Arjuna said The old history of the discourse between certain ascetics and Shakra, is cited in this connection, O foremost of Bharata's race!

Certain little-witted well-born Brahmana youths, without attaining manhood, forsaking their homes, came to the woods for leading a forest life.

Considering that to be virtue, those youths possessing sufficient resources desired to live as Brahmacharins, having abandoned their brothers and fathers. It so happened that Indra felt pity for them.

Assuming the form of a golden bird, Indra addressed them, saying,-What is done by persons who eat the residue of a Sacrifice is the most difficult of acts that men can perform.

Such an act is productive of great merit. The lives of such men are worthy of every praise. Having attained the object of life, those virtuous men, obtained the highest end!

Hearing these words, the Rishis said,-Lo, this bird praises those who live upon the remnants of Sacrifices! He mentions this to us, for we live upon such remnants!

The bird then said The bird then said.-I do not praise you! You are covered with mire and very impure! Living upon offals, you are wicked! Ye you not persons living upon the remnants of Sacrifice!-

The Rishis said We consider this course of life to be highly : blessed! Tell us, O bird, what is for our wellbeing! Your words fill us with great faith!

The bird said If by acting against your better selves, you do not refuse me your faith, then I shall tell you true and beneficial words.

The Rishis said We shall hear words, O sire, for you know the different paths! O you of righteous soul, we desire also to obey your behests. Instruct us now!

among quadrupeds the cow is the foremost. Of metals, goid is the foremost. Of words, Mantras, and of human beings, Brahmanas, are the foremost.

These Mantras regulate all the rites of a Brahmana's life, beginning with those consequent upon birth and the period after it, and ending with those consequent on death and the obsequial rites.

These Vedic rites constitute his heaven, path, and best of sacrifices, If it were Otherwise, how could the acts of persons seeking of heaven become successful through Mantras?

He who, in this world, worships his self, knowing it to be a deity of a particular kind, attains to success consistent with a nature of that particular deity. Persons dying in two fortnights go to the Sun, the Moon, or the Stars.

These three kinds of success, dependent upon action, are sought by every creature. The life of a householder is very superior and sacred and is called the field of success.

What path do those men follow that censure action? Foolish and poor as they are they incur sin.

And since those little-witted men live by abandoning the eternal paths of the gods, of the Rishis, and of Brahma, therefore, they attain to paths disapproved of by the Shrutis.

There is a verse in the Maniras which says,-(Ye sacrificer, perform the sacrifice with gifts of costly things. I will give you the happiness represented by sons, animals, and heaven.) To live, therefore, in accordance with the ordinance is said to be the highest form of asceticism. Therefore, you should perform sacrifice and penances in the shape of gifts.

The proper performance of these eternal duties, viz., the worship of the gods, the study of the Vedas, and the gratification of the Pitris, as also respectful services to the preceptor,-is the austerest of penances.

By practising such highly difficult penances, the gods have obtained the highest glory and power. I, therefore, ask you to satisfy the heavy duties of a householder.

Forsooth, penances are the foremost of all things and are the root of all creatures, Asceticism, is attainable by leading the life a householder, upon which depends everything. The learned Brahmins having chack on malice, beyond the sphere of duality know that penance. The penance so observed by them is addressed as penance on the earth.

After duly distributing the food morning and evening among kinsmen, they who eat the residuc attain to the ends that are highly difficult of attainment.

They are called eaters of the residue of feasts who cat after having fed guests and gods and Rishis and kinsmen.

Therefore, those persons who observe their own duties, who practise excellent vows and are truthful in speech, are greatly respected in the world, with their own faith greatly strengthened.

Shorn pride, those achievers of the most difficult feats attain to heaven and live for ever in the regions of Shakra!

Arjuna continued Hearing these beneficial and righteous words, those ascetics abandoned the religion of Renunciation, saying, There is nothing in it,-and begin to live like householders.

Therefore, O you, who are conversant with righteousness, availing of that eternal wisdom, rule the wide world, O monarch, that is now shorn of foes."