Bhishma said Having renounced the status of a worm and taken birth as a Kshatriya of great energy, the person remembering his previous changes, O monarch began to practise severe austerities.

Seeing those severe austerities of the Kshatriya who was well conversant with religion and Profit, Krishna Dvaipayana, that foremost of Brahmanas, went to him.

Vyasa said The penances, O worm, of the Kshatriyas consist of the protection of all creatures. Consider these duties of the Kshatriya to be the penances laid down for you. You shall come by the status of a Brahmana.

Ascertaining what is right and what is wrong, and purifying your soul, do you duly cherish and protect all creatures, judiciously satisfying all good desires and correcting all that is unholy.

Be you of purified soul, be contented and be devoted to the practice of virtue. Acting thus, you will then, when you die, become a Brahmana.

Bhishma said Although he had retired into the forest yet, O Yudhishthira, having heard the words of the great Rishi, he began to cherish and protect his subjects righteously.

Soon O best of kings, that worm, on account of the duty of protecting his subjects became a Brahmana after renouncing his Kshatriya body.

Secing him changed into a Brahmana, the celebrated Rishi,viz.,. Krishna Dvaipayana of great wisdom came to him.

Vyasa said ochief of Brahmanas, O blessed one, be not troubled. He who acts piously, comes by a respectable birth. He on the other hand, who acts impiously comes by a low and vile birth. O you who are conversant with virtue, one attains to misery according to the measure of his sin.

Therefore, O worm do not be troubled through fear of death. The only fear you should entertain is about the loss of virtue. Do you therefore, go on practising virtue.

The Worm said Through your favour, O Holy one, I have attained from happy to happier positions! Having obtained such prosperity as is established in virtue, I think my demerits have been lost.

Bhishma said The worin having at the command of the holy Rishi acquired the status of a Brahmana that is so difficult to attain, caused the Earth to be marked with a thousand sacrificial stakes.

That foremost of all persons conversant with Brahma then gained a residence in the region of Brahman himself. Indeed, O son of Pritha, the worm acquired the highest status viz. that of eternal Brahma as the result of his own deeds done according to the counsels of Vyasa.

Those foremost of Kshatriyas, also, who have renounced their lifebreaths, exerting their energy all the while have all acquired a meritorious end. Therefore, O king, do not mourn on their account.