Yudhishthira said What men, O chief of Bharata's race are worthy of homage in the three worlds? Tell me this in detail, I am never satiated with hearing you describe these topics.

Bhishma said Regarding it is cited the old discourse between Narada and Vasudeva.

Seeing Narada on one occasion adoring many foremost of Brahmanas with joined hands, Keshava addressed him, saying Whom do you worship? Whom amongst these Brahmanas, O holy one, do you worship with so great respect? If it is capable of being heard by me, I wish then to hear it. Do O foremost of righteous men, tell me this.

Narada said Hear, O Govinda, as to who those are whom I am adoring, Ogrinder of enemies What other person is there in the world who is worthier than you to hear this?

I adore them o powerful one, who constantly worship Varuna and Vayu and Aditya, and Parjanya and the deity of Fire and Sthanu and Skanda and Lakshmi and Vishnu and the Brahmanas, and the lord of speech, and the Moon, and the Waters, and the Earth and the goddess Sarasvati,

O foremost of Vrishni's race, I always adore those Brahmanas who are are endued with penances, who are conversant with the Vedas who are always given to Vedic study, and who are possessed of great worth.

O powerful one, I bow down my head to those persons who are freed from boastfulness, who perform with an empty stomach, the rites in honour of the deities, who are always contended with what they have, and who are gifted with forgiveness.

I adore them, O Yadava, who are performers of sacrifices, who are forgiving in nature, and selfcontrolled, who are masters of their own senses, who worship truth and virtue, and who give away land and kine to good Brahmanas.

I bow to them, O Yadava, who are devoted to the observance of penances, who live in forests, who live upon fruits and roots who never store anything for the morrow, and who perform all the acts and rites laid down in the scriptures.

I bow to them, O Yadava, who feed and cherish their servants who are always hospitable to guests and who eat only the residue of what is offered to the deities.

I worship them who have become irresistible by studying the Vedas, who are eloquent in discoursing on the scriptures, who are observant of the vow of Brahmacharya, and who are always devoted to the duties of officiating at the sacrifices of others and of teaching disciples.

I adore them that are endued with mercy towards all creatures and who study the Vedas till their back are heated by the Sun.

I bow to them, O Yadava, who try to acquire the grace of their preceptors, who labour in the acquisition of their Vedas, who are firm in the observance of vows, who wait with dutiful obedience, upon their preceptors and seniors, and who are free from malice and envy.

I bow to them, O Yadava, who are observant of excellent vows, who practise silence, who have knowledge of Brahma, who are firm in truth, who are givers of libations of clarified butter and oblations of meat.

I bow to them, O, Yadava, who live upon elemosynary alms, who are emaciated for want of adequate food and drink, who have lived in the houses of their preceptors, who are averse to and destitute of all enjoyments and who are poor in Earthly possessions.

I bow to them, O Yadava, who have no affection for things of this Earth, who do not quarrel with others, who do not clothe themselves, who have no wants, who have become irresistible through the acquisition of the Vedas, eloquent in the exposition of virtue, and that are utterers of Brahma.

I bow to them who are given to the practice of the duty of mercy towards all creatures who are firm in the observance of truth, who are self controlled, and who are peaceful in their conduct.

I bow to them, O Yadava who are devoted to the worship of gods and guests, who are observant of the domestic mode of life and that follow the practice of pigeons about collecting their food.

I always bow to those persons, who while doing all their works have an eye on the threefold objects of life, and who are observant of truth and righteous behaviour.

I bow to them, O Keshava, who are conversant with Brahma, who are gifted with knowledge of the Vedas, who are attentive to the threefold objects of life, who are free from cupidity, and who are righteous in their behaviour.

I bow to them, O Madhava, who live upon water only, or upon air alone, or upon the residue of the food that is offered to deities and guests, and who practise all sorts of excellent VOWS.

I always adore them who have no wives, who have wives and the domestic fire, who are the refuge of the Vedas, and who are the refuge of all creatures in the universe.

I always bow to those Rishis. O Krishna, who are the creators of the universe, who are the elders of the universe, who are the eldest members of the race or the family, who are dispellers of the darkness of ignorance, and who are the best of all persons in the universe.

For these reasons, do you also O scion of Vrishni's race, adore every day those twiceborn persons of whom I speak. Worthy as they are of reverent worship, they will when adored confer happiness on you, O sinless one,

Those persons of whom I speak are always givers of happiness in this world as well as in the next. Respected by all, they move about in this world, and, if adored by you are sure to grant you happiness.

They who are hospitable to all persons who come to them as guests, and who are always devoted to Brahmanas and kine as also to truth succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who are always devoted to peacefulness of conduct as also they who are shorn of malice and envy, and they who are always attentive to the study of the Vedas, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who bow to all the deities, they who follow one Veda as their refuge, they who are possessed of faith and are self controlled, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who adore the foremost of Brahmanas with reverence and are firm in the observance of excellent vows and practise the virtue of charity succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who are engaged in the practice of penances, they who are always observant of the vow of celibacy, and they whose souls have been purified by penances, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

The who are devoted to the worship of the gods and guests and dependants as also of the departed manes and they who eat the residue of the food that is offered to deities departed manes guests and dependants succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who, having lighted the domestic fire, duly keep it burning and adore it with reverence, and they who have duly poured libations in Somasacrifices, succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments.

They who behave properly towards their mothers and fathers and preceptors and other elders even as you, O foremost of the Vrishnis, do behave, (succeed in crossing all calamities and impediments)! Having said these words the celestial Rishi ceased speaking.

Bhishma continued For these reasons, do you also, O son of Kunti, always adore with reverence the deities the departed manes the Brahmanas and guests arrived at your palace, and as the outcome of such conduct you are to acquire a desirable end! sure the departed manes the Brahmanas and guests arrived at your palace, and as the outcome of such conduct you are to acquire a desirable end! sure