bhishma said:
O
n this subject people relate the ancient tradition of
a verse sung by Janaka, the king of
Videha, when he had attained
peace:*
“Although my wealth is virtually limitless, I possess nothing. Even when
Mithila was set on fire, nothing belonging to me was
burnt.”*On the same subject people also relate the stanzas on complete indifference composed by Bodhya. Listen to them, Yudhi·shthira. Bodhya was a quietist and a seer who became satiated through an understanding of the treatises, and attained peace by means of complete indifference. He was questioned by King
Nahusha as follows:
178.5
“Advise me on peace, wise man. What is the object of your contemplation through which you are quenched and live in peace?”
bodhya said:
I follow a teaching and do not instruct anyone else. But I will give you an indication of the teaching that I follow, and you should reflect on this yourself. Pingala the courtesan, the osprey, the snake, the searching of the speckled peacock in the forest, the fletcher and the Kumari river: these six are my teachers.
bhishma said:
Desire is very powerful, Your Majesty, but freedom from it is the highest bliss. Turning desire into disregard, Pingala sleeps happily.*