“Yudhishthira said, “Tell me of that, O grandsire, which is the root ofall duties, which is the root of kinsmen, of home, of the Pitris and ofguests. I think this should be regarded as the foremost of all duties,(viz., the marriage of one’s daughter). Tell me, however, O king, uponwhat sort of a person should one bestow one’s daughter?’
“Bhishma said, ‘Beholding his disciple returned from his mission,Devasarman of great energy addressed him in words which I shall recite tothee O king!’
“Bhishma said, ‘Having accomplished his preceptor’s behest, Vipulapractised the most severe penances.
‘Bhishma said, One day the chief of the celestials assuming a form ofcelestial beauty, came to the retreat of the Rishi, thinking that theopportunity he had been expecting had at last come.
“Bhishma said, ‘It is even so as thou sayest, O thou of mighty arms.There is nothing untrue in all this that thou sayest, O thou of Kuru’srace, on the subject of women.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘All men, O king, in this world, are seen to attachthemselves to women, overcome by the illusion that is created by thedivine Being.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘O best of the Bharatas, I wish to hear theediscourse on the disposition of women. W omen are said to be the root ofall evil. They are all regarded as exceedingly frail.’
“Yudhishthira said, ‘Which amongst these three persons, O grandsire,should be regarded as the best for making gifts unto, viz., one who is athorough stranger, or one who is living with and who has been known tothe giver for a long time, or one who presents himself before the giver,coming from a long distance?’
“Bhishma said, ‘In this connection is cited the old history of thediscourse between Sakra and Samvara. Do thou listen to it, OYudhishthira. Once upon a time Sakra, assuming the guise of an asceticwith matted locks on his head and body smeared with ashes all over, rodeon an ugly car and repaired to the presence of the Asura Samvara.’
“Bhishma said, ‘O blessed king, Brahmana, by birth alone, becomes anobject of adoration with all creatures and are entitled, as guests, toeat the first portion of all cooked food.
