linen, kuśa grass garments, silk, bark garments, woolen, and leather as equal is truly liberated.
He who perceives the world as arisen from the five elements and acts accordingly, having seen this in the world, is indeed liberated.
He who is equal in happiness and sorrow, gain and loss, victory and defeat, desire and aversion, fear and agitation, is indeed liberated in every way.
When the accumulation of blood, urine, feces, and doṣas is seen, and the body is full of doṣas, then this is released (i.e., the body is let go or dies).
He who sees wrinkles, grey hair, emaciation, discoloration, and crookedness as effects of old age is liberated.
Who perceives the injury to manhood by time, the cessation of sight, deafness, and the slowness of vitality—he is liberated.
He who perceives the departed sages, gods, asuras, and all those who have passed on, and who sees the world beyond this one, is liberated.
Thousands of kings, endowed with various powers, who have departed after abandoning the earth, are liberated upon realizing this.
He who perceives both the rare gains and the easily found troubles in the world, and endures pain for the sake of his family, is freed (liberated).
Seeing that most people and their offspring are defective in this world, who would not highly honor liberation?
He who, awakened by both scripture and worldly experience, perceives all of human existence as lacking true essence, is in every way already liberated.
Having heard my words, act as one liberated. If your resolve for liberation is unwavering, then even in household life, you may proceed.
Having properly heard his words, the king, endowed with qualities arising from liberation, protected and governed his subjects.
