Chapter 234

“Vyasa said, ‘Thou hadst asked me about the Creation of all beings; Ihave now narrated that to thee in full. Listen to me as I tell thee nowwhat the duties are of a Brahmana. The rituals of all ceremonies forwhich sacrificial fees are enjoined, commencing with Jatakarma and endingwith Samavartana, depend for their performance upon a preceptor competentin the Vedas.[894] Having studied all the Vedas and having displayed asubmissive behaviour towards his preceptor during his residence with him,and having paid the preceptor’s fee, the youth should return home with athorough knowledge of all sacrifices.[895] Receiving the permission ofhis preceptor, he should adopt one of the four modes of life and live init in due observance of its duties till he casts off his body. He shouldeither lead a life of domesticity with spouses and engaged in creatingoffspring, or live in the observance of Brahmacharya; or in the forest inthe company of his preceptor, or in the practice of the duties laid downfor a yati. A life of domesticity is said to be the root of all the othermodes of life. A self-restrained householder who has conquered all hisattachments to worldly objects always attains to success (in respect ofthe great object of life). A Brahmana, by begetting children, byacquiring a knowledge of the Vedas, and by performing sacrifices, paysoff the three debts he owes.[896] He should then enter the other modes oflife, having cleansed himself by his acts. He should settle in that placewhich he may ascertain to be the most sacred spot on earth, and he shouldstrive in all matters that lead to fame, for attaining to a position ofeminence. The fame of Brahmanas increases through penances that are veryaustere, through mastery of the various branches of knowledge, throughsacrifices, and through gifts. Indeed, a person enjoys endless regions ofthe righteous (in the next world) as long as his deeds or the memorythereof lasts in this world. A Brahmana should teach, study, officiate atother people’s sacrifices, and offer sacrifices himself. He should notgive away in vain or accept other people’s gifts in vain. Wealth,sufficient in quantity, that may come from one who is assisted in asacrifice, from a pupil, or from kinsmen (by marriage) of a daughter,should be spent in the performance of sacrifice or in making gifts.Wealth coming from any of these sources should never be enjoyed by aBrahmana singly.[897] For a Brahmana leading a life of domesticity thereis no means save the acceptance of gifts for the sake of the deities, orRishis, or Pitris, or preceptor or the aged, or the diseased, or thehungry.[898] Unto those that are persecuted by unseen foes, or those thatare striving to the best of their power to acquire knowledge, one shouldmake gifts from one’s own possessions, including even cooked food, morethan one can fairly afford.[899] Unto a deserving person there is nothingthat cannot be given. They that are good and wise deserve to have eventhe prince of steeds, called Uchchaisravas, belonging to Indrahimself.[900] Of high vows (king) Satyasandha, having, with due humility,offered his own life-breaths for saving those of a Brahmana, ascended toheaven. Sankriti’s son Rantideva, having given only lukewarm water to thehigh-souled Vasishtha, ascended to heaven and received high honoursthere. Atri’s royal son Indradamana, possessed of great intelligence,having given diverse kinds of wealth to a deserving person, acquireddiverse regions of felicity in the next world. Usinara’s son Sivi, havinggiven away his own limbs and the dear son of loins for the sake of aBrahmana, ascended to heaven from this world. Pratardana, the ruler ofKasi, having given away his very eyes to a Brahmana, obtained great fameboth here and hereafter. King Devavridha, having given away a verybeautiful and costly umbrella, with eight golden ribs, proceeded toheaven with all the people of his kingdom. Sankriti of Atri’s race,possessed of great energy, having given instruction to his disciples onthe subject of Impersonal Brahma, proceeded to regions of great felicity.Amvarisha of great prowess, heaving given unto the Brahmanas elevenArvudas of kine, proceeded to heaven with all the people of his kingdom.Savitri, by giving away her ear-rings, and king Janamejaya, by givingaway his own body, both proceeded to high regions of felicity. Yuvanaswa,the son of Vrishadarbha, by giving away diverse kinds of gems, a finemansion, and many beautiful women, ascended to heaven. Nimi, the ruler ofthe Videhas, gave away his kingdom, Jamadagni’s son (Rama) gave away thewhole earth; and Gaya gave away the earth with all her towns and cities,unto the Brahmanas. Once when the clouds ceased to pour, Vasishtha,resembling Brahman himself, kept alive all creatures like Prajapatikeeping them alive (by his energy and kindness). Karandhama’s son Maruttaof cleansed soul, by giving away his daughter to Angiras, speedilyascended to heaven. Brahmadatta, the ruler of the Panchalas, possessed ofsuperior intelligence, by giving away two precious jewels called Nidhiand Sankha unto some of the foremost of the Brahmanas, obtained manyregions of felicity. King Mitrasaha, having given his own dear wifeMadayanti unto the high-souled Vasishtha, ascended to heaven with thatwife of his. The royal sage Sahasrajit, possessed of great fame havingcast off dear life itself for the sake of a Brahmana, ascended to regionsof great felicity. King Satadyumna, having given to Mudgala a mansionmade of gold and full of every object of comfort and use, ascended toheaven. The king of the Salwas, known by the name of Dyutimat, possessedof great prowess, gave unto Richika his entire kingdom and ascended toheaven. The Royal sage Madiraswa, by giving away his daughter of slenderwaist to Hiranyahasta, ascended to such regions as are held in esteem bythe very gods. The royal sage Lomapada, of great prowess, by giving awayhis daughter Santa to Rishyasringa, obtained the fruition of all hiswishes. King Prasenajit, of great energy, by giving away a hundredthousand kine with calves, ascended to excellent regions of felicity.These and many others, possessed of great and well-ordered souls andhaving their senses under control, ascended, by means Of gifts andpenances, to heaven. Their fame will last as long as the earth herselfwill last. All of them have, by gifts, sacrifices and procreation ofissue, proceeded to heaven.'”