"'Yudhishthira said, "O grandsire, thou hast now finished thy discourse upon the duties of kings. From what thou hast said it seems that Chastisement occupies a high position and is the lord of everything for everything depends upon Chastisement. It seems, O puissant one, that Chastisement, which is possessed of great energy and which is present everywhere, is the foremost of all beings among either gods and Rishis and high-souled Pitris and Yakshas and Rakshasas and Pisachas and Sadhyas, or living beings in this world including beasts and birds. Thou hast said that the entire universe, mobile and immobile, including gods, Asuras, and men, may be seen to depend upon Chastisement. I now desire, O bull of Bharata's race, to know truly who Chastisement is. Of what kind is he? What is his form? What is his disposition? Of what is he made? Whence is his origin? What are his features? What is his splendour? How does he remain wakeful among living creatures so heedfully? Who is he that remains eternally wakeful, protecting this universe? Who is he that is known to be the foremost of all things? Who, indeed, is that high personage called Chastisement? What is that upon which Chastisement depends? And what is his course?"Mbh 12.121.1 · Mahabharata · SANTI PARVA
Mbh 12.121.1
Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli
Themes in this passage
DesireDharmaThe DivineLeadershipNatureTrust
Desire in other traditions
The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Islam address it.
From lust comes grief, from lust comes fear; he who is free from lust knows neither grief nor fear.Dhp 16.214 · Dhammapada · Pleasure
Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.Philippians 4:17 · Bible · Philippians
If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity. Simplicity without a name Is free from all external aim. With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their will. PART II.Tao Te Ching 37.3 · Tao Te Ching
And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness.Quran 25:62 · Quran · The Criterion
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