esideth in every body, by help of one or half of
a rhythmic line (of the Vedas), hath no more need for anything. Some
obtaining a knowledge of identity with the Supreme Soul from but two
letters (of the Vedas) and some from hundreds and thousands of rhythmic
lines, acquire salvation, for the knowledge of one's identity with the
Supreme Soul is the sure indication of salvation. The men of old,
distinguished for their knowledge, have said, neither this world nor that
hereafter nor bliss can be his who is disturbed by doubts. And belief of
one's identity with the Supreme Soul is the indication of salvation. He
that knoweth the true meaning of the Vedas, understandeth their true use.
Such a man is affrighted at the Vedic ritual like a man at sight of a
forest conflagration. Giving up dry disputation, have recourse to Sruti
and Smriti, and seek thou, with the aid of thy reason, the knowledge of
the Undecaying One that is without a second. One's search (after this
knowledge) becometh futile from defect of means. Therefore, should one
carefully strive to obtain that knowledge by aid of the Vedas. The Vedas
are the Supreme Soul; they are His body; they are the Truth. The soul
that is bounded by the animal organism is incompetent to know Him in whom
all the Vedas merge. That Supreme Soul, however, is capable of being
known by the pure intellect. The existence of the gods as stated in the
Vedas, the efficacy of acts, and the capacity for action of being
furnished with bodies, are noticeable in every Yuga. Independence of
these and annihilation are to be sought from purity of the senses.
Therefore, the suspension of the function of the senses is the true
fasting. One may attain to heaven by asceticism, one may obtain objects
of enjoyment by the practice of charity and may have his sins purged off
by ablutions in tirthas. But complete emancipation cannot be had except
by knowledge.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed, O great king, by the Rishi,
Yudhishthira of great fame then said, 'O holy one, I desire to listen to
the rules about that charity which is meritorious."

"Markandeya said, 'O great king, O Yudhishthira, the rules about charity
which thou wishest to hear from me are always highly regarded by me.
Listen now to the mysteries of charity as expounded in the sruti and the
smritis! A man that performs a sraddha in the conjunction called
Gajacchaya at a place that is fanned by the leaves of the Aswattha tree
enjoys th