Yudhishthira said Having acquired great power and great riches, and having obtained a long period of life, how many one succeed in shunning death?

By which of these means viz., penances, or the performance of the various acts, or by knowledge of the Shrutis, or the application of medicines, can one succeed in avoiding decrepitude and death.

Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old narrative of Panchashikha who was a Bhikshu in his practices and Janaka.

Once on a time, Janaka, the king of Videhas, questioned the great Rishi Panchashikha, who was the foremost of all persons conversant with the Vedas and who had all his doubts removed about the object and meaning of all duties.

The King said By what conduct, O holy one, may one get over Decrepitude and Death? Is it by penances, or by the understanding, or by religious practices, or by study and knowledge of the scriptures.

Thus addressed by the king of the Videhas the learned Panchashikha, conversant with all invisible things, answered saying, Nothing can prevent two (viz., decrepitude and death); nor is it true that these cannot be prevented under any circumstances.

Neither days, nor nights, nor months, cease to go on. Only that man who, though transitory, follows the eternal path succeeds in avoiding birth and death.

Destruction overtakes all creatures. All creatures seem to be ceaselessly borne along the endless current of time. Those that are borne along the endless current of time which is without a vessel and which in infested by those two powerful alligators, viz., decrepitude and death, sink down without anybody coming to their help.

As one is swept along that current, one does not find any friend for help and one does not feel any interest for any one else.

One meets with wives and other friends only on his road. One had never before enjoyed this sort of companionship with any one for any length of time.

Creatures, as they are carried along the current to time, become again and again are drawn towards one another like clouds moved by the wind meeting one another with loud noise.

Like wolves, descrepitude and death are devourers of all creatures. Indeed, they devour the strong and the weak, the short and the tall.

Among creatures, therefore, which are all so fickle only the Soul exists eternally. Why should he, then, rejoice when creatures are born and why should he grieve when the die.

Whence have I come? Who am I? Where shall I go? Whose am I? Before what do I rest? What shall I be? Why then do you grieve for what?

Who else than you will see heaven or hell? Hence, without throwing aside the scriptures, one should make gifts and celebrate sacrifices.