10. Then the vidyádhara said; I understand, O chief of sages, that it is in this manner, that dull people also become long living in this world; and it is this true knowledge, which is the cause of the great longevity of yours and other sages. 11. Those who are pure in their hearts and minds, soon attain to their highest state of fearlessness, after they are once admonished with the knowledge of truth. 12. Vasishtha said:—The chief of the birds of air, spoke to me in this manner on the summit of the Sumeru Mountain; and then held his silence like the mute clouds on the top of Rishyasringa chain. (It is said that the clouds never roar when they rove over this hill). 13. Having taken leave of the sagely bird, I repaired to the abode of the Vidyádhara (in order to learn the truth of the story); and then returned to my place, which was graced by the assemblage of sages. 14. I have thus related to you, O Ráma, the narration of the veteran bird, and the sedateness which was attained by the Vidyádhara with little pain and knowledge. It is now the lapse of the long period of eleven great Yugas, since my said interview with Bhusunda—the veteran chief of the feathered tribe. CHAPTER XVII. LECTURE ON THE ANNIHILATION OF EGOISM. Argument:—The Yoga or mode of consuming egoism by the fire of Non-egoism. Vasishtha said:—It is by means of the knowledge of one’s want of egoism, that the arbor of his desire, which is productive of the fruit of worldliness, and which is fraught with the taste of all kinds of sweet and bitterness; may be checked in its growth. 2. It is by one’s habit of thinking his unegoism, that he comes to view both gold and stone, as well as all sorts of rubbish in the same light; and by being calm and quiet at all events, has never any cause of sorrow at any thing whatsoever. 3. When the cannon-ball of egoism, is let to fly out from the gun of the mind by force of divine knowledge; we are at a loss to know, where the stone of egoism takes its flight. 4. The stone of egoism being flung from the balustrade of the body, by the gigantic force of spiritual knowledge; we know not where this ponderous egoism is driven and lost. 5. After the stone of egoism is flung away, by the great force of the knowledge of Brahma only; we cannot say where this engine of the body (with its boast of egoism in it), is lost forever. (Here are three comparisons of egoism, _viz_, 1 of a gunshot; 2 of a balustrade stone; 3 of a pebble in a sling). 6. The meaning of _ego_ is frost in the heart of man, and melts away under the sunshine of unegoism; it then flies off in vapour, and then disappears into nothing we know not where. 7. The _ego_ is the juice of the inner part of the body, and the unego is the solar heat without; the former is sucked up by the latter, and forsakes the dried body like a withered leaf, and then flies off where we know not.