Hearing this, Vidura said: 'Venerable men of unerring knowledge say that self-restraint is of great benefit in this world. This holds true above all for a brahmana. One whose self-restraint is joined with charity, austerity, knowledge, and the study of the Vedas always attains success, forgiveness, and the fruits of his gifts. Self-restraint increases one's energy and is an excellent and sacred quality. Freed from sin and having increased his energy through self-restraint, a man thereby attains even Brahma. People always fear those who do not restrain themselves, as though such men were veritable rakshasas. And it was precisely to keep them in check that the Self-Existent created the kshatriyas. It has been said that self-restraint is the foremost vow for all four stages of life. I regard as its marks those qualities that owe their origin to self-restraint. These marks are forgiveness, firmness of spirit, abstention from giving offense, equal regard for all, truthfulness of speech, simplicity, control of the senses, patience, gentleness of speech, modesty, steadiness, generosity, mildness, contentment, and faith; one who restrains himself rejects lust, greed, pride, anger, sloth, boastfulness, self-love, malice, and sorrow.'