sidhellman/clean_data.txt · Datasets at Hugging Face

text stringlengths 0 182
Unccha vow. In consequence of that incident he attained to Heaven, ye regenerate ones, along with his wife and son and
daughter-in-law. And in consequence of what then happened half my body became transformed into gold.'

"The Mongoose continued, 'Ye regenerate ones, I shall presently tell you what the excellent fruit was of the gift, made by a
Brahmana, of a very little measure (of powdered barley) obtained by lawful means. On that righteous spot of ground known by
the name of Kurukshetra, which is the abode of many righteous persons, there lived a Brahmana in the observance of what is
called the Unccha vow. That mode of living is like unto that of the pigeon.[214] He lived there with his wife and son and
daughter-in-law and practised penances. Of righteous soul, and with senses under complete control, he adopted the mode of
living that is followed by a parrot. Of excellent vows, he used to eat everyday at the sixth division.[215] If there was nothing to
eat at the sixth division of the day, that excellent Brahmana would fast for that day and eat the next day at the sixth division.
On one occasion, ye Brahmanas, there occurred a dreadful famine in the land. During that time there was nothing stored in the
abode of that righteous Brahmana. The herbs and plants were all dried up and the whole realm became void of foodstore. When
the accustomed hours came for eating, the Brahmana had nothing to eat. This occurred day after day. All the members of his
family were afflicted with hunger but were obliged to pass the days as best they could. One day, in the month of Jaishtha, while
the Sun was in the meridian, the Brahmana was engaged in picking up grains of corn. Afflicted by heat and hunger, he was
practising even this penance. Unable to obtain grains of corn, the Brahmana soon became worn out with hunger and toil.
Indeed, with all the members of his family, he had no food to eat. That best of Brahmanas passed the days in great suffering.
One day, after the sixth division came, he succeeded in obtaining a prastha of barley. That barley was then reduced by those
ascetics to powder for making what is called Saktu of it. Having finished their silent recitations and other daily rites, and
having duly poured libations on the sacred fire, those ascetics divided that little measure of powdered barley amongst
themselves so that the share of each came up to the measure of a Kudava.[216] As they were about to sit down for eating, there
came unto their abode a guest. Beholding the person who came as a guest, all of them became exceedingly glad. Indeed, seeing
him, they saluted him and made the usual enquiries of welfare. They were of pure minds, self-restrained, and endued with faith
and control over the passions. Freed from malice, they had conquered wrath. Possessed of piety, they were never pained at the
sight of other people's happiness. They had cast off pride and haughtiness and anger. Indeed, they were conversant with every
duty, ye foremost of regenerate ones. Informing their guest of their own penances and of the race or family to which they
belonged, and ascertaining from him in return those particulars, they caused that hungry guest of theirs to enter their cottage.
Addressing him they said, 'This is the Arghya for thee. This water is for washing thy feet. There are scattered some Kusa grass
for thy seat, O sinless one. Here is some clean Saktu acquired by lawful means, O puissant one. Given by us, O foremost of
regenerate persons, do thou accept it,' Thus addressed by them, that Brahmana accepted the Kudava of powdered barley that
was offered to him and ate it all. But his hunger, O king, was not appeased by what he ate. The Brahmana in the observance of
the Unccha vow, seeing that his guest's hunger was still unappeased, began to think of what other food he could place before
him for gratifying him. Then his wife said unto him,--'Let my share be given unto him. Let this foremost of regenerate persons
be gratified and let him then go whithersoever he will.' Knowing that his chaste wife who said so was herself afflicted by
hunger, that best of Brahmanas could not approve of her share of the powdered barley being given to the guest. Indeed, that
best of Brahmanas possessed of learning, knowing from his own state that his aged, toil-worn, cheerless, and helpless wife was
herself afflicted by hunger and seeing that lady who had been emaciated into mere skin and bone was quivering with weakness,
addressed her and said, 'O beautiful one, with even animals, with even worms and insects, wives are fed and protected. It
behoveth thee not, therefore, to say so. The wife treats her lord with kindness and feeds and protects him. Everything
appertaining to religion, pleasure, and wealth, careful nursing, offspring for perpetuating the race, are all dependent on the
wife. Indeed, the merits of a person himself as also of his deceased ancestors depend also on her. The wife should know her
lord by his acts. Verily, that man who fails to protect his wife earns great infamy here and goes into Hell hereafter. Such a man
falls down from even a position of great fame and never succeeds in acquiring regions of happiness hereafter.' Thus addressed,
she answered him, saying, 'O regenerate one, our religious acts and wealth are united. Do thou take a fourth of this barley.
Indeed, be gratified with me. Truth, pleasure, religious merit, and Heaven as acquirable, by good qualities, of women, as also
all the objects of their desire, O foremost of regenerate ones, are dependent on the husband. In the production of offspring the
mother contributes her blood. The father contributes his seed. The husband is the highest deity of the wife. Through the grace
of the husband, women obtain both pleasure and offspring as the reward. Thou art my Pati (lord) for the protection thou givest
me. Thou art my Bhartri for the means of sustenance thou givest me. Thou art, again, boon-giver to me in consequence of thy
having presented me a son. Do thou, therefore, (in return for so many favours), take my share of the barley and give it unto the
guest. Overcome by decrepitude, thou art of advanced years. Afflicted by hunger thou art exceedingly weakened. Worn out
with fasts, thou art very much emaciated. (If thou couldst part with thy share, why should not I part with mine)' Thus addressed
by her, he took her share of the powdered barley and addressing his guest said,--'O regenerate one, O best of men, do thou
accept this measure of powdered barley as well.' The Brahmana, having accepted that quantity, immediately ate it up, but his
hunger was not yet appeased. Beholding him ungratified, the Brahmana in the observance of the Unccha vow became
thoughtful. His son then said unto him, 'O best of men, taking my share of the barely do thou give it to the guest. I regard this
act of mine as one of great merit. Therefore, do it. Thou shouldst be always maintained by me with great care. Maintenance of
the father is a duty which the good always covet. The maintenance of the father in his old age is the duty ordained for the son.
Even this is the eternal sruti (audition) current in the three worlds, O learned Rishi. By barely living thou art capable of
practising penances. The life-breath is the great deity that resides in the bodies of all embodied creatures.'[217]

"The father, at this, said, 'If thou attainest to the age of even a thousand years, thou wilt still seem to me to be only a little child.
Having begotten a son, the sire achieves success through him. O puissant one, I know that the hunger of children is very strong.
I am old. I shall somehow succeed in holding my life-breaths. Do thou, O son, become strong (by eating the food that has
fallen to thy share). Old and decrepit as I am, O son, hunger scarcely afflicts me. I have, again, for many years, practised
penances. I have no fear of death.'

"The son said, 'I am thy offspring. The Sruti declares that one's offspring is called putra because one is rescued by him. One's
own self, again, takes birth as one's son. Do thou, therefore, rescue thyself by thy own self (in the form of thy son).'

"The father said, 'In form thou art like me. In conduct and in self-restraint also thou art my like. Thou hast been examined on
various occasions by me. I shall, therefore, accept thy share of the barley, O son.' Having said this, that foremost of regenerate
persons cheerfully took his son's share of the barley and smilingly presented it to his regenerate guest. Having eaten that barley
also, the guest's hunger was not appeased. The righteous-souled host in the observance of the unccha vow became ashamed (at
the thought that he had nothing more to give). Desirous of doing what was agreeable to him, his chaste daughter-in-law then,
bearing her share of the barley, approached him and said, 'Through thy son, O learned Brahmana, I shall obtain a son. Do thou,
therefore, take my share of the barley and give it unto this guest. Through thy grace, numerous regions of beatitude will be
mine for eternity. Through the grandson one obtains those regions repairing whither one has not to endure any kind of misery.
Like the triple aggregate beginning with Religion, or the triple aggregate of sacred fires, there is a triple aggregate of
everlasting Heavens, depending upon the son, the grandson, and the great-grandson. The son is called Putra because he frees
his sires from debt. Through sons and grandsons one always enjoys the happiness of those regions which are reserved for the
pious and the good.'

"The father-in-law said, 'O thou of excellent vows and conduct, beholding thee wasted by wind and sun, deprived of thy very
complexion, emaciated and almost destitute of consciousness through hunger, how can I be such a transgressor against the
rules of righteousness as to take thy share of the barley? O auspicious damsel, it behoves thee not to say so, for the sake of
those auspicious results for which every family must strive.[218] O auspicious damsel, how can I behold thee: at even this, the
sixth division of the day, abstaining from food and observing vows? Thou art endued with purity and good conduct and
penances. Alas, even thou hast to pass thy days in so much misery. Thou art a child, afflicted by hunger, and belongest to the
softer sex. Thou shouldst be always protected by me. Alas, I have to see thee worn out with fasts, O thou that art the delighter
of all thy kinsmen.'

"The daughter-in-law said, 'Thou art the senior of my senior since thou art the deity of my deity. Thou art verily the god of my
god. Do thou, therefore, O puissant one, take my share of the barley. My body, life-breaths, and religious rites have all one
purpose viz., the service of my senior. Through thy grace, O learned Brahmana, I shall obtain many regions of happiness
hereafter. I deserve to be looked after by thee. Know, O regenerate one, that I am wholly devoted to thee. Cherishing also this
thought, viz., that my happiness is thy concern, it behoveth thee to take this my share of the barley.'

"The father-in-law said, 'O chaste lady, in consequence of such conduct of thine thou wilt for ever shine in glory, for endued
with vows and steadiness in religious rites, thy eyes are directed to that conduct which should be observed towards seniors.

Unccha vow. In consequence of that incident he attained to Heaven, ye regenerate ones, along with his wife and son and

daughter-in-law. And in consequence of what then happened half my body became transformed into gold.'

"The Mongoose continued, 'Ye regenerate ones, I shall presently tell you what the excellent fruit was of the gift, made by a

Brahmana, of a very little measure (of powdered barley) obtained by lawful means. On that righteous spot of ground known by

the name of Kurukshetra, which is the abode of many righteous persons, there lived a Brahmana in the observance of what is

called the Unccha vow. That mode of living is like unto that of the pigeon.[214] He lived there with his wife and son and

daughter-in-law and practised penances. Of righteous soul, and with senses under complete control, he adopted the mode of

living that is followed by a parrot. Of excellent vows, he used to eat everyday at the sixth division.[215] If there was nothing to

eat at the sixth division of the day, that excellent Brahmana would fast for that day and eat the next day at the sixth division.

On one occasion, ye Brahmanas, there occurred a dreadful famine in the land. During that time there was nothing stored in the

abode of that righteous Brahmana. The herbs and plants were all dried up and the whole realm became void of foodstore. When

the accustomed hours came for eating, the Brahmana had nothing to eat. This occurred day after day. All the members of his

family were afflicted with hunger but were obliged to pass the days as best they could. One day, in the month of Jaishtha, while

the Sun was in the meridian, the Brahmana was engaged in picking up grains of corn. Afflicted by heat and hunger, he was

practising even this penance. Unable to obtain grains of corn, the Brahmana soon became worn out with hunger and toil.

Indeed, with all the members of his family, he had no food to eat. That best of Brahmanas passed the days in great suffering.

One day, after the sixth division came, he succeeded in obtaining a prastha of barley. That barley was then reduced by those

ascetics to powder for making what is called Saktu of it. Having finished their silent recitations and other daily rites, and

having duly poured libations on the sacred fire, those ascetics divided that little measure of powdered barley amongst

themselves so that the share of each came up to the measure of a Kudava.[216] As they were about to sit down for eating, there

came unto their abode a guest. Beholding the person who came as a guest, all of them became exceedingly glad. Indeed, seeing

him, they saluted him and made the usual enquiries of welfare. They were of pure minds, self-restrained, and endued with faith

and control over the passions. Freed from malice, they had conquered wrath. Possessed of piety, they were never pained at the

sight of other people's happiness. They had cast off pride and haughtiness and anger. Indeed, they were conversant with every

duty, ye foremost of regenerate ones. Informing their guest of their own penances and of the race or family to which they

belonged, and ascertaining from him in return those particulars, they caused that hungry guest of theirs to enter their cottage.

Addressing him they said, 'This is the Arghya for thee. This water is for washing thy feet. There are scattered some Kusa grass

for thy seat, O sinless one. Here is some clean Saktu acquired by lawful means, O puissant one. Given by us, O foremost of

regenerate persons, do thou accept it,' Thus addressed by them, that Brahmana accepted the Kudava of powdered barley that

was offered to him and ate it all. But his hunger, O king, was not appeased by what he ate. The Brahmana in the observance of

the Unccha vow, seeing that his guest's hunger was still unappeased, began to think of what other food he could place before

him for gratifying him. Then his wife said unto him,--'Let my share be given unto him. Let this foremost of regenerate persons

be gratified and let him then go whithersoever he will.' Knowing that his chaste wife who said so was herself afflicted by

hunger, that best of Brahmanas could not approve of her share of the powdered barley being given to the guest. Indeed, that

best of Brahmanas possessed of learning, knowing from his own state that his aged, toil-worn, cheerless, and helpless wife was

herself afflicted by hunger and seeing that lady who had been emaciated into mere skin and bone was quivering with weakness,

addressed her and said, 'O beautiful one, with even animals, with even worms and insects, wives are fed and protected. It

behoveth thee not, therefore, to say so. The wife treats her lord with kindness and feeds and protects him. Everything

appertaining to religion, pleasure, and wealth, careful nursing, offspring for perpetuating the race, are all dependent on the

wife. Indeed, the merits of a person himself as also of his deceased ancestors depend also on her. The wife should know her

lord by his acts. Verily, that man who fails to protect his wife earns great infamy here and goes into Hell hereafter. Such a man

falls down from even a position of great fame and never succeeds in acquiring regions of happiness hereafter.' Thus addressed,

she answered him, saying, 'O regenerate one, our religious acts and wealth are united. Do thou take a fourth of this barley.

Indeed, be gratified with me. Truth, pleasure, religious merit, and Heaven as acquirable, by good qualities, of women, as also

all the objects of their desire, O foremost of regenerate ones, are dependent on the husband. In the production of offspring the

mother contributes her blood. The father contributes his seed. The husband is the highest deity of the wife. Through the grace

of the husband, women obtain both pleasure and offspring as the reward. Thou art my Pati (lord) for the protection thou givest

me. Thou art my Bhartri for the means of sustenance thou givest me. Thou art, again, boon-giver to me in consequence of thy

having presented me a son. Do thou, therefore, (in return for so many favours), take my share of the barley and give it unto the

guest. Overcome by decrepitude, thou art of advanced years. Afflicted by hunger thou art exceedingly weakened. Worn out

with fasts, thou art very much emaciated. (If thou couldst part with thy share, why should not I part with mine)' Thus addressed

by her, he took her share of the powdered barley and addressing his guest said,--'O regenerate one, O best of men, do thou

accept this measure of powdered barley as well.' The Brahmana, having accepted that quantity, immediately ate it up, but his

hunger was not yet appeased. Beholding him ungratified, the Brahmana in the observance of the Unccha vow became

thoughtful. His son then said unto him, 'O best of men, taking my share of the barely do thou give it to the guest. I regard this

act of mine as one of great merit. Therefore, do it. Thou shouldst be always maintained by me with great care. Maintenance of

the father is a duty which the good always covet. The maintenance of the father in his old age is the duty ordained for the son.

Even this is the eternal sruti (audition) current in the three worlds, O learned Rishi. By barely living thou art capable of

practising penances. The life-breath is the great deity that resides in the bodies of all embodied creatures.'[217]

"The father, at this, said, 'If thou attainest to the age of even a thousand years, thou wilt still seem to me to be only a little child.

Having begotten a son, the sire achieves success through him. O puissant one, I know that the hunger of children is very strong.

I am old. I shall somehow succeed in holding my life-breaths. Do thou, O son, become strong (by eating the food that has

fallen to thy share). Old and decrepit as I am, O son, hunger scarcely afflicts me. I have, again, for many years, practised

penances. I have no fear of death.'

"The son said, 'I am thy offspring. The Sruti declares that one's offspring is called putra because one is rescued by him. One's

own self, again, takes birth as one's son. Do thou, therefore, rescue thyself by thy own self (in the form of thy son).'

"The father said, 'In form thou art like me. In conduct and in self-restraint also thou art my like. Thou hast been examined on

various occasions by me. I shall, therefore, accept thy share of the barley, O son.' Having said this, that foremost of regenerate

persons cheerfully took his son's share of the barley and smilingly presented it to his regenerate guest. Having eaten that barley

also, the guest's hunger was not appeased. The righteous-souled host in the observance of the unccha vow became ashamed (at

the thought that he had nothing more to give). Desirous of doing what was agreeable to him, his chaste daughter-in-law then,

bearing her share of the barley, approached him and said, 'Through thy son, O learned Brahmana, I shall obtain a son. Do thou,

therefore, take my share of the barley and give it unto this guest. Through thy grace, numerous regions of beatitude will be

mine for eternity. Through the grandson one obtains those regions repairing whither one has not to endure any kind of misery.

Like the triple aggregate beginning with Religion, or the triple aggregate of sacred fires, there is a triple aggregate of

everlasting Heavens, depending upon the son, the grandson, and the great-grandson. The son is called Putra because he frees

his sires from debt. Through sons and grandsons one always enjoys the happiness of those regions which are reserved for the

pious and the good.'

"The father-in-law said, 'O thou of excellent vows and conduct, beholding thee wasted by wind and sun, deprived of thy very

complexion, emaciated and almost destitute of consciousness through hunger, how can I be such a transgressor against the

rules of righteousness as to take thy share of the barley? O auspicious damsel, it behoves thee not to say so, for the sake of

those auspicious results for which every family must strive.[218] O auspicious damsel, how can I behold thee: at even this, the

sixth division of the day, abstaining from food and observing vows? Thou art endued with purity and good conduct and

penances. Alas, even thou hast to pass thy days in so much misery. Thou art a child, afflicted by hunger, and belongest to the

softer sex. Thou shouldst be always protected by me. Alas, I have to see thee worn out with fasts, O thou that art the delighter

of all thy kinsmen.'

"The daughter-in-law said, 'Thou art the senior of my senior since thou art the deity of my deity. Thou art verily the god of my

god. Do thou, therefore, O puissant one, take my share of the barley. My body, life-breaths, and religious rites have all one

purpose viz., the service of my senior. Through thy grace, O learned Brahmana, I shall obtain many regions of happiness

hereafter. I deserve to be looked after by thee. Know, O regenerate one, that I am wholly devoted to thee. Cherishing also this

thought, viz., that my happiness is thy concern, it behoveth thee to take this my share of the barley.'

"The father-in-law said, 'O chaste lady, in consequence of such conduct of thine thou wilt for ever shine in glory, for endued

with vows and steadiness in religious rites, thy eyes are directed to that conduct which should be observed towards seniors.