Yudhishthira said Which amongst these three is superior, viz.,. knowledge, Penances, and Gifts? I ask foremost of pious men. Tell me this, O grandfather.

Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old conversation between Maitreya and Krishna Dvaipayana.

Once on a time Krishna Dvaipayana, O king, while wandering over the world in disguisc, proceeded to Varanasi and waited tipon Maitreya who belonged by birth to a race of ascetics.

Seeing Vyasa arrive, that foremost of Rishis viz., Maitreya, gave him a seat and after adoring him with due rites, entertained him with excellent food.

Having eaten that good food which was very wholesome and which gave every kind of ratification the great Krishna become highly pleased and as he sat there, he even laughed aloud.

Seeing Krishna laugh, Maitreya addressed him. saying Tell me, O Righteous souled one, what the reason is of your laughter! You are an ascetic, gifted with power to control your emotions. Great joy, it appears has come over yoll.

Saluting you and adoring you with bent head, I ask you this viz., what the power is of my penances and what the high blessedness is that is yours.

The acts I do are different from those of yours. You are already emancipated though alive. I however am not yet freed. For all that, I think that there is not much difference between you and me. I am, again distinguished by birth.

Vyasa said This wonder that has filled me, has originated from an ordinance which appears like a hyperbole for the comprehension of the people. The declaration of the Vedas seems to be untrue. But why should the Vedas say an untruth?

It has been said that there are three roads which form the best vows of a man. One should never injure; one should always tell the truth; and one should make gift.

The Rishis of old said this, following the ordinances laid down in the Vedas. These injunctions of yore, should certainly be followed by us even in our times.

Even a small gift, made under the circumstances laid down, yields great fruits. You have given a little water with a sincere heart to a thirsty man.

Yourself thirsty and hungry, you have by giving me such food, conquered many high regions of happiness, O powerful one, as one does by many sacrifices.

I am greatly delighted with your very sacred gift as also with your penances. Your power is that of virtue. Your appearance is that of virtue.

The fragrance of virtue, is about you. I think that all your acts are performed according to the ordinance. O son, gift is superior to ablutions in sacred waters and to the accomplishment of all Vedic vows. Indeed, O Brahmana, gift is inore auspicious than all religious rites. If it be not more meritorious than all religious rites, there can be no question about its superiority.

All those rites laid down in the Vedas which you highly speak of, do not equal a gift for, gift is undoubtedly fraught with very superior merit.

The road that has been made by those men, who make gifts is the road that is trodden by the wise. They who make gifts are considered as givers of even the life-breaths. The duties that forin virtue are established in them.

As the Vedas when well-studied, as the controlling of the senses, as a life of universal Renunciation, so is gift which is fraught with very superior merit.

You, O son will rise from joy to greater joy (for performing the duty of making gifts.). The intelligent man certainly rises from joy to greater joy.

We have undoubtedly seen many instances of this men gifted with prosperity succeed in acquiring riches, making gifts celebrating sacrifices, and acquiring happiness as the result thereof.

It is always observed, O you of great wisdom to happen naturally that happiness is followed by misery, and misery is followed by happiness.

Wise men have said that human beings in this world have three kinds of conduct. Some are righteous; some are sinful; and some are neither righteous nor sinful.

The conduct of the person who is devoted to Brahman is not considered either way. His sins are never considered as sins. So also the man who is devoted to the duties laid down for him, is considered as neither pious nor sinful.

Those men who are devoted to sacrifices, gifts, and penances, are considered as pious. These, however who injure other creatures and are unfriendly to them are considered sinful.

There are some men who appropriate others properties. These certainly fall into Hell and meet with misery. All other acts that men do are indifferent, being considered as neither righteous nor sinful.

Do you sport and grow and rejoice and make gifts and celebrated sacrifices. Neither men of knowledge nor those gifted with penances will then be able to get the better of you.

Do you sport and grow and rejoice and make gifts and celebrated sacrifices. Neither men of knowledge nor those gifted with penances will then be able to get the better of you.