“Yudhishthira said, ‘By following what conduct, O thou that artconversant with all courses of conduct, did Janaka, the ruler of Mithilaversed in the religion of Emancipation, succeed in attaining toEmancipation, after casting off all worldly enjoyments?’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Then Devaki’s son Janardana of universal knowledgeaddressed king Yudhishthira who stood there with his brothers, saying,’In this world, O sire, Brahmanas are always the objects of worship withme.
“Bhishma said, ‘Janadeva of the race of Janaka, thus instructed by thegreat Rishi Panchasikha, once more asked him about the topic of existenceor nonexistence after death.’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘The royal son of Kunti, freed from grief and thefever of his heart, took his seat, with face eastwards, on excellent seatmade of gold.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘By doing what does one acquire happiness, and whatis that by doing which one meets with woe? What also is that, O Bharata,by doing which one becomes freed from fear and sojourns here crowned withsuccess (in respect of the objects of life)?’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having heard those words, suitable to time andplace, of his subjects, king Yudhishthira answered them in the followingwords, ‘Great must be the sons of Pandu, in sooth, whose merits, true orfalse, are thus recited by such foremost of Brahmanas assembled together.
“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?’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘After this king Yudhishthira of magnanimous soulcaused the Sraddha rites to be performed of every one of his kinsmenslain in battle.
“Yudhishthira said, ‘In this world, O Bharata, acts good and bad attachthemselves to man for the purpose of producing fruits for enjoyment orendurance. Is man, however, to be regarded as their doer or is he not tobe regarded so? Doubt fills my mind with respect to this question. Idesire to hear this in detail from thee, O grandsire!’
“Vaisampayana said, ‘Having got back the kingdom, king Yudhishthira ofgreat wisdom and purity, after the ceremony of installation had beenover, joining his hands together, addressed the lotus-eyed Krishna ofDasarha’s race, saying,
