Chapter 129

“Yudhishthira said, ‘Like one that drinks nectar I am never satiated withlistening to thee as thou speakest. As a person possessing a knowledge ofself is never satiated with meditation, even so I am never satiated withhearing thee. Do thou, therefore, O grandsire, discourse once more uponmorality. I am never satiated with drinking the nectar of thy discourseupon morality.’

“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited the old narrative of thediscourse between Gotama and the illustrious Yama. Gotama owned a wideretreat on the Paripatra hills. Listen to me as to how many years hedwelt in that abode. For sixty thousand years that sage underwent asceticausterities in that asylum. One day, the Regent of the world, Yama, Otiger among men, repaired to that great sage of cleansed soul while hewas engaged in the severest austerities. Yama beheld the great asceticGotama of rigid penances. The regenerate sage understanding that it wasYama who had come, speedily saluted him and sat with joined hands in anattentive attitude (waiting for his commands). The royal Dharma,beholding that bull among Brahmanas, duly saluted him (in return) andaddressing him asked what he was to do for him.’

“Gotama said, “By doing what acts does one liberate one’s self from thedebt One owes to one’s mother and father? How also does one succeed inwinning regions of pure bliss that are so difficult of attainment?’

“Yama said, ‘Devoting one’s self to the duty of truth, and practisingpurity and penances one should ceaselessly worship one’s mother andfather. One should also perform Horse-sacrifices with presents inprofusion unto the Brahmanas. By such acts one wins many regions (offelicity) of wonderful aspect.'”