Chapter 192

“Bhrigu said, ‘Forest recluses seeking the acquisition of virtue go tosacred waters and rivers and springs, and undergo penances in lone andsecluded woods abounding with deer and buffaloes and boars and tigers andwild elephants. They forsake all kinds of robes and food and enjoymentsfor which people living in society have a taste. They subsistabstemiously upon wild herbs and fruits and roots and leaves of diversekinds. The bare ground is their seat. They lie down on the bare earth orrocks or pebbles or gravel or sand or ashes. They cover their limbs withgrass and animal skins and barks of trees. They never shave their headsand beards or pare their nails. They perform their ablutions at regularintervals. They pour libations on the ground, as also on the sacred fireat the proper time without fail. They never enjoy any rest tillcompletion of their daily gathering of the sacred fuel (for their homafires) and sacred grass and flowers (for sacrifice and worship) and tillthey have swept and rubbed clean (their sacrificial altars). They bearwithout the least regard cold and heat, and rain and wind, and,therefore, the skin of their bodies is cracked all over; and inconsequence of observing and laying down for themselves various kinds ofrites and vows and acts, their flesh and blood and skin and bones becomeemaciated.[580] Endued with great patience and fortitude, they live,always practising the quality of goodness. That person who, withrestrained soul, observes such a course of duties originally ordained byregenerate Rishis, burns all his sins like fire and obtains regions offelicity difficult of attainment.’

“I shall now describe the conduct of those called Parivrajakas. That isas follows: freeing themselves from attachment to the sacred fire,wealth, spouse and children, and robes, seats, beds, and such otherobjects of enjoyment, and breaking the bonds of affection, they roamabout, regarding with an equal eye a clump of earth or rock and gold.They never set their hearts on the acquisition or enjoyment of the tripleaggregate. They cast an equal eye on foes and friends and neutrals orstrangers. They never injure, in thought, word, or deed, immobile thingsor creatures that are viviparous, or oviparous or born of filth, orcalled vegetables. They have no homes. They roam over hills andmountains, upon shores of rivers or seas, under shades of trees, andamong temples of deities. They may go to towns or villages for residence.In a town, however, they should not live for more than five nights, whilein a village their residence should never exceed one night. Entering atown or a village, they should, for the support of life, repair to theabodes of only Brahmanas of liberal deeds.[581] They should never ask forany alms except what is thrown into the (wooden) bowls they carry. Theyshould free themselves from lust, wrath, pride, cupidity, delusion,miserliness, deceit, slander, vanity, and injury to living creatures. Onthis subject there are some verses: that person, who, observing the vowof taciturnity, roveth without giving any creature cause of fear, isnever inspired with any fear himself by any creature. That learned personwho performs the Agnihotra (not by kindling of, external fire but) withthe aid of the fire that is his own body, indeed, who poureth libationsinto his own mouth and upon the fire that exists in his own body,succeeds in attaining to numerous regions of felicity in consequence ofthat fire being fed with such libations obtained by a life ofeleemosynation. That person of regenerate birth who observes in theaforesaid way this mode of life having Emancipation for its end, with apure heart and with an understanding freed from resolution, attains toBrahma after the manner of a tranquil ray of light that is not fed by anyblazing fuel.’

“Bharadwaja said, ‘Beyond this region (that we inhabit) there is a regionthat we have heard of but never seen. I desire to know all about it. Itbehoveth thee to describe it to me.’

“Bhrigu said, ‘Towards the north, on the other side of Himavat, which issacred and possessed of every merit, there is a region that is sacred,blessed, and highly desirable. That is called the other world.[582] Themen that inhabit that region are righteous in act, pious, of pure hearts,freed from cupidity and errors of judgment, and not subject toafflictions of any kind. That region is, indeed, equal to heaven,possessed as it is of such excellent attributes. Death comes there at theproper season. Diseases never touch the inhabitants.[583] Nobodycherishes any desire for the wives of other people. Every one is devotedto his own wife. These people do not afflict or kill one another, orcovet one another’s things. There no sin occurs, no doubt arises.[584]There the fruits of all (religious) acts are visible. There some enjoyseats and drinks and viands of the best kind, and live within palaces andmansions. There some, adorned with ornaments of gold, surround themselveswith every article of enjoyment. There are, again, some that eat veryabstemiously, for only keeping body and soul together. There some, withgreat toil, seek to hold the life-breaths.[585] Here (in this region thatis inhabited by us), some men are devoted to righteousness and some todeceit. Some are happy and some miserable; some are poor and some rich.Here toil, and fear and delusion, and painful hunger make theirappearance. Here cupidity for wealth is also seen, a passion thatstupefies even those that are learned amongst men. Here diverse opinionsprevail, broached by those that do deeds which are righteous or sinful.That man possessed of wisdom who knows all those opinions which may bedivided into two kinds, is never stained by sin. Deceit With fraud,theft, slander, malice, oppression, injury, treachery, and untruth, andvices that detract from the merit of his penances who practises them. He,on the other hand, possessed of learning, who avoids them, finds themerit of his penances increased. Here there is much reflection about actsthat are righteous and those that are unrighteous. This region that weinhabit is the field of action. Having done good and evil here, oneobtains good for his good acts and evil for acts that are evil.[586] Herethe very Creator in days of yore, and all the gods with the Rishis,having performed proper penances, become cleansed and attain toBrahma.[587] The northern portion of the earth is highly auspicious andsacred. Those belonging to this region (that we inhabit) that are doersof righteous deeds or that show regard for yoga, become born in thatregion. Others (that are of a different disposition) take their births inthe intermediate species. Some again, when their allotted periods runout, become lost on earth.[588] Employed in feeding upon one another andstained by cupidity and delusion, these mea return to this very regionwithout being able to go (after death) to that northern region. Those menof wisdom who with vows and observant of Brahmacharyya listen withveneration to the instructions of preceptors, succeed in knowing the endsreserved for all classes of men. I have now told thee in brief the courseof duties ordained by Brahman. He, indeed, is said to be possessed ofintelligence who knows what is righteousness and what its reverse in thisworld.’

“Bhishma continued, ‘Thus, O king, did Bhrigu speak unto Bharadwaja ofgreat energy. Of soul highly virtuous, the latter became filled withwonder and worshipped the great sage with veneration. Thus, O monarch,the origin of the universe has been narrated to thee in detail. What, Othou of great wisdom, dost thou wish to hear after this?”‘