Let us contemplate the wisdom of the ancient verses, which guide the soul toward liberation and noble living. Those who are wise understand that the restless thought, “May this be mine, may this be mine,” leads only to poverty and misfortune, leaving not even ashes behind. The truly noble, seeing even the three worlds as mere straw, are abandoned by all misfortunes, just as a cow leaves behind old straw. Within such a person shines the constant wonder of pure being, and the lords of the world protect them wholly, like the undivided Brahma-egg. Even amid dire calamities, one must not resort to unrighteousness; for Rahu, though he unlawfully drank nectar, perished. Those who seek the company of true scriptures and noble people, radiant like the sun, never again fall under the sway of delusion’s darkness. Misfortunes inevitably come and go, but excellence arises for those whose virtues bring renown. True men are those who are content with their virtues, unattached to learning, and steadfast in truth; others are mere beasts. Those whose hearts are illumined by the moonlight of fame—surely, in their very form, Hari abides, as in the ocean of milk. All pleasures have been enjoyed, all sights seen; what else is needed to break worldly bondage except freedom from greed for repeated pleasures? Let one remain according to order, scripture, conduct, and circumstance, and abandon inner attachment to unreal enjoyment, thus attaining liberation. Praise should be offered with noble qualities that soar to the sky; mere enjoyments cannot save one who is seized by death. Those whose fame is bright as the moon are sung by celestial maidens; though dead to this world, they live on in the heavens through song. Who, taking up supreme human effort with diligent resolve, following scripture and remaining unagitated, does not attain success through right conduct? One who acts according to scripture should not rush after accomplishments; success that ripens over time becomes more abundant. Let action, in accordance with scripture, be performed free from sorrow, fear, fatigue, greed, and constraint, and do not let it be lost. The soul, lost in the decayed pits of repeated births, has vanished; now, let it be rescued from these countless ruins. From this moment, do not fall ever lower; let this scripture be firmly established as a weapon against calamity. In battle, when elephants are fiercely torn apart and life is at stake, what use is mere wealth? The noble should look to the scripture. Let this be examined with discernment: “This is a reflection, this is a reality.” Do not proceed under the influence of others, like cattle. Abandon indiscriminate thought, which brings misfortune and is devoid of auspiciousness; cast off the dense, long sleep and awaken. Do not remain asleep; like an old, slow-moving tortoise, rise up gradually—embrace awakening for the cessation of old age and death. The accumulation of possessions for enjoyment brings the disease of worldly existence; all prosperity in adversity is won by utter disregard everywhere. For those engaged in action, happiness is attained by conduct in accordance with worldly conventions, guided by discernment, and by actions not opposed to scriptural and customary norms. For one whose conduct is pure, whose life is secluded, and who is free from greed even in states of suffering or happiness, longevity, fame, virtues, and prosperity blossom together, like a jasmine vine flowering for fruit. Complete success surpasses all; everything is always possible everywhere, so one should never abandon one’s own auspicious effort. Even the gods, though exalted, are overcome by demons rich in power, just as elephants are subdued by lotus-filled lakes. During the sacrifice of King Marutta, the great sage Samvarta created another manifestation, complete with gods and demons, as if he were Brahma. With extraordinary effort, Vishvamitra, the eminent sage, repeatedly performed arduous austerities, attaining what is rarely achieved. Like someone consuming a rare elixir made from flour and water, Upamanyu, through misfortune, obtained the milk-ocean, which is difficult to acquire. Kala, by exceptional reasoning, subdued the mighty champions of the three worlds, treating them like blades of grass—including Vishnu, Brahma, and others—and was then overcome by Shveta. By affection, Savitri conquered Yama, made him keep his word, and brought her husband Satyavan back from the other world. There is no excellence in this world whose clear result does not exist; whatever is destined must be considered by one who possesses all excellences. Self-knowledge, the root cause of all happiness and sorrow, should therefore be cultivated by one who excels. Except for suffering, nothing free from trouble is obtained by one whose perception is corrupted by various objects and a faulty way of seeing. Restlessness is the supreme Brahman, and tranquility is the highest state; though this is so, know that supreme tranquility is auspicious. Abandoning pride and embracing eternal tranquility, one should, with discernment, cultivate noble conduct through the service of the virtuous. Neither austerities, nor pilgrimages, nor scriptures can deliver you from the ocean of worldly existence as does the service of the virtuous. He whose greed, delusion, and anger diminish day by day, who acts according to scripture in his own duties, is a virtuous person. Through association with those who know the Self, his intellect is awakened, by which the utter absence of the visible is perceived. When the visible is utterly absent, only the supreme remains; due to the absence of all else, the individual soul quickly merges there. Thus, the scripture teaches that true wisdom, noble conduct, and the company of the virtuous are the keys to liberation and lasting renown. By steady effort, discernment, and self-knowledge, the soul is rescued from the ruins of repeated births and merges into the supreme, leaving behind all misfortune and delusion.