Chapter 11
“Arjuna said, ‘In this connection an old history is cited, viz., thediscourse between certain ascetics and Sakra, O bull of Bharata’s race! Anumber of well-born Brahmana youth of little understanding, without thehirsute honours of manhood, abandoning their homes, came to the woods forleading a forest life. Regarding that to be virtue, those youths ofabundant resources became desirous of living as Brahmacharins, havingabandoned their brothers and sires. It so happened that Indra becamecompassionate towards them. Assuming the form of a golden bird, the holySakra addressed them, saying, ‘That which is done by persons that eat theremnants of a sacrifice is the most difficult of acts that men canachieve.[16] Such an act is highly meritorious. The lives of such men areworthy of every praise. Having attained the object of life, those men,devoted to virtue obtain the highest end.’ Hearing these words, theRishis said, ‘Lo, this bird applauds those that subsist upon the remnantsof sacrifices. He informs us of it, for we live upon such remnants.’ Thebird then said, ‘I do not applaud you.’ Ye are stationed with mire andvery impure. Living upon offals, ye are wicked. Ye are not personssubsisting upon the remnants of sacrifice.’
“The Rishis said, ‘We regard this our course of life to be highlyblessed. Tell us, O bird, what is for our good. Thy words inspire us withgreat faith.’
“The bird said, ‘If you do not refuse me your faith by arrayingyourselves against your better selves, then I shall tell you words thatare true and beneficial.’
“The Rishis said, ‘We shall listen to thy words, O sire, for thedifferent paths are all known to thee. O thou of righteous soul, wedesire also to obey thy commands. Instruct us now.’
“The bird said, ‘Among quadrupeds the cow is the foremost. Of metals,gold is the foremost. Of words, mantras, and of bipeds, the Brahmanas,are the foremost. These mantras regulate all the rites of a Brahmana’slife beginning with those appertaining to birth and the period after it,and ending with those appertaining to death and the crematorium. TheseVedic rites are his heaven, path, and foremost of sacrifices. If it wereotherwise, how could I find the acts (of persons in quest of heaven)become successful through mantras? He who, in this world, adores hissoul, firmly regarding it to be a deity of a particular kind, obtainssuccess consistent with the nature of that particular deity.[17] Theseasons measured by half the months lead to the Sun, the Moon, or theStars.[18] These three kinds of success, depending upon action aredesired by every creature. The domestic mode of life is very superior andsacred and is called the field (for the cultivation) of success. By whatpath do those men go that censure action? Of little understanding anddeprived of wealth, they incur sin. And since those men of littleunderstanding live by abandoning the eternal paths of the gods, the pathsof the Rishis, and the paths of Brahma, therefore, they attain to pathsdisapproved of by the Srutis.[19] There is an ordinance in the mantraswhich says, ‘Ye sacrificer, perform the sacrifice represented by gifts ofvaluable things. I wilt give thee happiness represented by sons, animals,and heaven!’–To live, therefore, in accordance with ordinance is said tobe the highest asceticism of the ascetics. Therefore, ye should performsuch sacrifices and such penances in the shape of gifts. The dueperformance of these eternal duties, viz., the worship of the gods, thestudy of the Vedas, and the gratification of the Pitris, as alsoregardful services unto the preceptors–these are called the austerest ofpenances. The gods, by performing such exceedingly difficult penances,have obtained the highest glory and power. I, therefore, tell you to bearthe very heavy burthen of the duties of domesticity. Without doubt,penances are the foremost of all things and are the root of allcreatures. Asceticism, however, is to be obtained by leading a life ofdomesticity, upon which depends everything. They that eat the remnants offeasts, after duly apportioning the food morning and evening amongkinsmen, attain to ends that are exceedingly difficult of attainment.They are called eater of the remnants of feasts who eat after havingserved guests and gods and Rishis and kinsmen. Therefore, those personsthat are observant of their own duties, that practise excellent vows andare truthful in speech, become objects of great respect in the world,with their own faith exceedingly strengthened. Free from pride, thoseachievers of the most difficult feats attain to heaven and live forunending time in the regions of Sakra.’
“Arjuna continued, ‘Those ascetics then, hearing these words that werebeneficial and fraught with righteousness, abandoned the religion ofrenunciation, saying, ‘There is nothing in it,’ and betook themselves toa life of domesticity. Therefore, O thou that are conversant withrighteousness, calling to thy aid that eternal wisdom, rule the wideworld, O monarch that is now destitute of foes.’
