Yudhishthira said You have said, O grandfather, that the root of all evils is covetousness. I wish, O sire, to licar fully of ignorance.

Bhishma said The person who commits sin out of ignorance, who does not know that his end is near, and who always hates persons of good conduct, soon incurs infamy in the world.

In consequence of ignorance one goes to hell. Ignorance one suffers miseries and incurs great danger.

Yudhishthira said I wish, O king, to hear fully the origin, the place, the growth, the decay, the rise, the root, the attribute, the course, the time, the cause, and the result of ignorance. The misery that is felt here is the outcome of ignorance.

Bhishma said Attachment, hate, loss of judgement, joy, sorrow, vanity, lust, anger, pride, procrastination, idleness, desire, aversion, jealousy, envy, and all other sinful habits pass by the common name of ignorance.

Hear fully now, O king, about its nature, growth and other characteristics after which you enquire.

These two, viz., ignorance and covetousness, know, O king, are the same. Both produce the same fruits and same faults, O Bharata.

Ignorance originates from covetousness. Ignorance grows along with coveteousness. Ignorance exists simultaneously with covetousness. Ignorance decreases with covetousness. It rises with the rise of covetousness. Manifold again is its course.

The root of covetousness is loss of judgement. Loss of judgement, again, is its inseparable quality. Eternity is ignorance's course. The time when ignorance occurs is when the objects of covetousness are not gained.

From ignorance proceeds covetousness, and from the latter proceeds ignorance. Covetousness produces all faults. For these reasons every one should avoid covetousness. Janaka, Yuvanashva, Vrishadarbhi, Prasenajit, and other kings acquired heaven for their having conquered covetousness.

Do you before all persons, avoid covetousness by a strong determination, O Kuru chief. Avoiding covetousness you will acquire happiness both here and in the next world.