45. Neither doth the sickman nor one beset by a hundred evils wail so bitterly, as the ignorant man whose soul is deprived of reason. 46. Rather leap as a frog in the mud, or creep as a worm in the dirt, rather lie as a snake in a dark cell or crawl on the ground, than walk as a man devoid of reason. 47. Therefore get rid of unreasonableness which is the abode of all your dangers, is reprobated by the wise (as the bane of mankind), and is the terminus of all your calamities. 48. Great men must always be in full possession of their reasoning, because those unsupported by their reason are liable to fall into the pits of darkness. 49. Let every one keep his soul under the control (of his own reason), and by this means, deliver the fawn of his mind from falling into the mirage of this world. 50. It is the province of reasoning to consider logically in one’s self, whence the evil, known as worldliness, had its rise. 51. The thick mist of error is only for the continued misery of man, and it prevails on the stony minds of those that are demented by the loss of reason. 52. The wise that hold fast on the truth and forsake all untruth in this world, are yet unable to discern their true natures without the aid of reason. 53. It is by means of reason that one comes to the knowledge of truth; and by means of truth that he gets the peace of his mind; and it is the tranquility of the mind that dispels the misery of men. 54. Now Ráma, do you take delight in such acts as may be productive of utility to the world, and whereby you may arrive to perfection. Weigh all things with the clear eye of reason, which will make you blessed for ever. CHAPTER XV. ON CONTENTMENT. Vasishtha continued:—Contentment is the chief good; contentment is called the (true) enjoyment; and the contented man, O thou destroyer of enemies, gets the best repose. 2. Those who are happy with their prosperity of contentment, and possess the calm repose of their souls, are as holy saints, and think a sovereignty no better than a bit of rotten straw. 3. Whoever retains a contented mind amidst all the affairs of the world, he is never disturbed O Ráma, in adverse circumstances nor ever dejected (in his spirit). 4. The saints that are satisfied with the ambrosial draught of contentment, think the highest affluence and enjoyments (of the rich) but poison (to their souls). 5. Even the waves of liquid nectar fail to afford that pleasure, which the sweetest taste of contentment—the healer of all evils; gives to its possessor. 6. Abandonment of unfruitful desires and calmness in those that are obtained, feeling no pain at and having no sense of pleasure (in any thing), constitute what is called contentment here below. 7. Until the mind can enjoy the contentment rising spontaneously in the soul of itself, so long will troubles continue to grow in it as briars and brambles in a bog.