OVERCOMING DIFFICULTIES - Mahabharata

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Overcoming Difficulties

>From The Mahabharata, Santi Parva, Section CX

Translated by Sri Kisari Mohan Ganguli

 

Yudhishthira said: Creatures are seen to be afflicted by diverse

means and almost continually. Tell me. O grandsire, in what way can

one overcome all those difficulties?

 

Bhishma said: Those members of the regenerate class that duly

practise, with restrained souls, the duties that have been laid down

in the scriptures for the several modes of life, succeed in

overcoming all these difficulties. They that never practise deceit,

they whose behaviour is restrained by salutary restrictions, and they

that control all worldly desires, succeed in overcoming all

difficulties. They that do not speak when addressed in evil language,

they that do not injure others when themselves injured, they that

give but do not take, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

They that always give hospitable shelter to guests, they that do not

indulge in malice, they that are constantly engaged in the study of

the Vedas, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. Those persons who,

being conversant with duties, adopt that behaviour towards parents

which they should, they that abstain from sleeping during the day,

succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that do not commit any

kind of sin in thought, word and deed, they that never injure any

creature, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

Those kings that do not, under the influence of passion and

covetousness, levy oppressive taxes, and those that protect their own

dominions, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that go to

their own wedded wives in season without seeking the companionship of

other women, they that are honest and attentive to their Agni-hotras

(sacred fire ceremony), succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They

that are possessed of courage and that, casting away all fear of

death, engage in battle, desirous of victory by fair means, succeed

in overcoming all difficulties. They that always speak truth in this

world even when life is at stake and that are exemplars for all

creatures to imitate, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

They whose acts never deceive, whose words are always agreeable, and

whose wealth is always well spent, succeed in overcoming all

difficulties. Those Brahmanas that never study the Vedas at hours not

intended for study, and that practise penances with devotion, succeed

in overcoming all difficulties. Those Brahmanas that betake

themselves to a life of celibacy and Brahmacharya, that perform

penances, and that are cleansed by learning, Vedic knowledge, and

proper vows, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that have

checked all the qualities that appertain to Passion and Darkness,

that are possessed of high souls and that practise the qualities that

are called Good, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

They of whom no creature stands in fear and those that do not fear

any creature themselves, they that look upon all creatures as their

own selves, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. Those bulls among

men that are good, that are never inspired with grief at the sight of

other people's prosperity, and that abstain from all kinds of ignoble

behaviour, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They that bow to

all the gods, that listen to the doctrines of all creeds, that have

faith, and that are endued with tranquil souls, succeed in overcoming

all difficulties. They that do not desire honour for themselves, that

give honours unto others, that bow down unto those that deserve their

worship, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

They that perform Sraddhas on the proper lunar days, with pure minds,

from desire of offspring, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

They that restrain their own wrath and pacify the wrath of others,

and that never get angry at any creature, succeeds in overcoming all

difficulties. They that abstain from their birth, from honey and meat

and intoxicating drinks, succeed in overcoming all difficulties. They

that eat for only supporting life, that seek the companionship of

women for the sake only of offspring and that open their lips for

only speaking what is true, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

They that worship with devotion the god Narayana, that Supreme Lord

of all creatures, that origin and destruction of the universe,

succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

This Krishna here, of eyes red as the lotus, clad in yellow robes,

endued with mighty arms, this Krishna who is our well-wisher,

brother, friend, and relative, is Narayana of unfading glory. He

covers all the worlds like a leathern case, at his own pleasure. He

is the puissant Lord, of inconceivable soul. He is Govinda, the

foremost of all beings. This Krishna who is ever engaged in doing

what is agreeable and beneficial to Jishnu, as also to thee, O king,

is that foremost of all beings, that irresistible one, that abode of

eternal felicity. They that with devotion seek the refuge of this

Narayana, called also Hari, succeed in overcoming all difficulties.

 

They that read these verses about the overcoming of difficulties,

that recite then to others, and that speak of them unto Brahmanas,

succeed in overcoming all difficulties. I have now, O sinless one,

told thee all those acts by which men may overcome all difficulties

both here and hereafter.