Mbh 12.361.4

Mahabharata · translated by Kisari Mohan Ganguli

"'"The Brahmana said, 'O highly blessed Naga, I have come hither, moved by the desire of obtaining a sight of thee. I have come here, ignorant as I am with all things, for asking thee about something. O Naga, relying on the Jiva-soul, I desire to attain to the Supreme Soul which is the end of the Jiva-soul. I am neither attached to, nor dissociated from, the world.[1940] Thou shinest with the effulgence of thy own merits covered by pure fame,--with an effulgence that is as agreeable as that of the moon. O thou that livest on air alone, do thou first answer a question that I wish to put to thee. Afterwards I shall inform thee of the object that has brought me hither!'"'"

Mbh 12.361.4 · Mahabharata · SANTI PARVA

Themes in this passage

Desire Attachment The Divine Loneliness Nature The Soul

Desire in other traditions

The same theme, as Buddhism, Christianity, Taoism and Islam address it.

From lust comes grief, from lust comes fear; he who is free from lust knows neither grief nor fear.

Dhp 16.214 · Dhammapada · Pleasure

Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

Philippians 4:17 · Bible · Philippians

If this transformation became to me an object of desire, I would express the desire by the nameless simplicity. Simplicity without a name Is free from all external aim. With no desire, at rest and still, All things go right as of their will. PART II.

Tao Te Ching 37.3 · Tao Te Ching

And He it is Who hath appointed night and day in succession, for him who desireth to remember, or desireth thankfulness.

Quran 25:62 · Quran · The Criterion

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