The Dhaarmik Traditions - Indic Studies Foundation

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From The Mahabharata
Aswamedha Parva, Sec. XXXI
Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
In days of old, king Ambarisha had acquired a tranquil soul. When diverse kinds of
faults were in the ascendant and when the righteous were afflicted, Ambarisha of great
fame put forth his strength for assuming sovereignty. Subduing his own faults and
worshipping the righteous, he attained to great success and sang these verses:
'I have subdued many faults. I have killed all foes. But there is one, the greatest vice,
which deserves to be destroyed but which has not been destroyed by me! Urged by
that fault, this Jiva (embodied soul) fails to attain to freedom from desire. Afflicted by
desire, one runs into ditches without knowing it. Urged by that fault, one indulges in
acts that are forbidden.
Do thou cut off that cupidity with sharp-edged swords.
From cupidity arises desires. From desire flows anxiety. The man who yields to desire
acquires many qualities that appertain to passion (Rajas). When these have been
acquired, he gets many qualities that appertain to Darkness (Tamas). In consequence
of those qualities, he repeatedly takes birth, with the bonds of body united, and is
impelled to action. Upon the expiration of life, with body becoming dismembered and
scattered, he once meets with death which is due to birth itself. Hence, duly
understanding this, and subduing cupidity by intelligence, one should desire for
sovereignty in one's soul. This is true sovereignty. There is no other sovereignty here.
The soul, properly understood, is the king. Even these were the verses sung by king
Ambarisha of great celebrity, on the subject of sovereignty which he kept before him;
that king who had cut off the one foremost fault viz., cupidity '.
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The Religion ordained for the householder
From the Mahabharata
Anusasana parva, Section CXLI
Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Maheshwara said: The religion ordained for the householder is said to have Pravritti
for its chief indication. Auspicious and beneficial to all creatures, I shall expound it to
thee. The householder should always make gifts according to the measure of his
power. He should also perform sacrifices frequently after the same manner. Indeed, he
who wishes to achieve his own good should always achieve meritorious acts. The
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