The Mahabharata/Book 1: Adi Parva/Section LXXIX
Section LXXIX.
( Sambhava Parva continued. )
"Sukra continued, 'Know then, O Deva-yani, that he that regardeth not the evil speeches of others, conquereth everything! The wise say that he is a true charioteer who without slackening holdeth tightly the reins of his horses. He, therefore, is the true man that subdueth, without indulging, his rising wrath. Know thou, O Deva-yani, that by him is everything conquered who calmly subdueth his rising anger. He is regarded as a man who by having recourse to forgiveness casteth off his rising anger like a snake casting off his outerskin. He that suppresseth his anger, he that regardeth not the evil speeches of others, he that becometh not angry though there be cause, certainly acquireth the four objects for which we live. (Religion, profit, desire, and salvation.) Between him that performeth without fatigue sacrifices every month for an hundred years, and him that never feeleth wrath in respect of anything, he that feeleth not anger is certainly the higher. Boys and girls, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, quarrel with each other. The wise never imitate them.' Deva-yani, hearing this speech of her father, said, 'O father, I know, though a girl, what are our duties and virtues. I know also what the difference is between anger and forgiveness as regards the power of each. But when a disciple behaveth disrespectfully, he should never be forgiven by the preceptor if the latter is realy desirous of benefiting the former. Therefore I do not desire to live any longer in a country where evil behaviour is on the ascendant. The wise man desirous of good, should not dwell among those sinfully-inclined men who alaways speak ill of good behaviour and high birth. But there should one live,—indeed, that hath been said to be the best of dewelling places,—where good behaviour and purity of birth are known and respected. The cruel words uttered by Vrishaparva's daughter burn my heart even as men desirous of kindling a fire burn the dry fuel. I do not think anything more miserable for a man in the three worlds than for him to adore his enemies blessed with good fortune, himself possessing none. Indeed, it hath been said by the learned that for such a man even death would be better.'"
And thus ends the seventy-ninth Section in the Sambhava of the Adi Parva.