38. Do you enjoy your health free from all disease and complaint; and reap the reward of your meritorious acts done for this life and the next (such as sacrifices made for future rewards). 39. Are you indifferent in your mind with regard to temporary enjoyments, which appear pleasant for a moment, but prove to be our deadly enemies at last. 40. O! it is after a very long separation, that we come to meet again; it is my good fortune that rejoins me to you, as the spring revisits the dales with verdure. 41. There are no such joys here, nor such woes even in this world: which do not happen to the lot of the living in their union with, and separation from one another. 42. We are quite altered in our circumstances, during our long separation; and yet how we happened to meet each other in the same unchanged state of our minds, by a wonderful accident of destiny. 43. Suraghu replied:—Yes, sir, the course of destiny is as crooked as that of a serpent; nor is there any man that can penetrate into the depth of the mysterious nature of destiny. 44. There is nothing impossible to destiny, which has after the lapse of so long a time, has reunited us in one place, from the vast distance of the two countries asunder. 45. O great sir! we are all in good health and prosperity in this place, and have been supremely blest by your graciousness unto us. 46. Behold us purified and cleansed of our sins, by your holy presence among us; and the arbor of our merits has borne the fruit of our peace and satisfaction at your sight. 47. O royal sage! we enjoy all prosperity in this our native city; and your presence here this day, has made it shoot forth, in a hundred off-shoots of joy and happiness. 48. O noble minded sir! your appearance and speech, have sprinkled this place with sweet nectarine drops, joy and holiness; because the company of the virtuous, is reckoned to equal the supreme felicity of man. CHAPTER LXII. ON THE NATURE OF QUIETISM AND QUIETUS. Argument. A discussion about Active and Inactive Devotion and Godliness. Vasishtha related:—The prince Parigha then resumed his confidential speech, expressive of the affection he formerly bore to Suraghu and added:— 2. Parigha said:—Whatever acts of goodness are done by men of well governed minds, in this earth of strife, they all redound to their happiness; but the evil deeds of ungoverned minds are not so, but lead to their misery. 3. Do you rely, sir, in that state of perfect rest which is free from desire; and do you rest in that state of supineness—_samádhi_, which is styled transcendental Coma or trance (paramopsama)? 4. Suraghu replied:—Tell me sir, what you mean by the abandonment of all desires; and what is meant by that perfect lethargy, which they call as transcendental coma or trance.