Nobody in this world does good to another. Nobody makes gifts to others. All persons are seen to act for their own selves.

People are seen to abandon their very parents and their uterine brothers when these cease to love them. What need be said then of relatives of other grades.

Gifts a distinguished person and acceptance of the gifts made by a distinguished person both produce equal merit. Of these two acts, however, the making of a gift is superior to the acceptance thereof.

to That wealth is gained by fair means and is multiplied by fair means, should be protected with care for the sake of acquiring virtue. This is an accepted truth.

One desirous of gaining virtue, should never gain riches by means involving injury to others. One should perform his acts according to his power, without zealously seeking riches.

By giving water, whether cold or heated by fire, with a devoted mind, to a (thirsty) guest, according to the best of his might, one acquires the merit of the act of giving food to a hungry man.

The great Rantideva acquired success in all the worlds by adoring the ascetics with offerings of only roots and fruits and leaves.

The royal son of Shaivi also acquired the highest regions of happiness by having pleased the Son-god along with his companion with offerings of the same sort.

All men, by being born, become indebted to gods, guests, servants, Pitris, and their own selves. Every one should, therefore do his best for satisfying those debts.

One frees oneself from his debt to the great Rishis by studying the Vedas. One satisfies his debts to the gods by celebrating sacrifices. By performing the rites of the Shraddha one satisfies the debts to the Pitris. One satisfies the debt to his fellow men by doing good to them. son son

One satisfies the debts he owns to one's own self by listening to Vedic recitations and reflecting on their meaning, by eating the remnants of sacrifices, and by supporting his body. One should duly perform all the acts, from the beginning, that he owes to his servants.

Through shorn of wealth, men are seen to attain to success by great exertions. Ascetics by duly adoring the gods, and by duly pouring libations of clarified butter on the sacred fire, have been seen to acquire ascetic success.

Richika's became the of Vishvamitra. By worshipping the gods who have shares in sacrificial offerings, with Riches, (he acquired success in after life).

Ushanas became Shukra by having pleased the god of gods. Indeed, by singing the praises of the goddess (Uma), he sports in the sky, in the great effulgence.

Then, again, Asita and Devala, and Narada and Paravata, and Kakshivat, and Jamadagni's son Rama, and Tandya possessed of purified soul, and Vashishtha, and Jamadagni, and Vishvamitra, and Atri, and Bharadvaja, and Harishmashru, and Kundadhara, and Shrutashravas,-these great Rishis, by worshipping Vishnu with concentrated minds with the help of Richs, and by penances, acquired success through the grace of that great god gifted with intelligence.

Many undeserving men, by worshipping that good god, won great distinction. One should not seek for advancement by committing any wicked or censurable deed.

That wealth which acquired by fair means is true wealth. Fie on that wealth however, which is acquired by unfair means. Virtue is eternal. It should never, in this world, be renounced from desire of riches.

That pious person who keeps his sacred fire and offers his daily adorations to the gods is considered as the foremost of righteous persons. All the Vedas, O foremost of kings, are established on the three sacred fires.

That Brahmana is said to possess the sacred fire whose acts exist in full. It is better to at once leave off the sacred fire than to keep it, abstaining from acts.

The sacred fire, the mother, the father who has begotten, and the preceptor, O foremost men, should all be duly attended and served with humility.

That man, who, renouncing all feelings of pride, humbly attends upon and serves them who are venerable for age, who is endued with learning and shorn of lust, who regains all creatures equally with an eye of love, who nas no riches, who is righteous in his acts, and who is shorn of the desire of inflicting any kind of injury, that truly respectable man is adored in this world by the good and pious.