24. Sitting in meditation in an indefatigable mood, and resting at agreeable ease with freedom from fear and care; remaining in rapturous hypnotism, with a quiet and composed mind, likens the fair autumnal sky with its unclouded and serene aspect. CHAPTER XLVII. THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS LIBERATION. Argument:—Of the different steps leading to Liberation, and firstly of Indifference to the world and lastly of putting reliance in the holy precepts. Vasishtha continued:—Hear now the manner and the measures which the yogi adopts to himself, in order to obtain his release from his cumbrous burthen and troubles of the world. 2. As the germ of discrimination springs in the mind at first, by reason of the disparagement of the world (for the multiplicity of its faults, or from some cause or other). 3. All good people, resort under the wide stretching shade of this (fullgrown) tree; as the weary and sunburnt traveller halts under the cooling shade of trees on their way. 4. The wise man shuns the ignorant at a distance, as the wayfarer casts aside the sacrificial wood; because the worshippers of the gods only observe the ceremonious rites of holy ablutions and almsgivings, austerities and offering of sacred oblations. 5. In his fair, just, polite and undissembling behaviour, and in his placid and pleasing countenance, he resembles the fair moon with her ambrosial beams. 6. He acts with sound wisdom and prudence, is polite and civil in his manners, is prompt in serving and obliging others, is holy in his conduct and humorous in his discourse. 7. He is as clear and cold, soft and pleasing as fresh butter, and his company is delightsome to people even at his very first appearance. 8. The deeds of wise men are as pure and grateful to mankind, as the dews of moon-beams, are refreshing and refrigerating of whole nature. 9. No one sleeps so delighted on a bed of flowers, and in a flower garden devoid of fears; as he rests secure in the society of reasonable and pious men. 10. The society of holy and wisemen, like the pure waters of the heavenly river, serve to cleanse the sins and purify the minds of the sinful. 11. The society of the holy recluse and liberated men, is as cooling as a refrigeratory or ice house. 12. The great and high delight, which the holy sage feels in his heart, is not to be enjoyed in the company of fairies among the gods, gandharvas and human kind. 13. It is by continued performance of proper acts, that the pious devotee attains his knowledge and clearness of understanding; when the significance of the sástras, is reflected as clearly in the tablet of his mind, as the reflections of objects are seen in a reflector. 14. A good understanding moistened by instruction of the sástras, thrives in the mind of a holy man, as a plantain tree grows in the forest.