Yudhishthira said I wish, O sire, to hear the final conclusions about Virtue, Profit and Pleasure. Depending upon which of these does life proceed?

What are origins of Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure? What is again the out come to those three? They are sometimes seen intermixed with one another, and sometimes to exist separately and independently of one another,

When men in this world try with pure hearts to gain Profit with the help of Virtue, then those three, viz., Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, may be seen to exist in a state of union regarding time, cause, and action.

Profit originates f um virtue, and Pleasure is the fruit of Profit. All the three again originate from Will. Will is connected with the objects.

All objects exist in a body for gratifying the desire of enjoyment. Upon these dependent the threefold objects of life. Renunciation of all objects is liberation.

It is said that Virtue is sought for the protection of the body, and Profit is for the acquisition of Virtue. Pleasure is merely the gratification of the sense. All the three are, therefore, pervaded the quality of Rajas (darkness).

Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure, when sought for the sake of heaven and such other rewards, are considered remote, because the rewards themselves are remote. They are near when sought, however, for the sake of Knowledge of Self. One should seek them for the purity of soul. One should not renounce them even in mind. If Virtue, Profit, and Pleasure are to be abandoned, one should abandon them when one has liberated one's self by ascetic penances.

The aim of the threefold objects is emancipation. I wish men could attain it. One's acts, undertaking and completed with even the " help of intelligence may or may not yield the expected fruits.

Virtue is not always the root of Profit, for other things then Virtue lead to Wealth. There is again the opposite view. In some cases, Wealth acquired has produced evil. Other things again than Wealth have brought on the acquisition of Virtue. Therefore, an ignorant man, whose understanding has been debased by ignorance, never succeeds in acquiring the highest object of Virtue and Profit, viz., Emancipation.

The defeat of Virtue consists in the desire of reward; that of Profit consists in amassing it; when freed from these impurities, they yield mighty fruits.

Regarding it is cited the discourse that took place in days of yore between Kamandaka and Angarishtha.

One day having waited for the opportunity, king Angarishtha saluted the Rishi Kamanda as he was seated at his ease, and put to him the

If a king, under the influence of lust and folly, commits sin for which he afterwards repents, how, O Rishi, can those sins be destroyed.

If again a man, guided by ignorance, does what is sinful in the belief that he is acting piously, how shall the king suppress that sin prevalent among men?

Kamanda said That man, who renouncing Virtue and Profit, pursues only Pleasure, reaps as the result of such conduct the destruction of his intelligence.

The destruction of intelligence is followed by carelessness which at once destroys both Virtue and Profit. Such carelessness, beget dreadful atheism and systematic wickedness.

If the king does not subdue those wicked men of sinful conduct, all good subjects then live in dread of him like a person living in a room within which a snake has concealed itself.

The subjects do not follow such a king. Brahmanas and all pious persons also do the same. As a consequence the king incurs grave danger, and ultimately the risk of his life.

Laden with infamy and insult, he has to carry on a miserable existence. A life of infamy, however, is tantamount to death.

Men well read in the scriptures have laid down the following expedients for suppressing sin. The king should always study the three Vedas. He should respect the Brahmanas and do them good.

He should be given to righteousness. He should make alliance with high families. He should serve the great Brahmanas endued with the virtue of forgiveness.

He should perform ablutions and recite sacred Mantras and thus spend his days happily. Banishing all wicked subjects from himself and his kingdom, he should live with virtuous men.

He should please all persons by. sweet words or good acts. He should say to all,-I am yours,-and declare the virtues of even his enemies.

By behaving thus he may soon cleanse himself of his sins, and gain the high esteem of all. Forsooth, by such a conduct all his sins will be destroyed.

You should satisfy all those great duties which your seniors and preceptors would indicate. You are sure to acquire, great blessings through the grace of your seniors and preceptors.'