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however, through the merits of those acts that I have attained to this region of felicity. I also gave away ten and then seven |
crores of steeds, O Grandsire, each of green complexion, each having ears that were dark, and each adorned with garlands of |
gold. I also gave away ten and seven thousand elephants of huge size, of teeth as large as plough-shares, each having those |
whorls on its body which are called Padmas, and each adorned with garlands of gold. I gave away ten thousand cars, O |
Grandsire, whose limbs were made of gold, and which were adorned with diverse ornaments of gold. I also gave away seven |
thousand other cars with steeds yoked unto each. All the steeds that were yoked unto them were adorned with ornaments of |
gold. Those cars represented the Dakshinas of a sacrifice and were of exactly that kind which is indicated in the Vedas. In the |
ten great Vajapeya sacrifices that I performed, I gave away a thousand horses each endued with the puissance of Indra himself, |
judged by their prowess and the sacrifices they had performed. Spending a vast sum of money, O Grandsire, and performing |
eight Rajasuya sacrifices, I gave away (unto the Brahmanas that officiated in them) a thousand kings whose necks were |
adorned with garlands of gold, after having vanquished them in battle. It is not, however, through the merits of those acts that I |
have attained to this region. In those sacrifices, O Lord of the universe, the presents that flowed from me were as copious as the |
stream of Ganga herself. Unto each Brahmana I gave two thousand elephants decked with gold, as many steeds adorned with |
golden ornaments, and a hundred villages of the best kind. Verily, I gave these unto each Brahmana for three times in |
succession. Observant of penances, subsisting on regulated diet, adopting tranquillity of soul, and restraining speech, I dwelt |
for a long time on the breast of Himavat by the side of that Ganga whose irresistible current (as it fell from heaven) was borne |
by Mahadeva on his head. It is not through the merit of these acts, O Grand sire, that I have attained to this region. Throwing |
the Sami, I adored the gods in myriads of such sacrifices as are completed in course of a single day, and such others as take |
twelve days for completing, and others still as can be completed in three and ten days, besides many Pundarikas. I have not |
attained to this region through the merits of any of those sacrifices.[456] I gave unto the Brahmanas eight thousand white- |
complexioned bulls, each graced with a beautiful hump, and each having one of its horns covered with gold. Unto them I also |
gave beautiful wives whose necks were adorned with chains of gold. I also gave away large heaps of gold and wealth of other |
kinds. Verily, I gave away hills of gems and precious stones. Villages, numbering by thousands and teeming with wealth and |
corn, were also given away by me. With all my senses about me, I gave away unto the Brahmanas a hundred thousand kine |
each of whom had brought forth only her first calf, at many great sacrifices which I performed. It is not, however, through the |
merits of those acts that I have attained to this region. I adored the deities in a sacrifice that is completed in eleven days. Twice |
I adored them in sacrifices that are completed in twelve days. I adored them also many a time in the horse-sacrifices. Six and |
ten times I performed the Arkayana sacrifice. It is not through the merits of those acts that I have attained to this region. I also |
gave unto each Brahmana a forest of Kanchana trees extending for a Yojana on every side, and with each tree adorned with |
jewels and gems. It is not through the merits of that act that I have attained to this region. For thirty years, with heart perfectly |
freed from wrath, I observed the Turayana vow that is possessed of very superior merit, and gave away unto the Brahmanas |
every day nine hundred kine. Indeed, O Lord of the universe, every one of those kine belonged to the Rohini species, and |
yielded milk at the time I gave them away. It is not through the merits of those acts, O chief of the deities, that I have attained |
to this region. I worshipped thirty fires, O Brahmana, every day. I adored the deities in eight sacrifices in which the fat of all |
animals was poured on the fire. I adored them in seven sacrifices in which the fat of human beings was poured on the fire. I |
adored them in a thousand and twenty-eight Viswajit sacrifices. It is not through the merits of those sacrifices O Lord of all the |
deities, that I have attained to this region. On the banks of Sarayu and Vahuda and Ganga as also in the woods of Naimisha, I |
gave away millions of kine unto the Brahmanas. It is not through the merits of those acts that I have attained to this region. The |
vow of fast had been known to Indra. He had, however, kept it a secret. Sukra, the descendant of Bhrigu, obtained a knowledge |
of it by means of spiritual sight acquired through penances. Blazing with energy as he does, it is Usanas who first made it |
known to the universe. I observed that vow, O boon giving Deity! When I accomplished that very superior vow, the Brahmana |
became all gratified with me. A thousand Rishis came thither. All those Brahmanas and Rishis, O puissant lord, gratified with |
me, said, 'Do thou repair to the region of Brahmana! It is in consequence of the merits of that vow that I have succeeded in |
attaining to this region of very superior felicity. There is no doubt in this. Asked by the Supreme Ordainer of all things, I have |
duly expounded the merits of the vow of fast. In my opinion, there is no penance higher than fast. I vow to thee, O foremost of |
all the deities! Be thou propitious unto me!' |
"Bhishma continued, 'King Bhagiratha, who had said so and who deserved every honour was on the conclusion of his speech, |
honoured by Brahman according to the rites ordained for that purpose. Do thou, therefore, O Yudhishthira, observe the vow of |
fast and worship the Brahmanas every day. The words uttered by Brahmanas can accomplish everything both here and |
hereafter. Indeed, the Brahmanas should ever be gratified with gifts of robes food and white complexioned kine and good |
dwelling houses and mansions. The very deities should gratify the Brahmanas. Freeing thyself from cupidity, do thou practise |
this vow of very superior merit that is not known to all!'" |
SECTION CIV |
"Yudhishthira said, 'Man, it is said, is endued with a period of life extending for a hundred years, and with energy and might |
that are considerable. Why then, O grandsire, do human beings die even when they are very young? By what does a man |
become endued with longevity, and by what is his life shortened? Through what does a man acquire the fame that rests upon |
great achievements? Through what does one attain to wealth and prosperity? Is it by penances, or Brahmacharya, or silent |
recitation of sacred Mantras, or drugs? Is it by his acts, or speech? Do thou explain to me this, O grandsire!' |
"Bhishma said, 'I shall tell thee what thou askest me. In fact, I shall tell thee what the reason is for which one becomes |
shortlived, and what the reason is for which one becomes endued with longevity. I shall also explain to thee the reason for |
which one succeeds in acquiring the fame that rests on great achievements, and the reason for which one succeeds in acquiring |
wealth and prosperity. Indeed, I shall enlighten thee as to the manner in which one must live in order to be endued with all that |
is beneficial for him. It is by conduct that one acquires longevity, and it is by conduct that one acquires wealth and prosperity. |
Indeed, it is by conduct that one acquires the fame that rests upon great achievements both here and hereafter. The man whose |
conduct is improper or wicked never acquires a long life. All creatures become afraid of such a man and are oppressed by him. |
If, therefore, one wishes one's own advancement and prosperity, one should, in this world, betake to conduct that is proper and |
good. Good conduct succeeds in dispelling the inauspiciousness and misery of even one that is sinful.[457] Righteousness has |
conduct for its indication. They that are good and righteous are so in consequence of the conduct they follow. The indications, |
again, of good conduct are afforded by the acts of those that are good or righteous. People esteem that man who acts |
righteously and who does good acts even if they only hear of him without actually seeing him. They that are atheists, they that |
are destitute of all acts, they that are disobedient to preceptors and transgress the injunctions of the scriptures, they that are |
unacquainted with and, therefore, unobservant of duties, and they that are wicked of conduct, become shortlived. They that are |
of improper behaviour, they that transgress all restraints, they that are unscrupulous in respect of sexual congress, become |
shortlived here and have to go to Hell hereafter. Even those men live for a hundred years who, though destitute of all |
accomplishments, betake themselves to propriety and righteousness of conduct and become endued with faith and freed from |
malice. He that is free from wrath, that is truthful in speech, that never does any injury to any creature in the universe, that is |
divested of malice and crookedness and insincerity, succeeds in living for a hundred years. He who always breaks little clods of |
earth, or tears up the grass that grows under his feet, or cuts off his nails with his teeth, or is always impure, or very restless, |
never succeeds in acquiring a long life.[458] One should wake up from sleep at the hour known as the Brahma Muhurta and |
then think of both religion and profit. Getting up from bed, one should then wash one's face and mouth, and joining one's hands |
in an attitude of reverence, say the morning prayers.[459] In this way, one should when evening comes, say one's evening |
prayers also, restraining speech (with other people) the while. One should never look at the rising sun, nor at the setting |
sun.[460] Nor should one look at the sun when he is in eclipse; nor at his image in the water; nor at midday when he is at the |
meridian. The Rishis, in consequence of their adoring the two twilights with great regularity succeeded in attaining to |
longevity. Hence, one should, restraining speech, say one's prayers regularly at the two twilights. As regards those Brahmanas |
that do not say their prayers at the two twilights, a righteous king should set them to accomplish such acts as are ordained for |
the Sudras. Persons of every order should never have sexual congress with other people's wives. There is nothing that shortens |
life so effectually as sexual congress with other people's wives. For as many thousand years shall the adulterer have to live in |
Hell as the number of pores on the bodies of the women with whom he may commit the offence. One should dress one's hair, |
apply collyrium to one's eyes, and wash one's teeth, as also worship the deities, in the forenoon. One should not gaze at urine or |
faeces, or tread on it or touch it with one's feet. One should not set out on a journey at early dawn, or at midday, or in the |
evening twilight, or with a companion that is unknown, or with a Sudra, or alone. While going along a road, one should, |
standing aside, always make way to a Brahmana, to kine, to kings, to an old man, to one that is weighted with a burden, to a |
woman quick with child, or to one that is weak. When one meets a large tree that is known, one should walk round it. One |
should also, when coming upon a spot where four roads meet, walk round it before pursuing one's journey. At midday, or at |
midnight, or at night in general, or at the two twilights, one should not proceed to spots where four roads meet. One should |
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