Yudhishthira said Brahmanas, Rishis, Pitris and the gods all speak highly of the duty of truth. I wish to hear of truth. Describe it to me, O grandfather.

What are the marks, O king of truth? How may it be acquired? What is acquired by practising truth, and how? Tell me all this.

Bhishma said A confusion of the duties of the four castes is never highly spoken of. What is called Truth always exists in a pure and unmixed state in every one of those four castes.

Truth is always a duty with the good. Indeed, Truth is eternal duty. One should respectfully bow to Truth. Truth is the greatest refuge (of all).

Truth is duty; Truth is penance; Truth is Yoga; and Truth is the eternal Brahma. Truth has been said to be a great sacrifice. Everything depends upon Truth.

I shall now tell you the forms of Truth one after another, and its characteristic marks also in due order.

You should hear also as to how Truth may be won. Truth, O Bharata, as it exists in all the world, is of thirteen sorts.

The various forms of Truth are impartiality, self-control, forgiveness, modesty, endurance, goodness, renunciation, meditation, dignity, fortitute, compassion, and abstention from injury. These, O great king, are the thirteen forms of Truth'.

Truth is immutable, eternal, and unchangeable. It may be won through practices which do not oppose any of the other virtues. It may also be won through Yoga.

When desire and hatred, as also lust and anger, are destroyed, that quality by virtue of which one is able to look impartially upon one's own self and one's enemy, upon one's good and one's evil, is called impartiality.

Self-control consists in never wishing for another man's property, in gravity and patience and power to remove the fears of others regarding one's own self, and freedom from disease. It may be won through knowledge.

Devoted to liberality and the performance of all duties are considered by the wise as forming good-will. One gains universal good will by continued devotion to Truth.

Regarding unforgiveness and forgiveness, it should be said that the quality by which an esteemed and good man puts up with both what is agreeable and disagreeable, is said to be forgiveness. This virtue may be acquired by the practice of truthfulness.

That virtue by which an intelligent man contended in mind and words performs mnany good deeds and is never blamed by others, is called modesty. It is acquired by the help of righteousness.

That virtue which forgives for the sake of virtue and religious profit is called endurance. It is one of the form of forgiveness. It is gained through patience, and its object is to attach people to one's self.

The casting off of worldly desires as also of all earthly possessions, is designated renunciation. Renunciation can never be gained except by one who is shorn of anger and malice.

That virtue under the influence of which one does good, with diligence and care, to all creatures is designated goodness. It has no particular form and consists in the casting off of all selfish attachments.

That virtue by which remains unchanged in weal and woe is called fortitude. That wise man who seeks his own well-being always practises this virtue.

One should always practise forgiveness and be devoted to truth. The wise man who can renounce joy, fear and anger, can gain fortitude.

Abstention froin injury to all creatures in thought, word, and deed, and kindness, and gift, are the permanent duties of the good. one

These thirteen qualities, though seemingly different, have but one and the same shape, namely Truth. All these, O Bharata, hold up truth and strengthen it.

It is impossible, o king, to exhaust the merits of Truth. For these reasons the Brahman as, the Pitris and the gods speak highly of truth.

There is no duty which is higher than Truth, and no sin more dreadful than untruth. Indeed, Truth is the very root of righteousness. Therefore one should never destroy Truth.

From Truth originate gifts, and sacrifice with presents as well the threefold Agnihotras the Vedas and everything else which leads to righteousness.

On one occasion a thousand Horsesacrifices and Truth were weighed against each other and in the balance. Truth proved heavier than a thousand Horse-sacrifices. as