Chapter 221
“Yudhishthira said, ‘The three regenerate classes, who are given tosacrifices and other rites, sometimes eat the remnants, consisting ofmeat and wine, of sacrifices in honour of the deities, from motives ofobtaining children and heaven. What, O grandsire, is the character ofthis act?’
“Bhishma said, ‘Those who eat forbidden food without being observant ofthe sacrifices and vows ordained in the Vedas are regarded as wilful men.(They are regarded as fallen even here). Those, on the other hand, whoeat such food in the observance of Vedic sacrifices and vows and inducedby the desire of fruits in the shape of heaven and children, ascend toheaven but fall down on the exhaustion of their merits.'[831]
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Common people say that fasting is tapas (penances).Is fasting, however, really so, or is penance something different?’
“Bhishma said, ‘People do regard fast, measured by months or fortnightsor days, as penance. In the opinion, however of the good, such is notpenance. On the other hand, fast is an impediment to the acquisition ofthe knowledge of the Soul.[832] The renunciation of acts (that is sodifficult for all) and humility (consisting in the worship of allcreatures and consideration for them all) constitute the highest penance.That is distinguished above all kinds of penance. He who betakes himselfto such penance is regarded as one that is always fasting and that isalways leading a life of Brahmacharya. Such a Brahmana will become a Munialways, a deity evermore, and sleepless forever, and one engaged in thepursuit of virtue only, even if he lives in the bosom of a family. Hewill become a vegetarian always, and pure for ever. He will become aneater always of ambrosia, and an adorer always of gods and guests.Indeed, he will be regarded as one always subsisting on sacrificialremnants, as one ever devoted to the duty of hospitality, as one alwaysfull of faith, and as one ever worshipping gods and guests.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘How can one practising such penance come to beregarded as one that is always fasting or as one that is ever devoted tothe vow of Brahmacharya, or as one that is always subsisting uponsacrificial remnants or as one that is ever regardful of guests?’
“Bhishma said, ‘He will be regarded as one that is always fasting if heeats once during the day and once during the night at the fixed hourswithout eating anything during the interval. Such a Brahmana, by alwaysspeaking the truth and by adhering always to wisdom, and by going to hiswife only in her season and never at other times, becomes a Brahmacharin(celibate). By never eating meat of animals not killed for sacrifice, hewill become a strict vegetarian. By always becoming charitable he willbecome ever pure, and by abstaining from sleep during the day he willbecome one that is always wakeful. Know, O Yudhishthira, that that manwho eats only after having fed his servants and guests becomes an eateralways of ambrosia. That Brahmana who never eats till gods and guests arefed, wins, by such abstention, heaven itself. He is said to subsist uponsacrificial remnants, who eats only what remains after feeding the gods,the Pitris, servants, and guests. Such men win numberless regions offelicity in next life. To their homes come, with Brahman himself, thegods and the Apsaras. They who share their food with the deities and thePitris pass their days in constant happiness with their sons andgrandsons and at last, leaving off this body, attain to a very high end.'”
